Clarifying question

[Remec]

Alright, I know this sounds like a pretty basic question, and I kind of think I know what the answer is to it, but, anyways...


I understand writing in first person. And I would assume writing in second person is writing as if directed towards the reader. (This would be the first thing I'm unsure of.) But I was reading one of the other threads and people were talking about third person limited versus omniscient, and I wasn't sure exactly what they meant by either term.

Anyone have any reference books to recommend to someone who's beginning to let their sometime hobby become a larger part of their daily routine? <smile> All I have on hand is Harcourt and some style guides from taking journalism class...oh, and a copy of Writing Well left over after my freshman comp course...and I say at hand, but those are all packed away somewhere or another...

 

[Guest]

Remec, I haven't got the right brain in my head right now to give you a full and rounded answer, but, this thread will be very helpful to you, loads of useful comments there:

Is omniscient genderless?

Lou

Edited to add: 3PL (third person limted) is told from the POV of just one character. This can be the same character throughout the story, or the POV can switch between characters at obvious points. The key is that 3PL is literally limited to one (at a time) and omniscient is all encompassing - told (or narrated, if you like) showing the POV of all characters.

 

[oggbashan]

You could start by reading the resources on this site.

Perhaps start with the 'How To' stories. There are some very good expositions of writing techniques.

There are hundreds of books. How good they are depends on how you react to them. A book that is great for one person may be useless to another. A browse in a large bookshop or library could give you tips - but Literotica's information is the best place to start.

Og

Edited to add this:

http://www.literotica.com/storyxs/writ_stor.shtml

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Third person omniscient is he/she where the author knows everything that's going on. If two people are talking, the author knows what both of them are thinking and feeling.

Third person limited omniscient is still he/she, but now the author follows one character and only tells you what he/she is thinking and feeling. If you're writing a detective story in third-person, you're probably going to use limited omniscient so the reader finds out things as your detective does.

Can't help you on the book request, but I know a lot of people here think that Stephen King's book on writing is just the berries.

---dr.M.

 

[Weird Harold]

Anyone have any reference books to recommend to someone who's beginning to let their sometime hobby become a larger part of their daily routine?

Not books, but a couple of very useful sites:

Trintiy College Writing Center: http://www.tc.cc.va.us/writcent/

Purdue University's Onlinewriting Lab: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/


Both should have pages on all of the different posible POVs.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Not books, but a couple of very useful sites:
Trintiy College Writing Center: http://www.tc.cc.va.us/writcent/
Purdue University's Onlinewriting Lab: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

Both should have pages on all of the different posible POVs.

Mr. Harold,

I may just be me, but the first link seems to be broken.

I was already aware of the Purdue site, but it sounds a trifle too much like ‘Purdah’ to suit me.

Thanks anyway ...

Burley —–—

 

[MathGirl]

You could start by reading the resources on this site.

Dear Og,
Excellent point. He might start with a persual of the DurtGurl ovary.
http://www.literotica.com:81/stories/memberpage.php?uid=209212&page=submissions
Helpfully,
MG

 

[Guest]

 

[Black Tulip]

The way my first story is going, it's first person limited.

Mrs. S/L

Think about it. If your story would be first person omniscient you'd be God.
What would that make Him? You know, the one you're squeezing?



Do you really want to go there? LOL

 

[raphy]

I love the third person limited PoV with all of my body, including my pee pee.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

... including my pee pee.

But, the question is, is that the appendage you compose with?