In-Tune News You’ll Want To Use

Most writers are familiar with first and third points of view and their variations. But have you ever experimented with alternative points of view? Below are some less used points of view, what I call “unusual points of view.” Try using these when you’re blocked or you want to try something new.

Second Person Point of View

Second person can be written as “you” singular or plural. Josip Novakovich in FICTION WRITER’S WORKSHOP says: “The author makes believe he’s talking to someone, describing what the person addressed is doing. But the ‘you’ is not the reader, though sometimes it’s hard to get rid of the impression the author is addressing you directly.”

Here’s an excerpt from Italo Calvino’s first chapter of If on a winter night a traveler. I think it’s one of the most engaging examples of second person point of view. But if the author is not speaking to the reader…then to whom? You be the judge.

You are about to begin reading Italo Calvino’s new novel, If on a winter’s night a traveler. Relax. Concentrate. Dispel ever other thought. Let the world around you fade. Best to close the door; the TV is always on in the next room. Tell others right away, “No, I don’t want to watch TV!” Raise your voicethey won’t hear you otherwise”I’m reading! I don’t want to be disturbed!” . . . So here you are now, ready to attack the first lines of the first page. You prepare to recognize the unmistakable tone of the author . . .

Most stories told in second person are written in the present tense, so the reader identifies directly with the character. You’re along for the journey, being an active part of the story. I read this excerpt feeling as if the author sees me and is talking directly to me.

Like other points of view, second person has its pitfalls. One of them is keeping the reader’s attention through the whole story (in this example, an entire novel). Some readers don’t like to be told what they’re thinking and doing and saying. Sometimes this point of view has a tendency to sound too journalistic or like a recipe.

First Person Collective Observer Point of View (or third person plural)

In this point of view the reader follows the motions and acts of one person through a group’s viewpoint. Usually, someone in the group acts as narrator but doesn’t have his/her own identity. Usually this is reserved for small town narratives, where an individual lives under communal scrutiny. Schools, towns, churches, or families focus on a secret person in conflict with the community. In William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” Emily is the character scrutinized by the residents of Yoknapatawpha County.

Here is an excerpt from the story which occurs after she is put in the ground and what “we” discover.

For a long while we just stood there, looking at the profound and fleshless grin. The body had apparently once lain in the attitude of an embrace, but now the long deep sleep that outlasts love, that conquers even the grimace of love, had cuckolded him . . . Then we noticed that in the second pillow was an indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, leaning forward, that fast and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair.

Third Person Plural Observer (”They”)

Here the perceptions of a critical situation comes from a group of characters who watch the protagonist. It could be a group of boys watching a teenage girl undressing in her window as in: “They saw her in the window.” The excerpt from “A Rose for Emily” might as easily be written in the point of view.

First and Second Combined

This point of view is usually used in love poetry, and rarely in fiction. In this example from “The Roaring Bull and Electra,” a short story, it’s an adult daughter speaking to her father too ill to speak for himself.

Today the new Roaring Bull was christened, and I wanted you to be next to me as you had been, twenty years ago . . . Now you can’t speak. You can barely swallow. I used to feed you melted ice cream and stroke your throat to get it down because I thought the taste would remind you of our ferry rides . . .

First and Third Combined

This point of view is used for characters with a personality dichotomy, to look at the same character from different angles. In “Sarah Cole: A Type of Love Story” Russell Banks does this to portray a narcissistic man’s affair with a homely woman.

I felt warmed by her presence and was flirtatious and bold, a little pushy even.

Picture this. The man, tanned, limber . . . enters the apartment behind the woman.

The switch to third person is the character taking a look at himself, the way one might want to see himself projected onscreen. The shift in point of view might be annoying to the reader, so it’s important to establish this shift pattern early in your story.

Try this exercise:

Choose one of your favorite stories and rewrite a scene from it in one of the “unusual points of view.” You might want to try rewriting one of the excerpts above. In your exercise show the original passage, then your changed point of view (or points of view). You get extra brownie points if you write a scene from scratch. This is a challenging exercise, but it also shows you don’t have to be limited by variations of first and third person.

