Is it okay to say what the character infers about other characters thoughts as fact in third person limited?












11















The story is third person limited to Bob's point of view. He is with Alice, and I have the following line.




Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, realizing where she was.




Compare this to




Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, apparently realizing where she was.




This is a tiny change, but without it I am technically breaking the limited scope and seeing into Alice's head briefly. But at the same time, Bob could realistically realize that was what was going on in Alice's head, so it does not seem egregious.



The reason I am hesitant to do the second is because I do not want to be constantly hedging statements with things like "apparently" or "seemed to" since it can bog down the writing if used often.



So the question: Is it okay to show thoughts of the non-perspective character if the perspective character can reasonably guess them?










share|improve this question









New contributor




rtpax is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

























    11















    The story is third person limited to Bob's point of view. He is with Alice, and I have the following line.




    Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, realizing where she was.




    Compare this to




    Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, apparently realizing where she was.




    This is a tiny change, but without it I am technically breaking the limited scope and seeing into Alice's head briefly. But at the same time, Bob could realistically realize that was what was going on in Alice's head, so it does not seem egregious.



    The reason I am hesitant to do the second is because I do not want to be constantly hedging statements with things like "apparently" or "seemed to" since it can bog down the writing if used often.



    So the question: Is it okay to show thoughts of the non-perspective character if the perspective character can reasonably guess them?










    share|improve this question









    New contributor




    rtpax is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.























      11












      11








      11


      1






      The story is third person limited to Bob's point of view. He is with Alice, and I have the following line.




      Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, realizing where she was.




      Compare this to




      Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, apparently realizing where she was.




      This is a tiny change, but without it I am technically breaking the limited scope and seeing into Alice's head briefly. But at the same time, Bob could realistically realize that was what was going on in Alice's head, so it does not seem egregious.



      The reason I am hesitant to do the second is because I do not want to be constantly hedging statements with things like "apparently" or "seemed to" since it can bog down the writing if used often.



      So the question: Is it okay to show thoughts of the non-perspective character if the perspective character can reasonably guess them?










      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      rtpax is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.












      The story is third person limited to Bob's point of view. He is with Alice, and I have the following line.




      Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, realizing where she was.




      Compare this to




      Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, apparently realizing where she was.




      This is a tiny change, but without it I am technically breaking the limited scope and seeing into Alice's head briefly. But at the same time, Bob could realistically realize that was what was going on in Alice's head, so it does not seem egregious.



      The reason I am hesitant to do the second is because I do not want to be constantly hedging statements with things like "apparently" or "seemed to" since it can bog down the writing if used often.



      So the question: Is it okay to show thoughts of the non-perspective character if the perspective character can reasonably guess them?







      creative-writing viewpoint third-person






      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      rtpax is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      rtpax is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 9 hours ago







      rtpax













      New contributor




      rtpax is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      asked 11 hours ago









      rtpaxrtpax

      3086




      3086




      New contributor




      rtpax is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.





      New contributor





      rtpax is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.






      rtpax is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.






















          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          7














          You seem to have chosen third person limited scope, and then decided that you're "supposed to" follow the rules of third person limited scope. You should make decisions based on what serves the story, not based on whether it's consistent with a label that otherwise applies to your story. If you had some motivation for choosing third person limited, then ask whether putting in "apparently" serves that reason you originally had for third person limited, rather than asking whether it is needed to qualify as third person limited. If you think that distancing the reader from other people serves the story, then put in qualifying words such as "apparently". But if you think the story is better served by being more direct, then be direct.



          Also, another option that is somewhat risky as it can erode reader trust, but if done well cements Bob's point of view even more than distancing words such as "apparently", is to give Bob an unreliable POV. If you give narration from Bob's POV, and don't explicitly qualify it as being from Bob's POV, and the narration is later shown to have been occasionally inaccurate, the reader will pick up on the fact that when narration strays into other people's motivations, it has to be taken with a grain of salt. This puts the reader more into Bob's POV, because Bob isn't constantly qualifying his evaluations of other people's mental states. He's not thinking "It appears that Alice realized where she is", he's just thinking "Alice realized where she is". He's making assumptions about what people are thinking, and trying to create a model of their mental states, and occasionally realizing that he was wrong.






          share|improve this answer
























          • I really like what you said about eroding the reader's trust -- as a loose example that this struck me with (I say loose because I don't have exact examples and am simply going off of memory of a feeling), I think that happened when I read Angels and Demons. Might've been Da Vinci Code...in any case, I remember thoroughly enjoying these books, but having a moment at the end thinking, "well i might've gotten that, but I assumed the narrative was, you know, telling the truth", because it assumed a voice that implied being objective. Great comment!

            – Natalie Spatharakis
            5 hours ago











          • I agree. The chief advantage of the approach the OP has taken, and which this answer supports is that it honors the fundamental writer-reader contract -- the writer should disappear. Inserting clunky weasel words like "apparently" just calls out the fact that we are currently sitting down reading a 3PL book, and that the author will sacrifice readability on the altar of THE RULES. This is the opposite of the writer's responsibility. As written, this is not a break into Alice's head so long as we can maintain our illusion of being in Bob's head -- an illusion which "apparently" destroys.

