Hey everyone! It’s Friday (again). Gosh, time flies! It seems like only yesterday kids started a new school year, but we already past the first half term and now back to school. We already turned the page on Halloween and in a week or so, all shops will start selling Christmas stuff and festive music will pour from the radios. Its all happening too fast. Too fast.
Anyway, it’s Friday and it means that earlier today I had another of my Writing Lessons. It’s been our second week talking about the Point of View (POV). We had so much fun looking at the different points of view and their importance for the story telling. We discussed different stories and the choices authors made in picking the correct character, through whose eyes the story to be told and how the that character’s POV affecting us as a reader, our feelings towards the story and its characters, as well, how we, readers, interpret the story when its being told from the POV of one or another character.
A good part of the lesson was spent on reading and discussing our homework – a point of view exercise and, trust me, it was really interesting how the same setting and the same scene is changes if looked through the different pair of eyes.
As always, the homework consisted of several parts. Part one was to take a life episode or any memorable even and write a scene. First, write it in a first person POV. Making sure that there are 2 characters in a scene with conflicting agendas, the task was to draw up a complete scene (beginning to end) and, most importantly (and most complex condition) to do it in no more than 200 words. Parts 2 and 3 were to re-write the same scene but from the different character (participant POV), still the same condition to do it within no more than 200 words.
And so I took a real life episode and wrote it and then re-wrote it 2 times, giving each participant a chance to share their view on the event. I guess me writing about it is a bit masochistic, but we all have to fight our demons. I’ve tried my best and I think I managed to do it. However, if I succeeded or not, you have to decide. Don’t forget to tell me what you think.
POV 1 – First person (199 words)
Out of breath I reach the main gates. The words “he’s leaving” are throbbing in my temples.
I stop abruptly as I see Alex on the other side. He’s loading bags into a car, arguing with his dance partner. They always argue…
Not sure what to do, I stand and look at him and suddenly the painful realisation is hitting me – the iron bars are between us. I’m not allowed outside and the security guard is already eyeing me with suspicion.
I call his name, hesitant, almost a whisper. I’ve already embarrassed myself dashing through the camp, hoping to see him once more before he leaves.
He looks up and smiles and then walks to me, back through the gates. Do I imagine it or is he happy that I’m here? Yes, he is! He pulls me in and everything but disappears. I hold him tight, wishing this moment would last forever, but he pulls back. He looks at me. His eyes speak volumes but he doesn’t say a word.
“Goodbye,” he whispers finally. His lips brush against my cheek and he walks away. Too fast for me to reply, fast enough for him not to see my tears.
POV 2 – Third person (200 words)
Alex drops his bag into the back seat of the car. Tomorrow, he’d only need his tail suit and a shirt.
Julia’s already started the car and moaning he’s taking too long, she’s afraid they’ll miss registration. His partner is older and more experienced and never misses an opportunity to drive him up the wall.
He is about to get into the car when he hears Kat’s voice. He looks up, their eyes meet and the world stops. She’s come!
Trying not to look over-exited, he walks back through the gates and wraps his arms around her. He’d never met a girl like her, he even told her so. He knows he shouldn’t have, but at the time, it seemed like the natural thing to do.
He heaves a long sigh remembering the time they spent together, dancing and laughing. Being with her felt so natural.
He pulls back, yet unable to let go. He looks down at her, suddenly self-conscious. He wants to kiss her but fights the urge. They’re already making a scene. The security guard keeps staring and Julia rolls her eyes.
Kissing her cheek, he whispers his goodbyes, walks back to the car and drives away.
POV 3 – Third person – different character (202 words)
Julia gets into the car and starts the engine. Through the rear-view mirror she catches a glimpse of Alex fiddling with his bag.
“Can we go already? Registration finishes at 5,” she says angrily. “Mind the traffic, God knows how long it will take for us to get back,” she adds, her fingers dancing over the steering wheel.
Competitions are her life. In spring they’d finished sixth, this time she’s determined to be among the finalists.
“We’re gonna be late!” she moans again, sure that Alex is waiting for Kat. She hopes Max doesn’t find her.
Not that Kat’s a bad girl, on the contrary. Still Julia disapproves of this “friendship”. For her Kat is a distraction. Alex is a good dancer with a lot of potential, but he needs to work on his posture and heel placement, now that they’re leaving he’d be able to concentrate.
Julia rolls her eyes as she sees Alex rushing back through the gate to embrace Kat.
“Just friends, right…”
For some time, they don’t speak and don’t move, and she’s forced to look away to give them some privacy, but before she knows it, Alex gets into the car.
“Don’t,” he says quietly. “Just drive.”
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Ekaterina's Chronicles 