On today’s Raw Reading, Alida Winternheimer reads from her current work-in-progress, working title, Playing with the Wind.
Today, a supporting character, Mrs. Dubrowski, takes care of our protagonist.
Playing with the Wind is a historical novel set in 1920s and 1930s Minnesota. After watching the video clip, read the author’s reflections on this particular text.
This story is told in the omniscient point of view, which means I get to share anything and everything with the reader I want. Of course, while it is the author’s prerogative what to share when and how many heads to enter, it must be done judiciously. If the elements introduced into the story are not significant, they don’t have a place. I do enjoy writing in the omniscient for both of those reasons, the fun of exploring any perspective I like and the challenge of keeping it meaningful at all times.
In this scene, one of the supporting characters takes the POV reins. Mrs. Dubrowski, the protagonist’s landlady, gets to take care of Edie after a tragedy occurs. Part of the reasoning for entering her point of view is that Edie is in a stupor. When a character is simply numb and empty, there is not much to be done or shown through that perspective. We might as well fade to black. Another reason is that Mrs. Dubrowski shows herself in a new light. Neither the other characters nor the readers know much about her history. This scene reveals something of interest. And the care she gives Edie now sets up a choice Edie makes later, a significant one to the rest of the plot. If I had faded to black, this set up that motivates Edie later would be off the page or only revealed in hearsay through Edie’s perspective.
That would be fine. It is a limitation of a single point of view narrative and a good one. Narrative limits can fuel creativity and shape a tightly woven story.
But, for now, I am omniscient and enjoying every moment of it!
This is a first draft. To what extent these words will need revision later remains to be seen. All material herein is copyrighted. © Alida Winternheimer 2021
