Many writers struggle to embrace the third-person perspective fully. It can be tricky, especially if you’re accustomed to first-person narratives. However, writing in the third person allows for a broader view of your characters and events. This article discusses how to write in the third person, outline its pros and cons, share best practices, and reveal common pitfalls.
Table of Contents
What is Third-Person Writing?
Third-person writing uses pronouns like “he,” “she,” “they,” or “it.” Unlike first-person (“I” or “we”) and second-person (“you”), it provides a more general perspective, enabling a wider view of characters and events. This approach can give readers a broader understanding of the narrative.
Types of Third-Person Narration
Third person can be broken into multiple categories: third-person limited, third-person omniscient, and third-person objective.
Third Person Limited
In third-person limited, the narrator presents the story from the perspective of one character but still maintains a degree of detachment. This approach gives readers insight into the character’s thoughts and feelings while keeping the narrative voice outside of them. For instance, in a story where Lucy is preparing for a big presentation, a third-person limited perspective might read:
Lucy took a deep breath, her palms clammy against her folder. It was now or never. She had practiced her speech countless times, but doubt crept in. What if her colleagues didn’t connect with her ideas?
Here, you gain insight into Lucy’s emotions while the narrator remains outside her direct perspective.
Third Person Omniscient
Third-person omniscient possesses complete insight into everything – the characters’ thoughts, feelings, and the events happening in multiple locations simultaneously. This type of narration allows for a richer storytelling experience. For instance:
Lucy stood at the front of the room, oblivious to the ticking clock looming behind her. Meanwhile, her colleague Tom mulled over his critique, wondering if he would have the courage to speak up when the time came. Across the hall, Sarah leafed through the proposals, anxious about her upcoming pitch.
In this example, the narrator knows all the characters’ thoughts and feelings, offering a broader scope.
Third Person Objective
The third-person objective point of view is all about showing rather than telling. The narrator shares only visible and audible details, while thoughts and emotions emerge through dialogue or actions. This approach requires showing the characters’ emotions subtly. For example:
Lucy cleared her throat and adjusted her glasses, her fingers trembling slightly over her stack of papers. “Good morning, everyone,” she said, her voice steady and clear.
In this case, readers decipher Lucy’s nervousness without needing direct insight into her thoughts.
Guide to Writing in the Third Person
- Choose Your Perspective: Determine whether you want to write from a limited or omniscient point of view.
- Use Appropriate Pronouns: Stick to third-person pronouns consistently.
- Character Development: Focus on characters’ actions, thoughts, and emotions without using first-person opinions.
- Establish Setting and Tone: Create a vivid backdrop and maintain a consistent tone that fits your story.
- Balance Description and Action: Include interesting details about characters and settings while keeping the plot moving.
Benefits of Writing in the Third Person
Using the third person has several advantages. It offers flexibility in narration, allowing authors to explore different characters’ thoughts and feelings while maintaining narrative distance. This method can enhance the story’s depth and richness.
- Objectivity: Third-person narration allows for an unbiased perspective. Readers can gauge characters’ actions without the personal bias of a first-person narrator.
- Multiple Viewpoints: In the third person, authors can shift between characters’ thoughts. This multi-perspective technique can keep the narrative dynamic and engaging.
- Wider World-Building: A third-person narrative can illuminate the broader world and context surrounding the characters, enriching storytelling.
Crafting Third-Person Narratives
Develop Your Characters
Creating complex characters is crucial for engaging third-person writing. These characters should have distinct traits, motives, and backgrounds to enrich your narrative.
- Character Profiles: Start with detailed character profiles. Include backstory, personality traits, and goals to ensure consistency from different narrative perspectives.
- Character Relationships: Think about how characters interact with one another. This complexity is vital for creating realistic dynamics in third-person narratives.
Establish a Consistent Voice
A consistent narrative voice is essential. Maintaining the same tone and style helps prevent confusing the reader.
- Example: If your narrative uses sophisticated language, continue that throughout rather than randomly switching to casual speech.
Choose the Right Perspective
Decide how broad or limited you want your narrative to be before you start writing. Will your story focus on one character deeply, or will it provide a panoramic view of several?
- Limitations of Perspective: Understand how depth or width in perspective can affect your storytelling.
- Incorporate Different Angles: If your story requires multiple perspectives, consider layering time or chapters to switch voices. This approach can keep the storyline engaging while offering depth.
Techniques for Writing Third-Person
Utilizing Dialogue Effectively
Dialogue is an effective tool for showing the character’s personality and moving the plot forward in the third person. Ensure to balance character dialogue with narrative to maintain flow.
- Example: “I can’t believe you forgot your coat,” Lisa said, raising an eyebrow. Jack shrugged. “I figured it wouldn’t be that cold.”
Show, Don’t Tell
This classic writing advice applies strongly to third-person perspectives. Instead of telling readers how a character feels, show it through action or dialogue.
- Showing: “Jack rubbed his arms and stamped his feet on the cold pavement.”
- Telling: “Jack was cold.”
Vary Sentence Structure
Using various sentence structures can keep the reader engaged and help establish pacing within scenes.
- Simple Sentence: “Jack left the house.”
- Compound Sentence: “Jack left the house, but he immediately regretted it.”
- Complex Sentence: “While Jack left the house, he regretted forgetting his coat the moment he felt the cold air.”
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Consistency Issues
Maintaining focus in a third-person narrative requires discipline. Ensure that you’re consistent with the perspective, especially when switching between characters.
- Tip: Keep track of whose thoughts or feelings you are presenting at any time. Mixing perspectives within the same scene can confuse readers.
Overly Explanatory Narration
While third-person allows for a broader viewpoint, avoid over-explaining characters’ thoughts or experiences in a way that slows down the narrative.