            – Haakon Dahl
            2 hours ago











          • Marking this answer as correct since I think it covers the pros and cons of doing it both ways the best

            – rtpax
            24 mins ago



















          8














          This will be a matter of opinion. My opinion is no, it is not okay. I write in 3PL myself, exclusively, and everything I write is as if the MC is seeing it.



          You are doing nothing but saving space, and saving space is not important. I would probably write that scene as:




          Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



          She just realized where she was, Bob thought.




          But, since Bob is the only one that can think [whose thoughts are ever shown], and this is indicated by italics, the following would suffice:




          Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



          She just realized where she was.




          Then, because things should be filtered through Bob's mind, I'd add some take on it; Bob should feel something about what he has seen. Not just report it. Perhaps he's sympathetic.




          Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



          She just realized where she was. Too bad, anywhere else and she's got a right to be proud.




          My narrator is not the MC, and the narrator can describe visual things in ways Bob would not. For example, "sitting up proudly". I can't be certain Alice is "proud", but I can be just as certain, visually, as saying Alice is Angry, afraid, grieving, etc. So I don't mind the attribution of "proudly".



          I also don't mind if the 3P narrator gets poetic or imaginative in their descriptions of a setting, in ways the MC would not.



          But as far as knowing what is in any character's mind: that is what the "LIMITED" means. Find a way for Bob to interpret what is in Alice's mind. And make it clear, don't make us infer what Bob inferred.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 9





            "You are doing nothing but saving space, and saving space is not important." I disagree with that. Everything in a story affects the reader, the amount of space narration takes up included. One has to decide what effect it will have, and whether that is the effect one wants it to be.

            – Acccumulation
            8 hours ago






          • 4





            @Acccumulation We'll disagree. Readers don't mind reading; breaking rules to save words is not worth it. The solution to most writing problems, for beginners especially, is to get over this dumb idea that readers want to read less. Writers should avoid repetition, and useless words, and over-explaining -- But the point there is not to save space. The point is to not bore the reader by saying the same thing two ways, or four ways. That is boring for the reader that got it on the first way. Keep up the pace, but don't ever write as if your reader hates reading.

            – Amadeus
            8 hours ago



















          4














          Welcome!



          +1 to both existing answers.



          The advantage of adding the word 'apparently' is that it further anchors us into Bob's mind without the need to add italicized thought (which can become distracting in its own right.)



          But--there are many tricks to get around the point-of-view break. You've mentioned one.




          1. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, apparently realizing where she was.


          Some additional possibilities:




          1. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, perhaps realizing where she was.


          2. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, saying, "I just realized where I am."


          3. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down. Bob thought to himself, She must recognize this place.


          4. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down. It seemed that she recognized the room.


          5. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, wide-eyed.



          (And as an aside, you can strike 'up' and 'down' if it is a space concern.)




          1. Alice sat proudly, then shrunk back, as though realizing where she was.


          The more varied you get in your writing, the less of a distraction it will be. I do personally find small POV breaks distracting and rarely see them in current books. I see them more often in older books, and maybe the conventions were different.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2





            "I see them more often in older books, and maybe the conventions were different." - I think it depends how old. At one point, I know third-person omniscient was popular (see for example Dickens). Personally, I don't find it too jarring in third person, especially if it's brief and serves the plot. But I'd be pretty unhappy if I saw it in first person. That's just crossing a line. Or, for that matter, second person.

            – Kevin
            8 hours ago













          • Yes, true. I meant I see abundant head hopping in circa 1980 fantasy and not much head hopping now. It isn't omniscient, it is head hopping that I am thinking of.

            – DPT
            7 hours ago



















          3














          As a reader, I wouldn't think twice about that brief "break" of POV. I also don't generally analyze "what point of view is this in?" while reading. I think, if it works in the story and flows well, don't over think it.



          I just recently finished an award winning book that is third person limited, but for about three pages I spent time in a minor character's head. That "broke the rules", I noticed it, but didn't mind because I liked the story. It helped moved the narrative along.






          share|improve this answer























            Your Answer








            StackExchange.ready(function() {
            var channelOptions = {
            tags: "".split(" "),
            id: "166"
            };
            initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

            StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
            // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
            if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
            StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
            createEditor();
            });
            }
            else {
            createEditor();
            }
            });

            function createEditor() {
            StackExchange.prepareEditor({
            heartbeatType: 'answer',
            autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
            convertImagesToLinks: false,
            noModals: true,
            showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
            reputationToPostImages: null,
            bindNavPrevention: true,
            postfix: "",
            imageUploader: {
            brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
            contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
            allowUrls: true
            },
            noCode: true, onDemand: true,
            discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
            ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
            });


            }
            });






            rtpax is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










            draft saved

            draft discarded


















            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fwriting.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f41993%2fis-it-okay-to-say-what-the-character-infers-about-other-characters-thoughts-as-f%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown

























            4 Answers
            4






            active

            oldest

            votes








            4 Answers
            4






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            7














            You seem to have chosen third person limited scope, and then decided that you're "supposed to" follow the rules of third person limited scope. You should make decisions based on what serves the story, not based on whether it's consistent with a label that otherwise applies to your story. If you had some motivation for choosing third person limited, then ask whether putting in "apparently" serves that reason you originally had for third person limited, rather than asking whether it is needed to qualify as third person limited. If you think that distancing the reader from other people serves the story, then put in qualifying words such as "apparently". But if you think the story is better served by being more direct, then be direct.



