: Re: Mixing essay-like opinions with the story Is it very uncommon or out of place to mix your own opinions within the story lines? Is it uncommon to change the tone from third person and talk

@Kevin153

Vote Up Vote Down

If the reader is firmly in the character's POV, and expects to remain firmly in the character's POV, this is jarring and can throw the reader right out of the story.

If the reader is firmly in an omniscient, opinionated narrator's POV, and is prepared to dip in and out of characters' heads, this works just fine.

For this to work, you have to prep the reader to expect it. Begin the pattern early in the story, and do it often enough that the reader experiences it as part of the tone of the story.

Note: Given that dipping in and out of characters' heads is very difficult to do well...

Another alternative is to stay firmly in the character's head, to put the dilemma into the POV character's thoughts. In your example, the moment between the hug and the lie are a perfect spot for that.

The reader will understand that this is a universal thing. And putting it into the POV character's thoughts keeps it personal, and helps the reader to experience the principle rather than merely reading about it.

Odd but true: The more personal you make a dilemma for the character, the more universal it becomes for the reader.

(0)

Login to post a comment!