Where Do You Stand to Tell Your Story?
Points of view for your writing, and why they can't exist together
Points of view for your writing, and why they can't exist together
One story can be totally different when told from the back of it than the same story told from its front. Today, we will check one imaginary and two real points of view you can use in your literary endeavors.
I feel compelled to include the imaginary one because so many try to use it before they default to one of the real ones.
“Pro from Dover” viewpoint
This one usually appears as advice from the expert.
The tone is that the author pretty much knows it all, as in “you may cry, but I’ll laugh,” but not in an abusive way, just a bit aloof.
The vocabulary used may be challenging at first to the typical new reader.
This type of writing is perfect for business blogs, whether aimed at consumers or internal to its industry. It is also usually good for social influencers or self-defined social influencers.
It is the natural habitat of writers with high self-esteem. It is a particularly awkward genre for newer “experts.”
The phrase “Pro from Dover” first appeared in the 1968 book M*A*S*H by Richard Hooker, about army surgeons during the Korean War.
The “Pros from Dover” has become an American slang term for outside consultants, brought into a business to solve problems.
“We’re the pros from Dover and we
aim to crack this kid’s chest and be on the course by 1.”
The audience can tend to be skeptical. Sometimes they are not sure of why they should believe this author, so some proof or verification is frequently in order as part of the writer’s profile.
It is a very non-personal vehicle.
“Fellow Traveler” viewpoint
This type of writing is best termed, “let’s learn together,” or “we are all learning together.”
“We cry together.” “We celebrate our successes together.”
Nothing earth-shattering is expected. We enjoy discovery. The journey.
This vehicle is great for travel and book blogs. The author never has to prove any authority. The audience will naturally build empathy.
It is a very personal type of writing. We’re all in this together.
A “Fellow Traveler” is defined by Webster as a person who sympathizes with, and often furthers the ideals and programs of an organized group (such as the Communist party) without membership in the group or regular participation in its activities.
The reader can be along for this ride, but not necessarily the next one.
The “News Story” viewpoint
This type of viewpoint does not really exist.
It was developed over on the unicorn ranch.
This style used to represent TRUTH, the reason journalists claimed to have become journalists, before they gathered the nerve to admit they became journalists to make the world a better place.
It is supposed to be a strictly AP or UPI type of newsfeed, now universally realized to be too boring and in need of spice to even exist in today’s world.
Consistency
This is the “bad penny” of literature. It always turns up as the low-hanging fruit of criticism.
It is heard frequently enough to make a budding writer throw up a little…
You must have consistency and continuity in your viewpoint. Within the story and within the blog or platform itself.
You need consistency both in your efforts and your perspective.
You can’t usually have both points of view. You will confuse the reader. You will confuse and discourage the subscribers.
We find the “Fellow Traveler” to be the best overall. Most readers do want quick answers, but most readers want to know your human, even more.
Join Medium with my referral link - Don Martin
As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…medium.com
Take this quick quiz to see if you too, can make it as a big-time writer…