: Re: How do I bring my readers closer to my characters when using the third person? I've chosen to write my story in the third person due to the scope of it, but by doing so I have made it
I like to write in past-tense very close 3rd person. It's almost like 1st person mentally, but the action is viewed as if from a camera. There are several ways to increase closeness:
Repeatedly using them as a (or THE) POV character. Having two makes it closer than if you have 5 POV's.
Strictly limiting what is perceived to that character, and not going into omniscient style narration. No narrative info-dumps, just what they see, hear, or remember. That helps improve your writing too.
Focusing heavily on the character's thoughts. Italics is better than using 'he thought'. Make them real-time thoughts, not summaries or naming of emotions.
Including not just a lot of sensory information (which helps ground us in the scene), but perceived senses. Muscles burn, bones aching, heart pounding, eyes stinging, fear rips through him.
Shift the narrative voice when you shift POV. The narration of the scenes with my teenage gutter rat is very different from that of the elderly educator. The narration takes on the style, prejudices, and vocabulary of the thoughts of the POV character.
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