Point of view is one of the first craft decisions we have to make when we put pen to paper, and often, we just do what feels natural. But POV is so much more than just 1st person versus 3rd person, and employing it effectively can have a huge impact on so many other craft elements, such as character, plot, setting, and even pacing. In this session, we'll learn how narrative distance and interiority might be the more important thing to consider in developing our narrative voice and explore how those choices can make our stories stronger. We'll look at examples from writers such as Jhumpa Lahiri, Don DeLillo, and Lauren Groff and see what lessons we can crib from their POV choices that can strengthen our own work.
STEVE TRUMPETER is a writer, artist, and musician from Chicago. His recent fiction has appeared in The Southern Review, Salamander, American Fiction, Chicago Quarterly Review and others. He was a finalist for the Chicago Tribune’s Nelson Algren Award and took 2nd place in Zoetrope: All-Story’s 2019 fiction contest. He teaches creative writing classes at StoryStudio Chicago. Discover his stories, paintings, music, and more here.