            Also, another option that is somewhat risky as it can erode reader trust, but if done well cements Bob's point of view even more than distancing words such as "apparently", is to give Bob an unreliable POV. If you give narration from Bob's POV, and don't explicitly qualify it as being from Bob's POV, and the narration is later shown to have been occasionally inaccurate, the reader will pick up on the fact that when narration strays into other people's motivations, it has to be taken with a grain of salt. This puts the reader more into Bob's POV, because Bob isn't constantly qualifying his evaluations of other people's mental states. He's not thinking "It appears that Alice realized where she is", he's just thinking "Alice realized where she is". He's making assumptions about what people are thinking, and trying to create a model of their mental states, and occasionally realizing that he was wrong.






            share|improve this answer
























            • I really like what you said about eroding the reader's trust -- as a loose example that this struck me with (I say loose because I don't have exact examples and am simply going off of memory of a feeling), I think that happened when I read Angels and Demons. Might've been Da Vinci Code...in any case, I remember thoroughly enjoying these books, but having a moment at the end thinking, "well i might've gotten that, but I assumed the narrative was, you know, telling the truth", because it assumed a voice that implied being objective. Great comment!

              – Natalie Spatharakis
              5 hours ago











            • I agree. The chief advantage of the approach the OP has taken, and which this answer supports is that it honors the fundamental writer-reader contract -- the writer should disappear. Inserting clunky weasel words like "apparently" just calls out the fact that we are currently sitting down reading a 3PL book, and that the author will sacrifice readability on the altar of THE RULES. This is the opposite of the writer's responsibility. As written, this is not a break into Alice's head so long as we can maintain our illusion of being in Bob's head -- an illusion which "apparently" destroys.

              – Haakon Dahl
              2 hours ago











            • Marking this answer as correct since I think it covers the pros and cons of doing it both ways the best

              – rtpax
              24 mins ago
















            7














            You seem to have chosen third person limited scope, and then decided that you're "supposed to" follow the rules of third person limited scope. You should make decisions based on what serves the story, not based on whether it's consistent with a label that otherwise applies to your story. If you had some motivation for choosing third person limited, then ask whether putting in "apparently" serves that reason you originally had for third person limited, rather than asking whether it is needed to qualify as third person limited. If you think that distancing the reader from other people serves the story, then put in qualifying words such as "apparently". But if you think the story is better served by being more direct, then be direct.



            Also, another option that is somewhat risky as it can erode reader trust, but if done well cements Bob's point of view even more than distancing words such as "apparently", is to give Bob an unreliable POV. If you give narration from Bob's POV, and don't explicitly qualify it as being from Bob's POV, and the narration is later shown to have been occasionally inaccurate, the reader will pick up on the fact that when narration strays into other people's motivations, it has to be taken with a grain of salt. This puts the reader more into Bob's POV, because Bob isn't constantly qualifying his evaluations of other people's mental states. He's not thinking "It appears that Alice realized where she is", he's just thinking "Alice realized where she is". He's making assumptions about what people are thinking, and trying to create a model of their mental states, and occasionally realizing that he was wrong.






            share|improve this answer
























            • I really like what you said about eroding the reader's trust -- as a loose example that this struck me with (I say loose because I don't have exact examples and am simply going off of memory of a feeling), I think that happened when I read Angels and Demons. Might've been Da Vinci Code...in any case, I remember thoroughly enjoying these books, but having a moment at the end thinking, "well i might've gotten that, but I assumed the narrative was, you know, telling the truth", because it assumed a voice that implied being objective. Great comment!

              – Natalie Spatharakis
              5 hours ago











            • I agree. The chief advantage of the approach the OP has taken, and which this answer supports is that it honors the fundamental writer-reader contract -- the writer should disappear. Inserting clunky weasel words like "apparently" just calls out the fact that we are currently sitting down reading a 3PL book, and that the author will sacrifice readability on the altar of THE RULES. This is the opposite of the writer's responsibility. As written, this is not a break into Alice's head so long as we can maintain our illusion of being in Bob's head -- an illusion which "apparently" destroys.

              – Haakon Dahl
              2 hours ago











            • Marking this answer as correct since I think it covers the pros and cons of doing it both ways the best

              – rtpax
              24 mins ago














            7












            7








            7







            You seem to have chosen third person limited scope, and then decided that you're "supposed to" follow the rules of third person limited scope. You should make decisions based on what serves the story, not based on whether it's consistent with a label that otherwise applies to your story. If you had some motivation for choosing third person limited, then ask whether putting in "apparently" serves that reason you originally had for third person limited, rather than asking whether it is needed to qualify as third person limited. If you think that distancing the reader from other people serves the story, then put in qualifying words such as "apparently". But if you think the story is better served by being more direct, then be direct.



