How to Write an Omniscient Narrator If You’re Not Actually Omniscient Yourself

By prettyarbitrary March 28, 2016 #3rd omniscient was historically really popular, #a lot of older works are written in it, #and at any given time at least some of them seem to be taboo, #as well as HGTTG, #go wild and experiment, #it's neat to see 3rd omniscient making a comeback, #pov, #read some stories written in it, #reference, #there are so many interesting povs, #there's nothing wrong with any of them, #to learn how to do it, #writing, #writing reference

How to Write an Omniscient Narrator If You’re Not Actually Omniscient Yourself:

writersblockbuster:

Anders’ Tips Condensed:

First, it’s easier to be funny with third person omniscient.

There is an added layer of irony available to you with a narrator who can survey a scene, or present more than one point of view within a scene. […] Knowing what a few different people are thinking at the same moment can be comedy gold.

Second, it lets you info-dump.

Like a lot of the awesome powers of omniscience, this is one that you need to be careful with. […] Some of the best infodumps involve a narrator who explains stuff in a breezy, fast way.

Third, it gives you versatility.

Most third-person omniscient narration feels exactly like third-person limited — except that sometimes you can pull back and show a broader view, or provide more information.

Fourth, you can have a narrator with a personality.

A narrator who stands a little bit further outside things can comment on the action, or insert bits of information the characters may not have processed fully. Or just snark about things.

And finally, it lets you tell stories about more than one person.

You can write a whole passage about what [an entire] community did — or one particular couple — without needing to provide one individual’s POV.

Read the rest of Charlie Jane Anders article for tips on writing third-person omniscient with clarity and control.