- Example of Pitfall: “Sally was angry at Tom because he didn’t call her like he said he would.”
- Improved: “Sally clenched her fists as she stared at her phone, waiting for a call that never came.”
Stereotyping Characters
Avoid creating one-dimensional characters based on clichés or stereotypes. Take the time to flesh them out, ensuring they are relatable and complex.
Practicing Third-Person Writing
Practicing third-person writing can significantly enhance your storytelling skills. Here are some exercises to get you started.
Character Perspective Exercises
Pick a character and write a scene from both third-person limited and third-person omniscient viewpoints. Explore how the change in narrative shifts the focus and emotion.
Scene Rewrite
Take a first-person scene from your previous work and rewrite it in the third-person. This exercise will challenge your adaptability as a writer and help you appreciate the nuances of both perspectives.
Dialogue Prompts
Craft dialogue-only scenes from a variety of characters’ perspectives. This practice will improve your skill in distinguishing character voices and making dialogue feel natural and authentic in the third person.
Resources for Further Learning
If you’re looking to develop your third-person writing skills further, consider these resources:
- Books on Writing: Titles like “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White offer guidelines to improve your writing technique.
- Online Writing Courses: Websites like Coursera and MasterClass provide courses on narrative techniques, including third-person writing.
- Writing Communities: Join forums or local writing groups to share your work and receive feedback from fellow writers. Platforms like Scribophile or Wattpad can also provide a supportive environment.
Additional Information
Writing in the third person can elevate your storytelling. Here are some secrets that can enhance your skills even further.
- Point of View Variations: There are different flavors of third person—limited, omniscient, and objective. Understanding these distinctions lets you select the most suitable option for your narrative’s demands.
- Character Depth: In third-person limited, you can dive deep into one character’s thoughts, creating intimacy while maintaining narrative distance, making your reader feel connected yet objective.
- Narrative Control: Third-person omniscient allows you to jump between characters’ thoughts and emotions, which can enrich complex plots. Just don’t let your readers get dizzy from the shifts!
- Dialogue and Description Balance: In third-person narratives, balancing action, dialogue, and description is crucial. Too much description can slow the pace, but too little can leave readers confused about what’s happening.
- Subtlety is Key: You can hint at a character’s inner thoughts without spelling everything out. This approach encourages readers to engage and draw their conclusions, making the reading experience interactive.
- Inconsistency Can Work: While the third person typically offers an objective viewpoint, introducing a character’s biased perception can add flavor and complexity; just don’t overdo it!
- Use of Names and Pronouns: Regularly mixing up character names and pronouns adds variety and keeps readers aware of who is being referenced, especially in scenes involving several characters.
- Internal Monologue Techniques: Mixing narrative distance while showing internal thoughts lets you explore a character’s struggles without pushing the narrative into first-person territory.
- Avoid Over-Explanation: Third-person narration is distinct for its ability to show rather than tell. Trust your readers to interpret the nuances of your characters’ actions or feelings without heavy-handed narration.
- Experiment with Voice: The tone can vary dramatically in the third person. Whether it’s formal, humorous, or sarcastic, shifting your narrative voice can directly affect how readers perceive the story and characters.
- Focus on Action: Strong verbs and active sentences can invigorate your writing. Third-person can often feel flat if you lean too heavily on adjectives or adverbs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Related to How To Write In Third Person
Q. What does it mean to write in the third person?
A. Writing in third person means using pronouns like “he,” “she,” “they,” or “it” instead of “I” or “you.” This approach grants the writer the ability to narrate characters’ actions and thoughts from an external vantage point.
Q. What are the main types of third-person point of view?
A. The main types are third-person limited, where the narrator understands the inner workings of a single character, and third-person omniscient, where the narrator is aware of the thoughts and emotions of every character involved.
Q. Can I use the third person in dialogue?
A. Yes, characters can use the first person in dialogue while the narration remains in the third person. This technique adds depth to character interactions while maintaining the overall narrative style.
Q. How can I ensure consistency in third-person writing?
A. Stick to one type of third person throughout your piece. If you choose third person limited, remain in that perspective without shifting to other characters’ thoughts unexpectedly.
Q. Is it necessary to include every character’s thoughts in the third person omniscient?
A. No, it’s not necessary to cover every character’s thoughts. You can choose to focus on a few key characters to maintain clarity and avoid overwhelming readers.
Q. Can I use the third person for both fiction and nonfiction?
A. Absolutely! The third person works well in both genres. In fiction, it creates distance and allows for a broader narrative, while in nonfiction, it adds objectivity.
Q. How do I show a character’s emotions in the third person?
A. You can describe the character’s actions, facial expressions, and dialogue to convey emotions. You can also include their thoughts to add depth without stating “he felt” or “she thought.”
Q. What’s a common mistake when writing in the third person?
A. A common mistake is shifting the point of view without warning. This issue can confuse readers, so make sure to stay consistent in your perspective.
Q. Can I mix the third person with other points of view?
A. While it is possible to mix points of view, it is best to do so sparingly and strategically. Keep clarity for the reader and ensure the transitions are smooth.
Q. How can I practice writing in the third person?
A. Start by rewriting a first-person passage into the third person. Alternatively, try writing short stories focusing solely on third-person perspectives to get comfortable with the style.
Conclusion
Writing in the third person can elevate your storytelling by providing a broader perspective and adding depth to your characters. By focusing on either a limited or omniscient viewpoint, you can engage readers and create more dynamic narratives. Practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to experiment with different styles and techniques. With time and effort, you’ll master third-person writing and enrich your literary creations. Now, go forth and let your characters shine!