            Also, another option that is somewhat risky as it can erode reader trust, but if done well cements Bob's point of view even more than distancing words such as "apparently", is to give Bob an unreliable POV. If you give narration from Bob's POV, and don't explicitly qualify it as being from Bob's POV, and the narration is later shown to have been occasionally inaccurate, the reader will pick up on the fact that when narration strays into other people's motivations, it has to be taken with a grain of salt. This puts the reader more into Bob's POV, because Bob isn't constantly qualifying his evaluations of other people's mental states. He's not thinking "It appears that Alice realized where she is", he's just thinking "Alice realized where she is". He's making assumptions about what people are thinking, and trying to create a model of their mental states, and occasionally realizing that he was wrong.






            share|improve this answer













            You seem to have chosen third person limited scope, and then decided that you're "supposed to" follow the rules of third person limited scope. You should make decisions based on what serves the story, not based on whether it's consistent with a label that otherwise applies to your story. If you had some motivation for choosing third person limited, then ask whether putting in "apparently" serves that reason you originally had for third person limited, rather than asking whether it is needed to qualify as third person limited. If you think that distancing the reader from other people serves the story, then put in qualifying words such as "apparently". But if you think the story is better served by being more direct, then be direct.



            Also, another option that is somewhat risky as it can erode reader trust, but if done well cements Bob's point of view even more than distancing words such as "apparently", is to give Bob an unreliable POV. If you give narration from Bob's POV, and don't explicitly qualify it as being from Bob's POV, and the narration is later shown to have been occasionally inaccurate, the reader will pick up on the fact that when narration strays into other people's motivations, it has to be taken with a grain of salt. This puts the reader more into Bob's POV, because Bob isn't constantly qualifying his evaluations of other people's mental states. He's not thinking "It appears that Alice realized where she is", he's just thinking "Alice realized where she is". He's making assumptions about what people are thinking, and trying to create a model of their mental states, and occasionally realizing that he was wrong.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 8 hours ago









            AcccumulationAcccumulation

            38114




            38114













            • I really like what you said about eroding the reader's trust -- as a loose example that this struck me with (I say loose because I don't have exact examples and am simply going off of memory of a feeling), I think that happened when I read Angels and Demons. Might've been Da Vinci Code...in any case, I remember thoroughly enjoying these books, but having a moment at the end thinking, "well i might've gotten that, but I assumed the narrative was, you know, telling the truth", because it assumed a voice that implied being objective. Great comment!

              – Natalie Spatharakis
              5 hours ago











            • I agree. The chief advantage of the approach the OP has taken, and which this answer supports is that it honors the fundamental writer-reader contract -- the writer should disappear. Inserting clunky weasel words like "apparently" just calls out the fact that we are currently sitting down reading a 3PL book, and that the author will sacrifice readability on the altar of THE RULES. This is the opposite of the writer's responsibility. As written, this is not a break into Alice's head so long as we can maintain our illusion of being in Bob's head -- an illusion which "apparently" destroys.

              – Haakon Dahl
              2 hours ago











            • Marking this answer as correct since I think it covers the pros and cons of doing it both ways the best

              – rtpax
              24 mins ago



















            • I really like what you said about eroding the reader's trust -- as a loose example that this struck me with (I say loose because I don't have exact examples and am simply going off of memory of a feeling), I think that happened when I read Angels and Demons. Might've been Da Vinci Code...in any case, I remember thoroughly enjoying these books, but having a moment at the end thinking, "well i might've gotten that, but I assumed the narrative was, you know, telling the truth", because it assumed a voice that implied being objective. Great comment!

              – Natalie Spatharakis
              5 hours ago











            • I agree. The chief advantage of the approach the OP has taken, and which this answer supports is that it honors the fundamental writer-reader contract -- the writer should disappear. Inserting clunky weasel words like "apparently" just calls out the fact that we are currently sitting down reading a 3PL book, and that the author will sacrifice readability on the altar of THE RULES. This is the opposite of the writer's responsibility. As written, this is not a break into Alice's head so long as we can maintain our illusion of being in Bob's head -- an illusion which "apparently" destroys.

              – Haakon Dahl
              2 hours ago











            • Marking this answer as correct since I think it covers the pros and cons of doing it both ways the best

              – rtpax
              24 mins ago

















            I really like what you said about eroding the reader's trust -- as a loose example that this struck me with (I say loose because I don't have exact examples and am simply going off of memory of a feeling), I think that happened when I read Angels and Demons. Might've been Da Vinci Code...in any case, I remember thoroughly enjoying these books, but having a moment at the end thinking, "well i might've gotten that, but I assumed the narrative was, you know, telling the truth", because it assumed a voice that implied being objective. Great comment!

            – Natalie Spatharakis
            5 hours ago





            I really like what you said about eroding the reader's trust -- as a loose example that this struck me with (I say loose because I don't have exact examples and am simply going off of memory of a feeling), I think that happened when I read Angels and Demons. Might've been Da Vinci Code...in any case, I remember thoroughly enjoying these books, but having a moment at the end thinking, "well i might've gotten that, but I assumed the narrative was, you know, telling the truth", because it assumed a voice that implied being objective. Great comment!

