No Choice w/the Voice

I’m trying to find my voice for a recent writing project. Initially, I was vacillating back and forth between going with a first-person narrative point of view (POV). Where the story is told by my main character.

Or, a third-person omniscient, limited POV. Here, the narrator follows and becomes a part of the thoughts and actions of only my main character, who is also my protagonist.

I ran with both POV’s. In the first and last chapter, I’m using the third person omniscient, limited voice. I’m beginning with the first half of my ending, a.k.a. my resolution; ending with the second half of my resolution in my final chapter.

Beginning in the second chapter, my main character, who is a “Ghostwriter”, tells a story. His voice remains up to and through the end of the climax, in the second to last chapter.

Easier said than done! When I began this approach, right away, I felt something wasn’t sitting right w/me. Frankly, I was thinking I couldn’t pull this formatting technique off. (I can see why writers drink). I then stepped away from the work and let it breathe for a while.

About a week later, I came across a video interview; with Mark W. Travis, an accomplished screenplay writing consultant. He talked about how to engage the viewer or my case the reader, in such a way they allow themselves to become immersed in the actual story. This means that his emphasis is on tense. Specifically, in the present tense. Working in concert w/ POV.

This allows the reader to choose to become immersed in the story itself. I thought this technique was brilliant. It was straightforward and honest.

Even though I loved what he had to say, I also realized I was making things harder, not easier, for myself as an author. My confidence level (in my abilities) was now even lower than before.

Then Ms. Serendipity paid me a visit. On Thanksgiving Day, I was with my son. We had already eaten and afterwards we went and shot some pool,

(Digression #1, I’m so fortunate and have good reason to be thankful— as far as sons go, he’s the best son a father could ever hope to have).

I was telling him about the world-building aspect of my novel. I said how I drew inspiration from my father, (who passed away in 2001— He was an artist, architect and set designer in the motion picture industry).

A long time ago, my dad worked on two unique projects. One that housed the Spruce Goose (a large wooden framed aeroplane) under a geodesic dome in California; and another, a geodesic sphere in Epcot Center, in Florida. It’s here I could draw inspiration from his accomplishments and contributions,

(Digression #2, Similar in effect, to my son, my father was the best father a son could ever hope to have).

So indulge me, as I describe a coffee lounge where my main character works as a barista.

“The Dish”, as most regulars called it, had an odd shape. It’s worth remembering the interior design. It had a masculine edge, and a spartan feel. That was invigorating! 

The smooth concrete floors are dangerous when wet. So be careful where you step. If you spill your drink, it’s up to you to clean up your mess; and before you leave, you’re responsible for bussing your table. Both the workers and patrons alike take pride in keeping the “Dish” clean. This is a popular place.

The main room itself is circular. One has to love the wainscotting, as it wraps around the entire room; it provides an arena feel. All wanna-be gladiators are welcome! 

At the four-foot level, the curvature of the wall serves to embrace all who live within, underneath the dome. There’s even a ten-foot oculus atop its center. With glass prisms, allowing for natural light to be refracted and evenly distributed downward, on the floor below. 

The acoustics are both accommodating and irreverent. You can hold a conversation with a friend standing clear across the room. Simply cusp your hands, lean into the wall, speak and listen. 

Opposite the entrance, we have our stage. In the center of the room is the coffee bar with its “Silent Running” espresso machine. To order your drink, step up on the floor of the rotating bar. If you take a minute and look around, you’ll see how every table has a lava lamp. There are black, rounded art déco tables, accompanied by their metal and black plastic chairs. They’re taunting and daring you to sit and imbibe. There isn’t a ninety-degree angle anywhere to be found. 

Structurally, a dome is heavy, and the Romans addressed this engineering challenge by adding broken glass, wood chips and other materials to lessen the weight and reduce the stress levels.

Today, the composition includes Hempcrete*, which was used instead of concrete. It’s roughly eight times lighter than cement. Between the dome walls was a geodesic*, skeletal framework.…

Here is where the magic lies. As I was describing the “Dish” to my son, I noticed he fell into the scene. He grew enamoured and allowed himself to become part of the story; only to catch himself, and awkwardly struggle to slip out of his stupor.

“Wait, wait pops! This is all make-believe, isn’t it?”

“Yes”, I replied

“Oh my God, we were just talking as if this place existed, yet I knew it didn’t. I lost my way…”, he said, with a laugh and a beaming smile.

That’s when I knew I can move my reader into the scene, w/ the present tense. And my vehicle is the setting.

I’ll use my settings for frequency. POV for energy; and tense with vibration. Thank you, Ms. Serendipity, and also please thank Tesla if you see him around.

Yet, even after all this, I was still feeling a little insecure and, frankly, a little afraid to try something that’s so far removed from my comfort zone. Do you believe in omens? If not, I hope to change your mind!

First, I was looking, or rather yearned, for validation of my ideas and feelings; but where do I look? I did not know.

To clear the clutter of the mind; to regroup; all to regain some sense of control— many will go to the gym, others will meditate, smoke pot, sleep or eat.… I’m a bit of a closet nerd. I usually will grab a book— not just any book. I want to be taken away, yes; but not too far and not so quickly.

My old standby— A Dartmouth Edition of Emerson Essays, (and reading for only the twentieth time) Essay III. The Poet. pg. 55. and I quote:

“… poets, are natural sayers, sent into the world to the end of the expression, and confound them, with those whose province is action, but who quit it, to imitate the sayers. But Homer’s words are as costly and admirable to Homer as Agamemnon’s victories are to Agamemnon. The poet does not wait for the hero or the sage.”

I found my validation. Here, Emerson proves that, to engage the reader, simply invite them to stand w/in a moment’s pause; allowing one to realize there’s no time for time to matter. Other than w/in an exhale of a moment’s breath.

Even a moment, when torched by irony, can resurface and forever remain, evergreen.

*Points of View (POV)

• First person is the perspective of the writer; 1st person uses words like “I,” “my,” “me,” or “we.”
• 2nd-person is the perspective of the reader being directly addressed by the writer; 2nd person uses words like “you,” “your,” or “us.” ; and
• 3rd-person is the perspective of a different party who is neither writer nor reader. 3rd person uses words like “she,” “his,” or “they.”      (Source: https://writingcommons.org/section/rhetoric/rhetorical-stance/point-of-view/ )

** Third Person Omniscient Limited

• As w/ a third person POV, my narrator is neither the writer nor reader. Here the narrator follows only my main character around. He’s able to get inside  the head of my Protagonist only. If I remember correctly, an example of this, would be 1984, by George Orwell.