If you’ve decided to create a story, you must be wondering how to write in third person. Don’t worry, to master this style to perfection, you just need to practice a little.
Believe it or not, writing in the third person will help you give your texts a unique style. therefore, if you already know how to create a story, this type of narration will be the perfect complement to make your stories even more amazing.
Remember that, if you want to learn how to narrate in third person or in any other style, it is not necessary to live extraordinary events, on the contrary, your job as a writer is to turn the everyday into something spectacular through the right resources.
As Majo Morón, writer and teacher of The Art of Writing online course, tells us, “literature is in the way we see the world, what matters is not the story, but the way of telling it”.
So, to help you exploit your potential as a writer, in this article we will give you the best tips to learn how to write in third person singular or plural. We are sure that by following these key points to write a text in third person, you will be able to dazzle your potential readers.
1. Apply the best type of third-person narrator
Unlike first-person narratives, writing in third person is less subjective. In this case, the narrator is not involved in what he or she is writing, so he or she remains totally oblivious to the events of the story.
In other words, according to About Español, when writing in the third person, the one who verbalizes or writes the action is someone different from the one who performs it. Basically, the narrator becomes an observer throughout the story, which brings impartiality and objectivity to the story.
Likewise, the experts at Escritnow Marketing state that those who know how to write in the third person are able to give the reader more confidence, since this writing style allows them to write more professional paragraphs by removing subjectivity from the texts.
Before you start developing your plot, think about which third-person perspective will work best for your story. To give you a clearer idea, we will describe the types of narrators in a novel that are involved in this case: the omniscient narrator and the observer narrator. This way, you will know how to change a text to third person if you need to.
1. Omniscient narrator
This third-person narrator usually knows everything. While the narrator’s identity and where his or her knowledge comes from is unknown, he or she seems to know everything that is happening and about to happen.
So how is third-person narration achieved in this style? Simply put, by providing the narrator with the deepest knowledge regarding the protagonists of the story, since he knows what the characters remember, what they feel and everything they do .
As you can see, by learning how to write in the third person you will be able to know all kinds of details, from the most banal thoughts of the characters to their most intimate memories. great, don’t you think?
2. Observer narrator
The other type of narrator that exists in the third person, which is also known as a witness narrator, is the one who only has the ability to relate what he observed or what he knows.
Thus, their knowledge may be limited. According to the Life Der portal, this third-person narrator is a character in the story who remains a witness to the facts, since he only narrates what he observes or what he was told at some point.
Following that line, it is said that his role does not change the story and may be irrelevant to the end of the story.
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2. Employ third person pronouns
According to the University of Fine Arts Grammar Handbook, “a story may be narrated in the first person or in the third person; the grammatical person is recognized by the use of pronouns and by verb desinences.”
Therefore, to learn how to write in third person singular and plural, start by dropping the pronouns you would use when writing in first person or second person. Always remember that the pronouns for writing in third person are as follows:
Singular: el, la, ella, ella, él, se, le
Plural: they, them
Avoid confusing them with the pronouns that are usually used in the second person: tú, usted and ustedes. This way, you will be able to connect the words in the third person correctly.
3. Use connectors to keep the thread of the story going
how do you write a story in the third person that has coherence? You must be aware of every event that happens and not get distracted, because when you learn how to write in the third person you are going to move from one fact to another repeatedly. therefore, it is important that you use connectors to avoid abrupt changes in transitions.
So, if before starting this note you were wondering how to start a story in third person without confusing your reader, the key is to pay attention to transitions, as these are indispensable pillars to tell a fluid story.
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4. Make a correct use of singular and plural
This point is key to writing in third person, it ‘s a basic rule! So, while you should be very careful with pronouns, the same goes for the use of singular and plural.
Keep in mind that there may be singular words that you confuse with plurals and vice versa; if you do, your story will lose coherence and the reader will get lost in the story. watch out for that as you internalize how to write in third person!
We know it’s easy to get confused with the narrator and occasionally fall into your own perspective. So stay in the voice of your narrator character. Avoid using first person pronouns: “I,” “me,” “my,” “my,” “mine,” “mine,” “we,” “us,” “our,” “our. When you have finished writing and are revising your first draft, be sure to check for consistency of third person throughout the story.
