12.9: Q&A on Viewpoint

12.9: Q&A on Viewpoint

Author: Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler February 27, 2017 Duration: 25:04
Your Hosts: Brandon, Piper, Dan, and Howard

You had questions about viewpoint. Here they are!

* Do you have tips and tricks for making 3rd-person omniscient compelling?
* How do you make 3rd-person limited compelling?
* Is it normal to need several drafts to nail down a character's voice?
* What's the best way to portray an unreliable 3rd-person limited narrator?
* What are your most effective methods for immersing yourself in character attributes so that you can get the voice right?
* How do you choose between 1st and 3rd person?
* How do you select the viewpoint character for a scene?
* How do you smoothly transition between viewpoints?
* How do you prevent character voices from blending into each other and becoming indistinguishable?

(Our answers are in the podcast.)

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It’s a common piece of advice: if you want to be a writer, you should write. But what happens when you’re staring at the blank page, or when the business side of publishing feels like a maze? That’s where Writing Excuses comes in. Each week, hosts Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler gather not just to talk about writing, but to dissect it. They move quickly, respecting your time while packing episodes with actionable discussions on technique, from character voice to plot structure. But this podcast understands that a writing life isn’t just about craft-it’s also a career. So conversations naturally pivot to the practicalities of the business, navigating careers, and sustaining creativity in a demanding field. You’ll hear five distinct professional perspectives blending into a single, focused conversation designed to get you past excuses and back to your work. It’s like a regular, invigorating workshop session delivered directly to you, meant to equip you with tools for both your manuscript and your professional path.
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