I finally found my copy of 'Characters & Viewpoint' by Orson Scott Card. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It's clear and understandable with lots of appropriate examples. It's part of the 'Elements of Fiction Writing' series put out by Writer's Digest Books.
In short, he defines POV as first, second, or third. (Ignore first and second for right now, we know what those are.) THIRD HAS A NARRATOR AND IS DIVIDED INTO LIMITED AND OMNISCIENT.
"As an omniscient narrator, you float over the landscape wherever you want. You can show the reader every character's thoughts, dreams, memories, and desires; you can let the reader see any moment of the past or future."
"The limited third-person narrator is led through the story by one character, seeing only what that character sees; aware of what that character (the 'viewpoint character') thinks and wants and remembers, but unable to do more than guess at any other character's inner life."
Changing viewpoint characters.
"The limited narrator can also change viewpoint characters. Not in mid-scene or ever mid-paragraph, as the omniscient narrator does, but from one scene to another, as long as there is a clear transitional break -- a chapter break or a line space. The limited third-person narrator can never change viewpoints in mid-scene."
The book talks about the advantages/disadvantages of both types and also goes into 'levels of penetration' (cinematic/light/deep) which I found extremely interesting and well worth the cost of the book right there.
In short, he defines POV as first, second, or third. (Ignore first and second for right now, we know what those are.) THIRD HAS A NARRATOR AND IS DIVIDED INTO LIMITED AND OMNISCIENT.
"As an omniscient narrator, you float over the landscape wherever you want. You can show the reader every character's thoughts, dreams, memories, and desires; you can let the reader see any moment of the past or future."
"The limited third-person narrator is led through the story by one character, seeing only what that character sees; aware of what that character (the 'viewpoint character') thinks and wants and remembers, but unable to do more than guess at any other character's inner life."
Changing viewpoint characters.
"The limited narrator can also change viewpoint characters. Not in mid-scene or ever mid-paragraph, as the omniscient narrator does, but from one scene to another, as long as there is a clear transitional break -- a chapter break or a line space. The limited third-person narrator can never change viewpoints in mid-scene."
The book talks about the advantages/disadvantages of both types and also goes into 'levels of penetration' (cinematic/light/deep) which I found extremely interesting and well worth the cost of the book right there.