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5. Research your topic
what else should you keep in mind when learning how to write in third person? Basically, you should know that this style requires a research level support. Remember that you will know everything and that requires a previous study about the topics you will deal with in the story.
In that sense, it is crucial that you find all the information you can about it if you want the reader to be amazed with the third person text you will create.
6. Get inspiration from examples of third-person texts
To give you a deeper understanding of what third-person writing is all about, we have compiled these examples of third-person narration that will serve as inspiration when you decide to put this literary style into practice.
As you already know, the possibility of writing in third person is not limited only to short story examples, such as novels or short stories. In fact, third-person writing is widely used to write objective texts, in which the narrator must remain outside the facts.
That said, here are some examples of how to write in the third person properly:
1. Documents in third person
ever wondered how to write a document in the third person? Here are two examples of a third person document
For a thesis: “In Peru, exports of asparagus and blueberries have increased over the years. This fact has had an impact on the accelerated growth of the agricultural industry”.
For an essay: “For economic scholars in the United States, the economic model adopted by North Korea is not the most appropriate. Therefore, they warn North Korean economists that change is necessary.”
2. Newspaper article in third person
how is the third person used in this case? Basically, when narrating a journalistic event , it is essential that the narrator remains impartial and objective. Through this style, as in the first example, it is expected to distance the author from the text.
Here are some examples of a third person journalistic note :
“The Legislative said it trusts the process carried out by the designated entity to render accounts that favor democracy.”
“Last July 7, the Congress of the Republic voted against the bill that was intended to benefit the vulnerable population residing in the outskirts of the capital.”
3. Literary texts in third person
If you were looking for an example of a third person writing in the literary realm, your time has come.While some books written in third person that we will mention to you are more popular than others, we are sure you will be able to recognize some
“One Hundred Years of Solitude” – Gabriel García Márquez
To begin with, a clear example of third person narration can be found in the fantastic book “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel García Márquez.
“Many years later, facing the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía would remember that remote afternoon when his father took him to see the ice”.
“The horse and the donkey” – Aesop’s Fables
Another example of third person text can be found in Aesop’s Fables, specifically, in the story “The Horse and the Ass”:
“A man had a horse and an ass. One day when both were on their way to the city, the donkey, feeling tired, said to the horse: “Take a share of my burden if you are interested in my life”. The horse, pretending to be deaf, said nothing, and the ass fell a victim to fatigue.”
“Song of Ice and Fire” – George R. R. Martin
Finally, the last example of third person writing can be found in the Game of Thrones books, written by George R. R. Martin. In this case, we will share with you an excerpt from the book “Song of Ice and Fire”.
“Gared had been in the Night’s Watch for forty years, a good part of his childhood and all of his adult life, and he was not used to being mocked. But that wasn’t all. Will sensed something else in the old man besides wounded pride.”
what did you think of these examples of third-person narration? Would you like to write a story using this style? if you’re up for it, our basic spelling guide will help you create great writing.
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7. Know the importance of writing in third person
Writing in the first person is one of the easiest forms of narration in literature; however, there can be some limitations to the story. so, to counteract this, why not try telling a story in the third person?
In this part, we’ll tell you why a third-person text can be a great way to keep your readers engaged from beginning to end. are you ready to know the advantages of learning how to write in third person? Take note!
1. You will have access to everything
As we already mentioned, by learning how to write in third person you will know everything, even more so if you opt for an omniscient narrator, since you will have access to all the thoughts of the characters in the story.
In fact, an omniscient narrator may even know facts that the characters themselves do not know, which will allow you to build complex personalities that will contribute significantly to the story.
2. You will be everywhere
Just as writing in third person gives you the possibility of knowing everything, it also allows you to be in different parts and narrate what happens in the story, something that would not happen if you choose to write in first person.
Basically, the story in third person will have a narrator who resembles an all-powerful being whom the characters do not see and do not know, but who is in every scene of the story and knows more than every character, even their secrets.
3. It gives you objectivity
As there is no involvement of the narrator in the story, writing in third person gives objectivity and equanimity to describe both the events and the characters.
