Deep-third-person POV:
A Strange Hybrid
Deep third-person point of view (POV)—also known as “close third”—is a narrative technique that combines elements of both limited-third and first-person perspectives. It offers a unique way of storytelling that can greatly enhance the reader’s immersion in a story, which has made it increasingly popular in the current market.
Compared to omniscient POV and limited-third person POV, deep third offers more intimacy and immediacy, or a closer connection between reader and character. The author can delve deep into a character’s thoughts, emotions, and perspective with this unique POV.
However, using deep third effectively requires skill and attention. It demands an exceptionally thorough understanding and development of your POV character(s), and a secure grounding in their history and background, relationships, motivations and goals, personality, and more to give readers the intimate, direct experience that this POV can offer. Mastering deep third requires a careful and deliberate handling of perspective.
Another challenge is avoiding excessive navel-gazing or prolonged interiority that can slow down the momentum of the story. Authors must maintain a balance between introspection and action, ensuring that the narrative remains engaging and dynamic.
In this 75-minute webinar, career editor Tiffany Yates Martin will show you what sets deep third apart from other points of view, how to most effectively use its power, and what it looks like to drive readers deep into a character’s direct experience. We’ll look at plentiful published examples to see what makes deep third work, to open a window into your characters’ direct experience while serving the story and moving it forward.
Authors will learn:
- The difference between “deep third” and omniscient and limited-third person POVs, and how to achieve the perfect mix of third-person voice with first-person intimacy
- The main characteristics of stories told in deep-third POV
- Pros and cons of using deep third
- When and how much to use elements of deep third
- Mastering key elements of deep third:
--Showing versus telling
--Character perspective and personality
--Inner life
--Dialogue and nonverbals
--Sensory detail
--Avoiding filtering language
--Avoiding POV slips
Who should take this course?
- Authors writing fiction who struggle with creating and maintaining strong, consistent deep-third POV
- Authors who want to learn more about incorporating this powerful, intimate POV into their stories
- Authors who may have resisted using deep third who want to know more about what it can offer their stories
Hi, I'm Tiffany Yates Martin, founder of FoxPrint Editorial
In my publishing career working as a book editor on hundreds of manuscripts—for major publishers and New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning authors as well as newer writers—I have decades of experience in pinpointing what can keep an author's story from being as effective as it can be, and how to help authors make it marketable and competitive.
As an editor as well as a teacher leading workshops and seminars in writing and editing, I've developed clear, useful, hands-on tools for helping authors learn to spot these areas, along with practical techniques for addressing them, and I'm the author of a book based on those techniques, Intuitive Editing: A Creative & Practical Guide to Revising Your Writing, as well as The Intuitive Author: How to Grow & Sustain a Happier Writing Career
"Invaluable tools for my tool chest"
“What a terrific presentation! Couldn't ask for better content—clear and concise—or better delivery. You have a very engaging, inspiring style. Love the handouts that you shared. Invaluable tools for my tool chest.”—Pamela B.
"She's that good."
“I’ll sign up for ANY fiction-related class by Ms. Martin. She’s that good.”—Sandy W.
"No-nonsense expertise"
“I’ve taken so many of your classes that I’ve honestly lost count of how much I’ve learned from you (POV, flashbacks, scene construction, etc). I've also always appreciated your no-nonsense expertise and the candor you demonstrate when you teach.”—Elizabeth O.
Example Curriculum
FAQs:
When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course--you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like--across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.
