Image Credit: Kaushik Narasimhan, 2010
Our weekly writing prompts aim to offer you a regular trigger for when you’re struggling to write. This week, we’ve been reading Don DeLillo’s Falling Man and it’s got us thinking about perspective and point of view. With writing prompts being all about bringing something new to the table, we thought it would be interesting to mix things up a bit.
Whether you’re working on a current piece of writing or you’re about to start something new, think about the point of view you usually work with – first person, third, second person? Generally, writers favour one in particular. Whatever your preference, it’s time to go against it. Lover of first person? Try third. Enjoy the flexibility of third? See how you go with the limitations and insight of first. Second can be tricky to sustain over a longer work, but why not give it a go anyway? Place your reader themselves in the story!
Chances are, this writing prompt will enable you to learn something new about your writing and choosing a point of view for your stories. The pros and cons of each, which feels most natural and how sometimes, a point of view you didn’t expect, can actually make your piece work in ways that you hadn’t thought of before.
If you’re interested in exploring different points of view, we recommend the following:
Room by Emma Donoghue, from the perspective of a five-year old boy.
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides, first person, plural, from the perspective of a group of teenage boys.
Falling Man by Don DeLillo, third person narrative, covering a range of perspectives.
Don’t forget to check Writer’s Edit regularly for future weekly writing prompts.
And to view our previous writing prompts, click here.