SunWinks! Sunday Gather Writing Essential July 22, 2012: Anonymous Narrator/Multiple Character POV (SunWE)

 

Dear Gather Habituées:

It’s Narrative Point Of View Week! We had several terrific responses to our previous POV prompt on Dual Character Point Of View.

Today’s Narrative Technique is:  Anonymous Narration: Multiple Character Point Of View. If you have not done so yet, I urge you to read the previous article on Dual Character POV, the examples cited there, and the responses to that prompt.  This is not a topic to jump into unprepared.  Specifically, you should be comfortable with the concepts of

• Anonymous Narrator
• Limited Character Point Of View

Anonymous Narration: Multiple Character POV is storytelling from the limited point of view of more than two characters, narrated by someone who is not identified and does not have a role in the story.

Why would you tell a story that way?  What I find interesting is that the three examples in our text feature a main character whose point of view we do not see.  We see the main character’s story from the point of view of several other people who are on the outside looking in; we are not, however, privy to the thoughts and motives of the main character him/herself.

One of those examples is “Inez” by Merle Hodge , a powerful, heartbreaking story told through the eyes of several people who know little and understand less.

So, today’s POV might be a very effective way to tell the story of someone experiencing significant isolation or alienation.

The Prompts:

Prose: Write a story using the narrative technique of Anonymous Narrator:  Multiple Character Point Of View.

Alternate:  Write a character sketch of someone whose life or story involves significant isolation, alienation, or misunderstanding, for example, a teenager, a criminal, a person with developmental disabilities or mental illness.  Sketch out from what other characters’ points of view you might tell that person’s story.

Poetry:  See the July 15 edition of SunWinks! (Oxymorons) , as well as the several fine responses already received.

• Put SunWE in the title and tags.
• Indicate in some way which devices or techniques I should be paying attention to.
• This prompt does not turn into a pumpkin a week (or even two) from today.  If your piece isn’t done in the next week or two, get it in when you can.  This is supposed to be fun.
• I will comment on every submission and include a link to it in the next column.
• If you would like a little more academic critique--but still very friendly and positive--include the word "rigorous" in your post (e.g. "rigorous critique wanted").

Here are responses to previous prompts.  Let me know if I missed yours.  I hope you can take a few minutes and read some of the other submissions.

Truly, madly, deeply,

Doug

Oxymorons

Devout Atheist by Busy Buzzy Bee

Oxy-what? by Karen Vaughn

Her Space by DW

 

© 2012 Douglas J. Westberg. All Rights Reserved.  Please share this on Gather.com, and elsewhere on the web by means of a link back to this page, but please do not copy.   Doug's latest book is The Depressed Guy's Book of Wisdom from Chipmunka Publishing.

Doug's Gather Group is Depression and Creativity, devoted to creative writing about depression and related illnesses, and creative writing as therapy.  Please consider joining.  You can read more of Doug's posts there, or here.