One of the great advantages of discovering how to write in the third person is that by demonstrating objectivity, readers will interpret the narrator as a truly authoritative voice to tell the facts. If you say so, so be it.
In addition, learning how to write in the third person will help you not only for writing novels or purely literary stories, but also for journalistic writing and academic texts .
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8. Write with authority
As we mentioned in the previous point, writing in the third person places the narrator above the action, creating a single view of the story. This angle, along with the narrator’s ability to know at least one character’s thoughts, whether third-person omniscient or observer, lends credibility and authority to the narrative voice, since the narrator has nothing at stake.
Therefore, it is important that you choose your main character or characters carefully. The omniscient third-person narrator allows you to choose which character will serve as the main point of view for any given chapter or scene, so focus on the person who has the most to learn.
which character faces the highest stakes? who has the most to lose in a particular scene? That character will be the one the narrator should follow closely because his or her thoughts and reactions will carry the most tension.
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9. Add descriptions
As a third-person narrator you must keep in mind that you are not in a position to talk about your characters’ inner thoughts. However, you can observe them and tell what they are feeling or going through. This can, therefore, give you an idea of their thoughts.
What you should do when narrating in third person is to describe what you have observed about the character. Instead of being direct and telling your readers that the character is angry, describe the character’s body language, facial expression, tone, so that the reader imagines that he or she is angry.
Using key details enhances both characterization and clarity in third-person writing. Without a doubt, a description adds vividness and clarifies ambiguity.
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10. Avoid including your thoughts
By using the third-person narrator, you assume the role of a reporter rather than a commentator. In this case, you should allow your readers to draw their inferences. you can do this by presenting your characters’ actions without mentioning any analysis or explanation.
In other words, you should not provide information about how readers should view these actions. by following this tip on how to write in third person, you will be able to handle third person narration without difficulty.
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11. Change the characters’ point of view strategically
Third-person writing is sometimes described as a godlike perspective because it’s a point of view where the narrator can slip in and out of the minds of different characters.
Having different points of view throughout a story can create great storytelling by giving readers a broader view of the plot. But be sure to avoid sudden jumps, i.e., randomly jumping from one character to another.
It’s fine to tell different subplots from different points of view throughout the story, but make sure they are consistent. If you’re narrating in third person from your hero’s perspective, don’t suddenly switch to another character’s point of view in the middle of a scene. It will be jarring and confusing to your readers.
When writing from an omniscient third-person narrator, move to a different character’s head at a transitional moment, such as a chapter break, when another character’s perspective will be advantageous to the plot.
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12. Reveal only what your character knows
While point of view is an essential tool in character development because you are describing the world through his or her eyes and letting readers know what he or she thinks and feels, you must be aware of what your characters’ limitations are when learning how to write in third person.
Once you establish your main character, you can only show what he or she knows, sees, experiences, and so on. Then, evoke his or her emotions, what he or she sees, hears, smells, etc., and show everyone else’s reactions, rather than telling how they feel.
This will help you know what to show and what not to say. It’s all about focus, as you’ll be shooting through the camera lens to help your reader have the best possible experience.
Check your third-person writing often to look for mistakes you may have made in giving a character information or opinions that they wouldn’t normally have.
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13. Strictly limit the number of characters
You can have more than one character with a third-person point of view, however, paying attention to someone makes them very significant in the story. That is, only the most important ones get inside voices.
It is very common to see in some books written in third person that the writer gets into the heads of all the characters or, a large number of them. This can leave all the characters on the surface.
As a general rule of writing in third person, use more than two main and two secondary point of view characters. in any case, this is about as many complete plot arcs as you can fit into a story.
The more you use, the more diluted the story becomes. Also, the more you jump to different characters, the more thoughts, emotions, etc. The key here is that each character must go through his or her own story arc.
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all right! We’ve reached the end of the note and now you know how to write in third person. As you’ve seen above, this style can be adapted to many situations and is not exclusive to novel or short story writing.
While learning how to write in third person can give a different touch to your story, the reality here is that you are the writer and the form of narration will depend a lot on what you want to tell. Let your imagination run wild!
see you soon!