            – Natalie Spatharakis
            5 hours ago













            I agree. The chief advantage of the approach the OP has taken, and which this answer supports is that it honors the fundamental writer-reader contract -- the writer should disappear. Inserting clunky weasel words like "apparently" just calls out the fact that we are currently sitting down reading a 3PL book, and that the author will sacrifice readability on the altar of THE RULES. This is the opposite of the writer's responsibility. As written, this is not a break into Alice's head so long as we can maintain our illusion of being in Bob's head -- an illusion which "apparently" destroys.

            – Haakon Dahl
            2 hours ago





            I agree. The chief advantage of the approach the OP has taken, and which this answer supports is that it honors the fundamental writer-reader contract -- the writer should disappear. Inserting clunky weasel words like "apparently" just calls out the fact that we are currently sitting down reading a 3PL book, and that the author will sacrifice readability on the altar of THE RULES. This is the opposite of the writer's responsibility. As written, this is not a break into Alice's head so long as we can maintain our illusion of being in Bob's head -- an illusion which "apparently" destroys.

            – Haakon Dahl
            2 hours ago













            Marking this answer as correct since I think it covers the pros and cons of doing it both ways the best

            – rtpax
            24 mins ago





            Marking this answer as correct since I think it covers the pros and cons of doing it both ways the best

            – rtpax
            24 mins ago











            8














            This will be a matter of opinion. My opinion is no, it is not okay. I write in 3PL myself, exclusively, and everything I write is as if the MC is seeing it.



            You are doing nothing but saving space, and saving space is not important. I would probably write that scene as:




            Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



            She just realized where she was, Bob thought.




            But, since Bob is the only one that can think [whose thoughts are ever shown], and this is indicated by italics, the following would suffice:




            Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



            She just realized where she was.




            Then, because things should be filtered through Bob's mind, I'd add some take on it; Bob should feel something about what he has seen. Not just report it. Perhaps he's sympathetic.




            Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



            She just realized where she was. Too bad, anywhere else and she's got a right to be proud.




            My narrator is not the MC, and the narrator can describe visual things in ways Bob would not. For example, "sitting up proudly". I can't be certain Alice is "proud", but I can be just as certain, visually, as saying Alice is Angry, afraid, grieving, etc. So I don't mind the attribution of "proudly".



            I also don't mind if the 3P narrator gets poetic or imaginative in their descriptions of a setting, in ways the MC would not.



            But as far as knowing what is in any character's mind: that is what the "LIMITED" means. Find a way for Bob to interpret what is in Alice's mind. And make it clear, don't make us infer what Bob inferred.






            share|improve this answer





















            • 9





              "You are doing nothing but saving space, and saving space is not important." I disagree with that. Everything in a story affects the reader, the amount of space narration takes up included. One has to decide what effect it will have, and whether that is the effect one wants it to be.

              – Acccumulation
              8 hours ago






            • 4





              @Acccumulation We'll disagree. Readers don't mind reading; breaking rules to save words is not worth it. The solution to most writing problems, for beginners especially, is to get over this dumb idea that readers want to read less. Writers should avoid repetition, and useless words, and over-explaining -- But the point there is not to save space. The point is to not bore the reader by saying the same thing two ways, or four ways. That is boring for the reader that got it on the first way. Keep up the pace, but don't ever write as if your reader hates reading.

              – Amadeus
              8 hours ago
















            8














            This will be a matter of opinion. My opinion is no, it is not okay. I write in 3PL myself, exclusively, and everything I write is as if the MC is seeing it.



            You are doing nothing but saving space, and saving space is not important. I would probably write that scene as:




            Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



            She just realized where she was, Bob thought.




            But, since Bob is the only one that can think [whose thoughts are ever shown], and this is indicated by italics, the following would suffice:




            Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



            She just realized where she was.




            Then, because things should be filtered through Bob's mind, I'd add some take on it; Bob should feel something about what he has seen. Not just report it. Perhaps he's sympathetic.




            Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



            She just realized where she was. Too bad, anywhere else and she's got a right to be proud.




            My narrator is not the MC, and the narrator can describe visual things in ways Bob would not. For example, "sitting up proudly". I can't be certain Alice is "proud", but I can be just as certain, visually, as saying Alice is Angry, afraid, grieving, etc. So I don't mind the attribution of "proudly".



            I also don't mind if the 3P narrator gets poetic or imaginative in their descriptions of a setting, in ways the MC would not.



            But as far as knowing what is in any character's mind: that is what the "LIMITED" means. Find a way for Bob to interpret what is in Alice's mind. And make it clear, don't make us infer what Bob inferred.






            share|improve this answer





















            • 9





              "You are doing nothing but saving space, and saving space is not important." I disagree with that. Everything in a story affects the reader, the amount of space narration takes up included. One has to decide what effect it will have, and whether that is the effect one wants it to be.

              – Acccumulation
              8 hours ago






            • 4





              @Acccumulation We'll disagree. Readers don't mind reading; breaking rules to save words is not worth it. The solution to most writing problems, for beginners especially, is to get over this dumb idea that readers want to read less. Writers should avoid repetition, and useless words, and over-explaining -- But the point there is not to save space. The point is to not bore the reader by saying the same thing two ways, or four ways. That is boring for the reader that got it on the first way. Keep up the pace, but don't ever write as if your reader hates reading.

