Craft Lesson on Point of View Writers Night Out, March 16, 2016

Thirty writers turned out on Wednesday night, March 16, 2016 at the Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis for the Cape Cod Writers Center’s March Writers Night Out to hear acclaimed author Devon Ellington (who has half a dozen bylines) speak about the power of point of view in story telling.

During her talk, Devon described the uses of various points of view as well as their  strengths and weaknesses:

  • The first person, or ” I” voice may instantly attract the reader but limits  the amount of information the writer may convey.
  • Second person, the “you” voice, may be used by the writer as an invisible narrator, but is tricky and seldom used.
  • Close third person, the use of “he” or “she’ in the narration is frequently chosen by authors because it allows a slightly wider perspective while giving the reader an intimacy with the writer.

Devon’s talk was followed by handouts and a lively question and answer session. What is truth?  In literary matters that seems to depend upon the point of view.