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The camera's eye: Editor's Notes #135
December 15, 2012
Hello,

You can take for granted that people know more or less what a street, a shop, a beach, a sky, an oak tree look like.
Tell them what makes this one different.
--Neil Gaiman


In this issue:

1. The camera's eye
2. Tickled my funnybone
3. Interesting Web site
4. Getting a jump on 2013
5. Coming changes

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1. The camera's eye
The final point of view (POV) in this series is third person detached or third person objective point of view. It is also sometimes called the camera's eye because the writer records only what can been observed. Like other third person points of view, it records the story using the pronouns she and he.

Objective POV works well in informative material, sales material like brochures, and in horror or suspense stories. It is the oldest POV. Think of the Bible and Aesop's fables.

Strengths of Third Person Detached Point of View
  • It is the least intrusive point of view.
  • It does not allow any editorializing.
  • It relies solely on action and dialogue.
  • It builds suspense.


Weaknesses of Third Person Detached Point of View
  • The writer must be an astute observer.
  • The story can lack intimacy.
  • The story can lack emotional depth.


Examples of Third Person Detached Point of View
  • The Maltese Falcon (Dashielll Hammett)
  • Animal Farm (George Orwell)


Your challenges are to stay aware of point of view while you are reading and to choose the point of view carefully in your own writing.

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2.Tickled my funnybone
Gargoyle: Olive-flavored mouthwash.

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3. Interesting Web site
Check out these mini versions of some of your favourite stories.

http://rinkworks.com/bookaminute/

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4. Getting a jump on 2013
It's that time of year again when some of us take stock and think about how we would like to improve in the coming year. If you have a writing goal and could use some help in meeting it, you need Writer's Helper.

At https://www.writershelper.com/writing-goals.html you can sign up to receive a series of reminders with helpful hints to keep you going.

You'll also want to read the next bit below.

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5. Coming changes
I'll be revamping the Writer's Helper Web site over the next month or so. The content will stay pretty much the same, but some things will look different. For example, not all pages will have the same Look and Feel until the whole site has been changed over.

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All the best during the holiday season!

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Join Writer's Helper Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WritersHelperEditor
Follow me on Twitter @AudreytheEditor

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If you know a writer who would appreciate receiving Editor's Notes, forward this issue.

If someone has passed this on to you, you can get your own free subscription by signing up at https://www.writershelper.com/newsletter.html

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