ONLINE CLASS

Master POV

Learn to effectively use point of view to immerse readers in your story


INSTRUCTOR

Tiffany Yates Martin

DATE

Live on March 22, 2023, or watch recording

IDEAL FOR

Novelists who want to deepen their characters

ACCESSIBILITY

Closed captions by Otter; transcript provided with recording


Having strong point of view in your manuscript is about more than whether to write in first person or third. Whatever your chosen voice, the key to an engaging, vivid story is to bring readers directly into it, rather than leaving them on the outside looking in.

In this Wednesday, March 22 live class, instructor Tiffany Yates Martin will clarify the different types of point of view, and show how to strengthen character, deepen reader engagement, and bring a story to life by developing a strong, clear POV and perspective.

This workshop will cover:

  • The basic POVs, the limitations and benefits of each, and how to use them consistently and clearly to orient the reader in the story and characters—including first person and third-person points of view
  • The differences between third-person limited, third-person objective, deep-third, and third-person omniscient
  • How to use POV to reveal what the characters are feeling and experiencing and create a vivid, visceral picture of the scene and the action
  • How to avoid sneaky POV creep and head hopping (with examples)
  • The secret to enhancing reader engagement: by letting readers inside characters’ inner lives, whether in a direct or objective POV, and creating an immersive and immediate experience
  • How POV can be harnessed to provide insight into other characters and their behavior, plus character dynamics.

You’ll learn how to write about your characters’ immediate visceral responses rather than leaping straight to their conclusions. In other words, you’ll let readers draw some of their own conclusions based on seeing the characters’ direct reactions, thoughts, and emotions, using deep POV immersion.

With a firm grasp on POV fundamentals, you’ll handle characterization and relationship dynamics with depth and nuance, based on characters’ background and upbringing, their ideology, their experiences, and more.

Who should take this class

  • Writers working on their first novel
  • More experienced fiction writers who want to deepen their characters and heighten reader engagement through more advanced use of POV

This class is not suited for

  • Writers of nonfiction, including memoir (while some of the class could equally apply to memoir, all examples and discussion will center on fiction; memoir will not be addressed in the presentation or during Q&A)
  • Tiffany presented this class in early 2021. The substance of the presentation has not fundamentally changed, so anyone who attended in the past will not necessarily gain new understanding from this iteration.

What’s included in all of Jane’s classes

How do I attend the live class?

This class uses Zoom webinar technology (see system requirements). You will join through your Internet-connected computer or mobile device. When you register, you will receive information via email on how to join the class. If you don’t receive it within 1 hour of registering, please contact us.

  • When: Wednesday, March 22, 2023
  • Time: 1:00–2:15 p.m. Eastern / 10:00 a.m. Pacific
  • Fee: $25

The webinar is broadcast via the internet with live audio delivered through your computer or mobile device speakers. The visual presentation is displayed directly from the presenter’s computer to your computer screen. The Q&A is managed through a chat-style submission system with questions read and answered by the presenter for the entire class to hear.

Closed captions are provided during the live class. We use Zoom’s automated closed caption service (powered by Otter), which is about 80%+ accurate. We also use Otter AI to generate an unedited transcript, provided with the recording.

About the instructor

Tiffany Yates Martin has spent nearly thirty years as an editor in the publishing industry, working with major publishers and New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning authors as well as indie and newer writers, and is the author of the Amazon bestseller Intuitive Editing: A Creative and Practical Guide to Revising Your Writing. She’s led workshops and seminars for conferences and writers’ groups across the country and is a frequent contributor to writers’ sites and publications. Under the pen name Phoebe Fox, she’s the author of six novels, including her most recent release, The Way We Weren’t (Berkley/PRH).

Everything was clear and concise from Tiffany. Not a moment was wasted, which made all the learning fun and interesting. I also loved the examples shared. I’m a new fan!

Terri T.

Awesome job with the webinar. It was great—specific and to the point. And the examples worked really well. Made it super real and obvious how to do it subtly versus with the proverbial sledgehammer.

Lainey C.

Hands-down best course I’ve taken. Thank you.

Marian P.

All students receive the following

  • Access to the live class. After roughly 60 minutes, the instructor will take questions during class using in-class chat/text. The class will end after roughly 75 minutes.
  • A recording of the class—audio and video. This is especially helpful if you have a conflict with the class time or something comes up and you can’t make the session. Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for 30 days. You do not have to attend the live event to access the recordings.
  • Presentation slides. All participants receive a copy of the slide presentation in PDF form.
  • Rough transcript. We use Otter to create an automated transcript of the entire webinar, which we’ll share with you in addition to the audio and video recording.
  • Supplementary handouts. You’ll receive an outline of the principles in the presentation, as well as the examples, plus sample POV snippets to practice identifying POV and using it consistently and clearly.

Event Attendance & Anti-Harassment Policy

We strive to provide an environment where all present—whether attendee, presenter, or staff—can feel supported. In order to ensure a welcoming event, here is what we expect from all who participate.

  • That the presenter and the presenter’s work be treated with respect by attendees and that all attendees treat each other with respect and a generosity of spirit.
  • That attendees will refrain from harassment of any sort including (but not limited to) comments or questions of a racist, homophobic, sexist/sexual, or threatening nature. This includes actions that disrupt or interfere with anyone’s ability to participate. Offenders will be disconnected from the live event.