Scott Hildreth | Becoming The Character

Point of view and perspective. There’s a difference between the two.

Point of view is the manner in which the story is told by the protagonist. I
generally write romance novels in first person point of view from the female and
male character’s perspective, alternating chapters between the hero and the heroine.

Perspective is how the character views the scene being described. The male and
female perspective differs greatly in life; therefore, it should differ greatly
in writing. Men tend to focus much more on what they see and less on how they
feel, while women are quite the opposite.

The differences between the two certainly don’t stop there. Statistically
speaking, on average, women speak almost three times as much as men. Men, when
describing an intimate scene will focus on what they’re touching, while a
woman’s description of the same scene will be driven by emotion. Women view
conversation as an opportunity, while men see it as a means of solving a problem.

In short, the variances between a man’s and women’s perspective are vast.
Knowing the many differences between men and women, and describing the scenes
from an accurate perspective are crucial in allowing the reader to see herself
not only as the heroine, but as the hero.

For most women, peering through the keyhole into a man’s otherwise private life
– without threat of discovery – becomes a guilty pleasure. Interest in the two
lives – and two totally different perspectives – strengthens. What woman doesn’t
want to know exactly what a man is thinking, feeling, and focusing on while
she’s in his presence? Reading from two very accurate viewpoints allows the
reader to live two lives, one almost secretly.

Writing from both perspectives isn’t difficult. For me, it’s like writing two
books – one from the male’s mind and one from the woman’s. To succeed at doing
so, I simply become the character.

Strong characters who are relatable maintain the reader’s interest. Soon, the pages aren’t read, they’re devoured. While reading the woman’s point of view, the reader relaxes and becomes immersed in emotion. During the hero’s chapters, the guilt for knowing not what continues to develop in the story, but what the hero thinks about the development returns.

The accuracy of the two written perspectives allows the reader to become the
character.

Becoming the character allows the reader to escape life, living through the
minds of two respective characters one page at a time.

What’s the difference between reading a story and living it?

Crack the cover of one of my books and find out.