Deep Point of View/POV: Immersing Readers in Your Character’s Mind

Deep Point of View/POV: Immersing Readers in Your Character’s Mind

By Olivia Salter

What Is Deep POV?

Deep POV is a powerful writing technique that allows readers to step directly into the shoes of your protagonist. It eliminates the psychic or narrative distance between the reader and the character, creating an intimate connection. When you write in deep POV, readers experience the story as if they themselves were the character.

1. The Essence of Deep POV: Show, Don’t Tell

Deep POV is all about showing rather than telling. Instead of describing emotions or thoughts from an external perspective, you convey them directly through the character’s experience. Readers feel as if they’re living the story alongside the protagonist.

2. Removing Author/Narrator Voice

In deep POV, the author’s voice disappears. You strip away phrases like “she felt,” “he wondered,” or “they saw.” Instead, you convey everything through the character’s senses, thoughts, and feelings. This creates a seamless connection between the reader and the fictional world.

3. Stepping Inside Your Character’s Head

Subjective POV (deep POV) immerses readers in the character’s head. You know everything the character knows, feels, sees, and understands. By eliminating distance, you create an emotional journey that resonates with readers.

4. Crafting Authentic Characters

Deep POV allows you to delve into your character’s unique voice, quirks, and worldview. Readers experience their fears, desires, and vulnerabilities firsthand. This authenticity makes characters more relatable and memorable.

5. Techniques for Achieving Deep POV:

• Thoughts and Inner Monologue: Share the character’s unfiltered thoughts, doubts, and hopes.
• Sensory Details: Describe what the character sees, hears, smells, tastes, and touches.
• Emotional Reactions: Show immediate emotional responses to events.
• Dialogue Tags: Use minimalistic tags (e.g., “he said”) to keep the focus on the character’s experience.
• Body Language: Convey emotions through gestures, posture, and physical sensations.

In conclusion, mastering deep POV enhances your storytelling. It invites readers to fully inhabit your characters’ minds, creating an unforgettable reading experience. So, dive deep and let your characters come alive on the page!

Also see:

• MasterClass: How to Write Deep POV
• Almost An Author: What is Deep POV, and why is It Important?
• Tara Marlow: Deep POV: What it is, and Why It’s a Game-Changer!