              – Amadeus
              8 hours ago














            8












            8








            8







            This will be a matter of opinion. My opinion is no, it is not okay. I write in 3PL myself, exclusively, and everything I write is as if the MC is seeing it.



            You are doing nothing but saving space, and saving space is not important. I would probably write that scene as:




            Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



            She just realized where she was, Bob thought.




            But, since Bob is the only one that can think [whose thoughts are ever shown], and this is indicated by italics, the following would suffice:




            Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



            She just realized where she was.




            Then, because things should be filtered through Bob's mind, I'd add some take on it; Bob should feel something about what he has seen. Not just report it. Perhaps he's sympathetic.




            Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



            She just realized where she was. Too bad, anywhere else and she's got a right to be proud.




            My narrator is not the MC, and the narrator can describe visual things in ways Bob would not. For example, "sitting up proudly". I can't be certain Alice is "proud", but I can be just as certain, visually, as saying Alice is Angry, afraid, grieving, etc. So I don't mind the attribution of "proudly".



            I also don't mind if the 3P narrator gets poetic or imaginative in their descriptions of a setting, in ways the MC would not.



            But as far as knowing what is in any character's mind: that is what the "LIMITED" means. Find a way for Bob to interpret what is in Alice's mind. And make it clear, don't make us infer what Bob inferred.






            share|improve this answer















            This will be a matter of opinion. My opinion is no, it is not okay. I write in 3PL myself, exclusively, and everything I write is as if the MC is seeing it.



            You are doing nothing but saving space, and saving space is not important. I would probably write that scene as:




            Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



            She just realized where she was, Bob thought.




            But, since Bob is the only one that can think [whose thoughts are ever shown], and this is indicated by italics, the following would suffice:




            Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



            She just realized where she was.




            Then, because things should be filtered through Bob's mind, I'd add some take on it; Bob should feel something about what he has seen. Not just report it. Perhaps he's sympathetic.




            Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down.



            She just realized where she was. Too bad, anywhere else and she's got a right to be proud.




            My narrator is not the MC, and the narrator can describe visual things in ways Bob would not. For example, "sitting up proudly". I can't be certain Alice is "proud", but I can be just as certain, visually, as saying Alice is Angry, afraid, grieving, etc. So I don't mind the attribution of "proudly".



            I also don't mind if the 3P narrator gets poetic or imaginative in their descriptions of a setting, in ways the MC would not.



            But as far as knowing what is in any character's mind: that is what the "LIMITED" means. Find a way for Bob to interpret what is in Alice's mind. And make it clear, don't make us infer what Bob inferred.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 10 hours ago

























            answered 10 hours ago









            AmadeusAmadeus

            49.7k462156




            49.7k462156








            • 9





              "You are doing nothing but saving space, and saving space is not important." I disagree with that. Everything in a story affects the reader, the amount of space narration takes up included. One has to decide what effect it will have, and whether that is the effect one wants it to be.

              – Acccumulation
              8 hours ago






            • 4





              @Acccumulation We'll disagree. Readers don't mind reading; breaking rules to save words is not worth it. The solution to most writing problems, for beginners especially, is to get over this dumb idea that readers want to read less. Writers should avoid repetition, and useless words, and over-explaining -- But the point there is not to save space. The point is to not bore the reader by saying the same thing two ways, or four ways. That is boring for the reader that got it on the first way. Keep up the pace, but don't ever write as if your reader hates reading.

              – Amadeus
              8 hours ago














            • 9





              "You are doing nothing but saving space, and saving space is not important." I disagree with that. Everything in a story affects the reader, the amount of space narration takes up included. One has to decide what effect it will have, and whether that is the effect one wants it to be.

              – Acccumulation
              8 hours ago






            • 4





              @Acccumulation We'll disagree. Readers don't mind reading; breaking rules to save words is not worth it. The solution to most writing problems, for beginners especially, is to get over this dumb idea that readers want to read less. Writers should avoid repetition, and useless words, and over-explaining -- But the point there is not to save space. The point is to not bore the reader by saying the same thing two ways, or four ways. That is boring for the reader that got it on the first way. Keep up the pace, but don't ever write as if your reader hates reading.

              – Amadeus
              8 hours ago








            9




            9





            "You are doing nothing but saving space, and saving space is not important." I disagree with that. Everything in a story affects the reader, the amount of space narration takes up included. One has to decide what effect it will have, and whether that is the effect one wants it to be.

            – Acccumulation
            8 hours ago





            "You are doing nothing but saving space, and saving space is not important." I disagree with that. Everything in a story affects the reader, the amount of space narration takes up included. One has to decide what effect it will have, and whether that is the effect one wants it to be.

            – Acccumulation
            8 hours ago




            4




            4





            @Acccumulation We'll disagree. Readers don't mind reading; breaking rules to save words is not worth it. The solution to most writing problems, for beginners especially, is to get over this dumb idea that readers want to read less. Writers should avoid repetition, and useless words, and over-explaining -- But the point there is not to save space. The point is to not bore the reader by saying the same thing two ways, or four ways. That is boring for the reader that got it on the first way. Keep up the pace, but don't ever write as if your reader hates reading.