Let go, breathe deep, and have fun with it!

(c) 2004 Rita Marie Keller

About The Author

Rita Marie Keller has written and published numerous stories, articles, and essays. Her first novel, Living in the City, was released September 2002 by Booklocker.com, Inc. She founded the Cacoethes Scribendi Creative Writing Workshop (www.cacoethes-scribendi.com) in 1999.

Dr. Deepak Chopra is a well-known author of more than 25 books. He is one of the leading spokespersons for a growing movement of physicians who are combining modern Western medicine with ancient Eastern healing methods. Chopra was formerly the Chief of Staff at Boston Regional Medical Center, and he has taught at Tufts University and Boston University Schools of Medicine. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success is a short but insightful book that explains how simple actions can make a big difference. Some parts of it may appear abstract to those who have not experienced Eastern philosophy.

Based on natural laws which govern all of creation, this book shatters the myth that success is the result of hard work, exacting plans, or driving ambition.

Deepak Chopra offers a life-altering perspective on the attainment of success: Once we understand our true nature and learn to live in harmony with natural law, a sense of well-being, good health, fulfilling relationships, energy and enthusiasm for life, and material abundance will spring forth easily and effortlessly.

1. The Law Of Pure Potentiality

This law is based on the fact that we are, in our essential state, pure consciousness. According to Chopra, pure consciousness is pure potentiality, it is the field of all possibilities and infinite creativity. Other attributes of consciousness are pure knowledge, infinite silence, perfect balance, invincibility, simplicity and bliss. The more you experience your true nature, the closer you are to the field of pure potentiality. The experience of the Self, or “self-referral”, means that our internal reference point is our own spirit and not the object of our experience.

Another way to access the field of pure potentiality is through the practice of non-judgment. Judgment is the constant evaluation of things as right or wrong, good or bad. When you are constantly evaluating, classifying, labeling, analyzing, you create a lot of turbulence in your internal dialogue. This turbulence constricts the flow of energy between you and the field of pure potentiality.

2. The Law Of Giving

In order to keep energy and prosperity coming to us, we have to keep the energy circulating. A river must keep flowing, otherwise it begins to stagnate, to suffocate and strangle its very own life force. Giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe. If you stop the flow of either, you interfere with nature’s intelligence.

Practicing the Law of Giving is actually very simple:
if you want joy, give joy to others. If you want love- learn to give love, if you want attention and appreciation, learn to give the same, if you want material abundance,help others to get material abundance. The easiest way to get what you want is to help others get what they want. If you want to be blessed with all the things in life, learn to silently bless everyone with all the good things in life.

3. The Law of Karma

Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind - what we sow is what we reap. When we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is one of happiness and success.

Karma is cause and the effect of your actions simultaneously. Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in the same way we are sending it out. Karma implies the action of conscious choice-making. Some of these choices are made consciously, while others are made unconsciously.
The best way to maximize the use of karmic law is to become consciously aware of the choices we make in every moment. Everything that is happening in this moment is a result of the choicesyou have made in the past.

The essence of the Law of Karma is the idea of cause and effect. By taking the steps necessary to bring happiness and success to others, the universe will reciprocate by providing you with happiness and abundance.

4. The Law of Least Effort

There is a natural effortless ease in many things. If you observe nature at work, you will see that least effort is expended. Grass doesn’t try to grow, it just grows. Fish don’t try to swim, they just swim. Flowers don’t try to bloom, they just bloom. This is their essential nature. It is also the nature of the sun to shine. It is human nature to make our dreams manifest into physical form, easily and effortlessly.

