Point of View by Nancy L. Eady

In writing, “point of view” (POV) describes both the manner in which a story is told and the choice of voice for telling the story. For example, first person POV involves the protagonist telling the story either in past or present tense. If a writer wants to tell the story in first person POV from different perspectives, they can choose to have more than one narrator. The effect of POV on the story is profound; it affects what information is available to the character and thus the reader and it affects the frame of reference in which the story is taught. For example, no one thinks of themself as a villain; we all believe we are the heroes of our own story. So, the tale of Snow White from the perspective of the wicked queen is very different from the tale the woodcutter or the prince or Snow White herself would tell. 

Oddly enough, I have found a way to illustrate the effect of POV through pictures.

This picture is both striking and unusual. I didn’t notice this pattern when I bought the object that contains it. 

Backing out, you can now see that the first picture is part of a flower. 

Now you can see that the purple flower is one of several in a flower arrangement on a wooden table. 

And because I don’t want to be accused of false advertising vis-à-vis the true state of my house and my housekeeping, you can now see that the flower arrangement looks rather ordinary sitting on a cluttered kitchen table. 

You can see the same process in reverse with my calla lily bush.

Here, you see my calla lily bush in its place along the side of the house, droopy front blooms and all, coupled with the irises, who are drying out due to the time of year.

This close up of the top three blooms makes the bush look better.

This picture of just one of the younger calla lily blooms gives the impression of an even fuller, lusher bush than is really there.

And in this close up of two of the older blooms in the late afternoon, the afternoon sun makes them luminous and magical. 

As you can see, the POV in each of these pictures tells a very different story. In what ways have you used POV in your storytelling to delight and surprise the reader? 

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly and the Insane by Nancy L. Eady

This past weekend, my husband, daughter and I took a quick trip to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (Tennessee side).  When we go at this time of year, we are hoping to see the leaves fully turned, but alas, this year, we were either too early or the leaves decided not to put on their annual show.  Still, I took some pictures. 

 First, the good: 

This picture was taken at Newfound Gap, which is in the park where the Tennessee and North Carolina state lines meet.

 Second, the bad:

Besides the fact that trees are involved, I have no idea where, at what angle or why I took this picture. 

The ugly is not a picture, but the reason for a change to our routine.  We normally follow the road through the park over Newfound Gap into Cherokee, North Carolina, but not this trip.  Why?  We heard Cherokee had been hard hit by Hurricane Helene, and we didn’t think a trio of tourists trekking around a disaster zone would help anyone. 

 And last the insane: 

Meet Penny and Max on their way home from the kennel on Monday.

And here are Daisy, Penny in the back and part of Max’s body on the same ride.

Have a great third Friday of the month everyone!

Pictures in Words or Simply Pictures?

Pictures in Words or Simply Pictures?   by Debra H. Goldstein

Recently, while I was watching the Oscars, I was impressed by the introduction to the Best Documentary Feature segment. Images of poverty-stricken people stranded in flood waters, glaciers collapsing, and the Columbine High School sign flashed across the screen interspersed with interview soundbites from Greta Thunberg, Michael Moore, and others who advocate for change. The point being made was that the pictorial scenes were more powerful than words. In other words, it was a more sophisticated way of saying “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

Is it?

I admit pictures such as the Vietnamese child running or the baby being carried by the firefighter after

the Oklahoma bombing are seared in our minds, but we as writers also make our mark in the minds of readers. Who can forget Margaret Mitchell’s description of Atlanta’s red clay, the choking sensation of John Steinbeck’s dust bowl, or the simple beauty of Louise Penny’s Three Pines?

Not every author paints such memorable pictures, but with words each author provides readers moments of relief from their everyday existence. The millions of words written result in thousands of instances of transposition. What do you prefer?