            – Amadeus
            8 hours ago





            @Acccumulation We'll disagree. Readers don't mind reading; breaking rules to save words is not worth it. The solution to most writing problems, for beginners especially, is to get over this dumb idea that readers want to read less. Writers should avoid repetition, and useless words, and over-explaining -- But the point there is not to save space. The point is to not bore the reader by saying the same thing two ways, or four ways. That is boring for the reader that got it on the first way. Keep up the pace, but don't ever write as if your reader hates reading.

            – Amadeus
            8 hours ago











            4














            Welcome!



            +1 to both existing answers.



            The advantage of adding the word 'apparently' is that it further anchors us into Bob's mind without the need to add italicized thought (which can become distracting in its own right.)



            But--there are many tricks to get around the point-of-view break. You've mentioned one.




            1. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, apparently realizing where she was.


            Some additional possibilities:




            1. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, perhaps realizing where she was.


            2. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, saying, "I just realized where I am."


            3. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down. Bob thought to himself, She must recognize this place.


            4. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down. It seemed that she recognized the room.


            5. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, wide-eyed.



            (And as an aside, you can strike 'up' and 'down' if it is a space concern.)




            1. Alice sat proudly, then shrunk back, as though realizing where she was.


            The more varied you get in your writing, the less of a distraction it will be. I do personally find small POV breaks distracting and rarely see them in current books. I see them more often in older books, and maybe the conventions were different.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 2





              "I see them more often in older books, and maybe the conventions were different." - I think it depends how old. At one point, I know third-person omniscient was popular (see for example Dickens). Personally, I don't find it too jarring in third person, especially if it's brief and serves the plot. But I'd be pretty unhappy if I saw it in first person. That's just crossing a line. Or, for that matter, second person.

              – Kevin
              8 hours ago













            • Yes, true. I meant I see abundant head hopping in circa 1980 fantasy and not much head hopping now. It isn't omniscient, it is head hopping that I am thinking of.

              – DPT
              7 hours ago
















            4














            Welcome!



            +1 to both existing answers.



            The advantage of adding the word 'apparently' is that it further anchors us into Bob's mind without the need to add italicized thought (which can become distracting in its own right.)



            But--there are many tricks to get around the point-of-view break. You've mentioned one.




            1. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, apparently realizing where she was.


            Some additional possibilities:




            1. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, perhaps realizing where she was.


            2. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, saying, "I just realized where I am."


            3. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down. Bob thought to himself, She must recognize this place.


            4. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down. It seemed that she recognized the room.


            5. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, wide-eyed.



            (And as an aside, you can strike 'up' and 'down' if it is a space concern.)




            1. Alice sat proudly, then shrunk back, as though realizing where she was.


            The more varied you get in your writing, the less of a distraction it will be. I do personally find small POV breaks distracting and rarely see them in current books. I see them more often in older books, and maybe the conventions were different.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 2





              "I see them more often in older books, and maybe the conventions were different." - I think it depends how old. At one point, I know third-person omniscient was popular (see for example Dickens). Personally, I don't find it too jarring in third person, especially if it's brief and serves the plot. But I'd be pretty unhappy if I saw it in first person. That's just crossing a line. Or, for that matter, second person.

              – Kevin
              8 hours ago













            • Yes, true. I meant I see abundant head hopping in circa 1980 fantasy and not much head hopping now. It isn't omniscient, it is head hopping that I am thinking of.

              – DPT
              7 hours ago














            4












            4








            4







            Welcome!



            +1 to both existing answers.



            The advantage of adding the word 'apparently' is that it further anchors us into Bob's mind without the need to add italicized thought (which can become distracting in its own right.)



            But--there are many tricks to get around the point-of-view break. You've mentioned one.




            1. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, apparently realizing where she was.


            Some additional possibilities:




            1. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, perhaps realizing where she was.


            2. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, saying, "I just realized where I am."


            3. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down. Bob thought to himself, She must recognize this place.


            4. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down. It seemed that she recognized the room.


            5. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, wide-eyed.



            (And as an aside, you can strike 'up' and 'down' if it is a space concern.)




            1. Alice sat proudly, then shrunk back, as though realizing where she was.


            The more varied you get in your writing, the less of a distraction it will be. I do personally find small POV breaks distracting and rarely see them in current books. I see them more often in older books, and maybe the conventions were different.






            share|improve this answer













            Welcome!



            +1 to both existing answers.



            The advantage of adding the word 'apparently' is that it further anchors us into Bob's mind without the need to add italicized thought (which can become distracting in its own right.)



            But--there are many tricks to get around the point-of-view break. You've mentioned one.




            1. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, apparently realizing where she was.


            Some additional possibilities:




            1. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, perhaps realizing where she was.


            2. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, saying, "I just realized where I am."


            3. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down. Bob thought to himself, She must recognize this place.


            4. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down. It seemed that she recognized the room.


            5. Alice sat up proudly, then shrunk back down, wide-eyed.



            (And as an aside, you can strike 'up' and 'down' if it is a space concern.)




