When I edit a novel manuscript for a client, I am reading as a regular reader would, only I am hyperaware—on the lookout for a laundry list of issues. The following are two content problems that pop up quite often: weak point of view and lack of setting. They may seem basic to you, and you may assume you have them under control, but many writers are surprised to learn they actually don’t.
SKILL #1: POINT OF VIEW (POV)
Basics
Who’s telling the story? Through what filter are you telling the story, and have you gone deep enough into the mind of the character in the telling? Also, will you use first person, second, or third?
FIRST PERSON: The “I” tells the story. The “I” is the narrator and the protagonist. The reader sees the story from just one character’s perspective.
I step out the door. The cold air heightens my senses. With a shiver, I get into the car and press the ignition.
The “you” tells the story. This is rarely