There are three components to the Law of Least Effort.

a. Acceptance.
It simply means that you make a commitment: “Today I accept people, situations, circumstances and events as they occur.I will live in the moment. I will accept things as they are, not as I would like them to be (my ego). Knowing and understanding this I can be responsible for my emotions and feelings and there for towards my reactions to the world. “

b. Responsibility.
It means not to blame others and yourself. Take the moment and transform it to something better. In this way every tyrant will become your teacher. Reality is an interpretation and you will have many opportunities to evolve. There is a hidden meaning behind all events and this hidden meaning will be serving your evolution.

c. Defenselessness.
This means that you do not have to convince or persuade other people of your point of view. If you watch people around you you’ll see that they spend 99% of their time defending their point of view.

5. The Law of Intention and Desire

Whenever you put your attention on will, you grow stronger in your life. Whenever you take your attention away from your will it will disintegrate and disappear.
Intention on the other hand triggers transformation of energy and information. Intent is desire without attachment to the outcome.

6.The Law of Detachment

In order to acquire anything in the physical universe you have to relinquish your attachment to it. This does not mean you give up the intention to create your desire. You don’t give up your intention and you don’t give up your desire. You give up your attachment to the result. This is a very powerful thing to do. The moment you give up your attachment to the result, you begin to gain perspective on the situation.

7. The Law of Dharma Or Purpose in Life

Everyone has a purpose in Life - a unique gift or special talent to give to others. When we blend this talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals.

What would you do if money was no concern and you had all the time in the world? If you would still do what you are doing now, then you are in Dharma because you have passion for what you do -you are expressing you unique talent. How are you best suited to serve the world?
Answer that question and put it into practice. By doing this you can generate all the wealth you want because your creative expression matches your fellow humans. You will know true joy and the true meaning of success.

Key thoughts:

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because characte is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
-John Wooden, college basketball coach

“Although they only give gold medals in the field of athletics, I encourage everyone to look into themselves and find their own personal dream, whatever that may be - sports, medicine, law, business, music, writing, whatever. The same principles apply. Turn your dream into a goal and learn how to attack that goal systematically. Break it into bite-size chunks that seem possible, and then don’t give up. Just keep plugging away.”
- John Naber, swimmer, four-time Olympic Gold Medalist

By: Regine Azurin
Regine Azurin is the President of BestSummaries.com, a
company that provides book summaries of the latest
motivational, inspirational, self-help and personality
development bestsellers.

http://www.bestsum.com
Free Book Summaries of Top Self-help, Motivational
and Inspirational books

Mailto: freearticle@bestsum.com
BestSummaries is a BestSummaries.com service.
(c) Copyright 2004, BestSummaries.com

About the Author

This Article is based on the following book:
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
‘A Practical Guide To The Fulfillment of Your Dreams’
By Deepak Chopra. M.D.
Published by Amber-Allen Pub 1995
ISBN: 1878424114
115 pages

Self-effacing humor, or making fun of yourself is quite a contrast. It is a very powerful form of humor that gets its strength from highlighting your weaknesses. It seems that people who have the ability to laugh at themselves in just the right amount during a public speaking engagement are perceived as secure, confident, strong, and likeable.

With this type of humor, a little goes a long way. If you overdo it during a public speaking engagement, you will look like a doomsayer who is always putting yourself down. If you can’t bring yourself to use any self-effacing humor, you should learn. I must be candid here. Most people hate to deal with a stuffed shirt. Unfortunately, if you can’t poke a little fun at yourself, that is the way you are perceived.

I think the reason self-effacing humor works so well is that weak people feel the need to inflate themselves and powerful people don’t. If you have the confidence to tease yourself, you are indirectly sending the message to the audience that you are secure and powerful. Most audiences can see right through speakers who are trying to puff themselves up. It turns them off quickly.

The person who is not afraid to tease him or herself is the one who makes the greatest connection with the audience because everyone in the audience has embarrassed themselves or failed at something at one time or the other. If you use self-effacing humor, the audience knows that you, as the presenter, know how it feels to fail. That is a very powerful magnet.