            1. Alice sat proudly, then shrunk back, as though realizing where she was.


            The more varied you get in your writing, the less of a distraction it will be. I do personally find small POV breaks distracting and rarely see them in current books. I see them more often in older books, and maybe the conventions were different.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 9 hours ago









            DPTDPT

            14.1k22783




            14.1k22783








            • 2





              "I see them more often in older books, and maybe the conventions were different." - I think it depends how old. At one point, I know third-person omniscient was popular (see for example Dickens). Personally, I don't find it too jarring in third person, especially if it's brief and serves the plot. But I'd be pretty unhappy if I saw it in first person. That's just crossing a line. Or, for that matter, second person.

              – Kevin
              8 hours ago













            • Yes, true. I meant I see abundant head hopping in circa 1980 fantasy and not much head hopping now. It isn't omniscient, it is head hopping that I am thinking of.

              – DPT
              7 hours ago














            • 2





              "I see them more often in older books, and maybe the conventions were different." - I think it depends how old. At one point, I know third-person omniscient was popular (see for example Dickens). Personally, I don't find it too jarring in third person, especially if it's brief and serves the plot. But I'd be pretty unhappy if I saw it in first person. That's just crossing a line. Or, for that matter, second person.

              – Kevin
              8 hours ago













            • Yes, true. I meant I see abundant head hopping in circa 1980 fantasy and not much head hopping now. It isn't omniscient, it is head hopping that I am thinking of.

              – DPT
              7 hours ago








            2




            2





            "I see them more often in older books, and maybe the conventions were different." - I think it depends how old. At one point, I know third-person omniscient was popular (see for example Dickens). Personally, I don't find it too jarring in third person, especially if it's brief and serves the plot. But I'd be pretty unhappy if I saw it in first person. That's just crossing a line. Or, for that matter, second person.

            – Kevin
            8 hours ago







            "I see them more often in older books, and maybe the conventions were different." - I think it depends how old. At one point, I know third-person omniscient was popular (see for example Dickens). Personally, I don't find it too jarring in third person, especially if it's brief and serves the plot. But I'd be pretty unhappy if I saw it in first person. That's just crossing a line. Or, for that matter, second person.

            – Kevin
            8 hours ago















            Yes, true. I meant I see abundant head hopping in circa 1980 fantasy and not much head hopping now. It isn't omniscient, it is head hopping that I am thinking of.

            – DPT
            7 hours ago





            Yes, true. I meant I see abundant head hopping in circa 1980 fantasy and not much head hopping now. It isn't omniscient, it is head hopping that I am thinking of.

            – DPT
            7 hours ago











            3














            As a reader, I wouldn't think twice about that brief "break" of POV. I also don't generally analyze "what point of view is this in?" while reading. I think, if it works in the story and flows well, don't over think it.



            I just recently finished an award winning book that is third person limited, but for about three pages I spent time in a minor character's head. That "broke the rules", I noticed it, but didn't mind because I liked the story. It helped moved the narrative along.






            share|improve this answer




























              3














              As a reader, I wouldn't think twice about that brief "break" of POV. I also don't generally analyze "what point of view is this in?" while reading. I think, if it works in the story and flows well, don't over think it.



              I just recently finished an award winning book that is third person limited, but for about three pages I spent time in a minor character's head. That "broke the rules", I noticed it, but didn't mind because I liked the story. It helped moved the narrative along.






              share|improve this answer


























                3












                3








                3







                As a reader, I wouldn't think twice about that brief "break" of POV. I also don't generally analyze "what point of view is this in?" while reading. I think, if it works in the story and flows well, don't over think it.



                I just recently finished an award winning book that is third person limited, but for about three pages I spent time in a minor character's head. That "broke the rules", I noticed it, but didn't mind because I liked the story. It helped moved the narrative along.






                share|improve this answer













                As a reader, I wouldn't think twice about that brief "break" of POV. I also don't generally analyze "what point of view is this in?" while reading. I think, if it works in the story and flows well, don't over think it.



                I just recently finished an award winning book that is third person limited, but for about three pages I spent time in a minor character's head. That "broke the rules", I noticed it, but didn't mind because I liked the story. It helped moved the narrative along.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 10 hours ago









                GwendolynGwendolyn

                1,008210




                1,008210






















                    rtpax is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










                    draft saved

                    draft discarded


















                    rtpax is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.













                    rtpax is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.












                    rtpax is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
















                    Thanks for contributing an answer to Writing Stack Exchange!


                    • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                    But avoid



                    • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                    • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                    To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                    draft saved


                    draft discarded














                    StackExchange.ready(
                    function () {
                    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fwriting.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f41993%2fis-it-okay-to-say-what-the-character-infers-about-other-characters-thoughts-as-f%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                    }
                    );

                    Post as a guest















                    Required, but never shown





















































                    Required, but never shown














                    Required, but never shown












                    Required, but never shown







                    Required, but never shown

































                    Required, but never shown














                    Required, but never shown












                    Required, but never shown







                    Required, but never shown







                    Popular posts from this blog

                    How to label and detect the document text images

                    Vallis Paradisi

                    Tabula Rosettana