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Using a Character's Personality to Improve the Point of View

When you have chosen a point of view for your story or a particular scene, you need to know the point of view character very well. What readers need more than a point of view is to experience the fictional world the same way your character does. So you need to consider a character's personality and perception in narrating from their point of view and bring it to bear in your narrative. Here are four areas of a character's personality and how they affect their point of view.

1. The Sense They Rely on the Most

First, not everyone has the same sense of heightened perception. Some of us focus more on what we see, or what we hear, or what we touch. Not all of us can tell the difference between a Pepsi and a Coke. And some of us can easily identify people by their perfume. So when a character describes a scene or another character, he will rely more on his stronger sense. A visual character would take in the striking details of a physical setting, and an auditory character would pay particular attention to the tone of another character's voice.

2. Their Temperament

Another form of perception is a character's temperament. Different temperaments will look at a situation differently. What is a downer for a high-spirited person might be a learning moment for a very reflective person. Our temperaments also determine what we are quick to identify and how we respond to things. A materialistic character would be attracted to expensive things wherever he finds them. When he walks into a room, he will describe it based on the price of the rug, furniture, and wallpaper. A perfectionist will quickly notice the things that aren't in order. Five minutes lateness tells him that another character doesn't value time, and he would spot a frame that is not hung on the wall properly.

3. Their Profession

The profession of a character would also affect how the narration would go from their point of view. Our training and area of expertise affect how we view a particular situation and what would matter most to us. A lawyer will be more inclined to view a matter based on what the rules are and if they have been a breach of an agreement. A psychologist would try to psychoanalyze other characters, and he is more interested in the mental state that propels the action of others. A homicide detective views everyone as a suspect and has a hard time trusting anyone. The profession of our point of view character should reflect in his thought process and views.

4. Their Six Sense

Another area to consider in our point of view character is his intuition. This is like a mix of principal emotional intelligence and hypersensitivity to external stimuli. Essentially, this means some people can predict the intention, fears, and secrets of others. Some characters have a way of telling if someone is telling the truth or not, or whether or not they are sincere. This is common among professions like law enforcement, psychotherapy, and journalism. People in these professions know how to make quick judgments. To display this sense in point of view, picture how it feels to be aware of something by instinct and portray it that way. For example, a character’s stomach might knot up, or the nerves in his arms might go on alert when they sense something dreadful is about to happen.

Written by Readers’ Favorite Reviewer Frank Stephen