Katharine Rolfe, President of The Lighten Up Club, takes self-effacing humor one step further. She says, ‘I call it self-appreciating humor because it conveys a positive appreciation of ourselves as humans who are simply out there doing our best and bumbling along as we go.’ Katharine’s organization believes the key to a happy life is the ability to laugh at yourself, for then you are never without a source of amusement.

Unless you are a Don Rickles type presenter (known for his hockey puck teasing style of humor), you should never set yourself up as superior to the audience either socially, financially, or intellectually. You want the audience to accept you as one of them. Let them feel superior to you in some way. Your audience would rather hear about the time you fell on your face, rather than the time you won the race.

That is why self-effacing humor is great during speaking engagements. The audience likes the fact that you openly admit your weaknesses. They laugh, but they still respect you because you are self-confident enough to joke about yourself.

There are any number of things you can tease yourself about. Your physical appearance is good if you are especially tall, or short or fat or bald. Just make sure that the physical appearance is obvious to the audience. If you are disorganized, you could tease yourself about that. If you can’t parallel park, you could tease yourself about that. Just about anything will work as long as you are the target.

What you want to avoid teasing about is any subject that has a direct tie to your credibility. For instance, if you were a nuclear control room technician, you would not want to joke about the time you pushed the wrong button. But, if you got fired from your job as a nuclear control room technician for almost pushing the wrong button, then this fact might be a good topic for humor. It could turn into a great topic if you now own a landscaping company or are in some other non-threatening position.

To use self-effacing humor, you don’t necessarily have to joke about yourself. You can make fun of your family background, your profession, or anything else that directly relates to you. I tell a story in my presentations about the time my mom came from our very small hometown to visit me in the big city of Washington, D.C. The audience hears about how small Claysville is and that my mom’s house is way out in the sticks. We didn’t have city water, or city sewerage, or cable TV. I then go on to tell how we took a trip on the Spirit of Washington for a dinner cruise and went sightseeing all over the capital. Here’s how the end of the story goes:

“When we got home that evening I was exhausted, so I told mom I was going to bed and that I would see her in the morning. She said, “OK. I’m just going to watch the news and then I’ll go to bed.” I got up at about 2:00 a.m. and there was mom sitting in front of the TV. Her head was nodding and drooping. I said, “Mom. What are you doing?” She said, “I’m just waiting for the news to be over.” Well she would have waited a long time because she was watching . . .CNN 24 hour headline news.”

In this story I was not directly teasing myself. I was teasing about my small town background and about the innocent and funny boner my mom pulled when she came to visit.

Former president Ronald Reagan was a master at using self-effacing humor. In his bid for the Presidency in 1980 his age appeared to be his biggest obstacle. He attacked the problem with self-effacing humor. He would joke about his age all the time which turned age into a non-issue. He told a group of reporters once, ‘Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘One should not worry about chronological age compared to the ability to perform the task.’ . . . Ever since Thomas Jefferson told me that I stopped worrying about my age.’

Look for opportunities to tease yourself. This will be one of your most powerful tools to connect with the audience and a subtle way to show your strength.

Copyright © 1998 - 2005 Advanced Public Speaking Institute

Tom Antion provides entertaining speeches and educational seminars. He is the ultimate entrepreneur, having owned many businesses BEFORE graduating college. Tom is the author of the best selling presentation skills book “Wake ‘em Up Business Presentations” and “Click: The Ultimate Guide to Electronic Marketing.” It is important to Tom that his knowledge be not only absorbed, but enjoyed. This is why he delivers his speeches laced with great humor and hysterical jokes. Tom has addressed more than 87 different industries and is thoroughly committed to his clients’ needs. http://www.antion.com

Advanced Public Speaking Institute
3105 Sergin Ct.
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
(757) 431-1366
Fax (757) 431-2050
Contact: cmckinney@public-speaking.org
http://www.GreatPublicSpeaking.com

Visit our Blog at http://www.GreatPublicSpeaking.BlogSpot.com