Strange things of interest only to other writers (if that). I recently wrote a story in an omniscient 3rd person viewpoint. The story refers to the main characters as “the daughter”, “the mother”, and “the father” while secondary characters are given names. This point of view (POV) bothers some of the readers, it seems to generate heated debate and feelings (woo hoo! ;) only hoping in a good way). Perhaps only other writers or artists will understand me when I say that somehow, I “know” this is the way this story has to be told. I know this because when I read it and write it, I feel this weird “click” into something (the Muse, the Well…whatever you want to call it.) Now, I don’t pretend that there isn’t missing Craft to this piece…it can be better, but for whatever reason, the POV feels right.


This piece has had its own little drama coming into being…the first reviewer just said, “change the POV to 1st person,” then, in a separate workshop someone says, “your writing stinks, the piece is boring.” [Insert huge writer SIGH here. Well that wasn't helpful.] Regardless, up it went to another, friendlier place and some nice comments and more helpful critiques roll in.

Then today, I started reading a book I’ve checked out of the library three separate times, each time forgetting to read it. I started cracking up when I began reading it:

Maybe it would be best if something were done with the special child. The mother and father send him to kindergarten across town, where the good folk live…

It goes on…everything is written with “the mother”, “the father”, and “the special child”.

I laugh—OH! Here is a beautifully written 3rd person piece that doesn’t use names! I can learn from this, study it. Then I freak out because I start to worry I sound far too much like this author whom I’ve never read before in my life. How does this happen--that we sound so much like another writer? The funny thing is—this book is a memoir that I’m reading and my story, though fictionalized (the actions in the story never happened to me)—comes from a deep place in my psyche...in that sense it is very real. I say, it is easier to write the truth into fiction than write truth and make it sound real. I wonder if somehow this is a special voice that memoir can take to help let the writer portray strong emotion, odd happenings but get away from the personal, 1st person voice.

Strange thoughts.  I must come up with a more cohensive and interesting post soon, but mostly, I just need to keep posting :)