When an author chooses an unseen observer to tell the tale, it’s known as pure objective viewpoint. This technique is often used to open stories.
A disembodied ‘mind’ oversees the scene. Gradually, the ‘observer’ comes in closer, until at last the author takes you into the mind of one of the story characters. The way in which the story is told reveals whether the author has switched from pure objective viewpoint to third person subjective viewpoint or to third person objective.
Advantages of Pure Objective Viewpoint
This viewpoint allows the author to set up the backdrop for the story. It familiarizes the reader with who, what, where and when before committing to one person’s perspective.
Disadvantages of Pure Objective Viewpoint
Unless the author moves quickly from pure objective viewpoint to one of the third person viewpoints, it will kill the opening of your book. This was my experience with Bobby B. Billy. Nine pages of pure objective viewpoint was just too much for today’s readers.
This is one of the main reasons we switched the starting point, and chose to use first person subjective viewpoint throughout the book.
Pure objective viewpoint cannot be used with first person viewpoints. It only works seamlessly with the third person viewpoints.
Using Pure Objective Viewpoint
The most effective use of this point of view is to use the zoom analogy. You start far away from your destination and begin to zoom in toward your target—the person who is telling the story.
Example
A twin engine plane climbed to cruising altitude over Puerto Rico’s central mountains. The pilot swerved around tropical thunderheads billowing into the atmosphere. Despite his efforts, the Liat passenger airplane bobbed on the air currents like a plastic bottle floating down a flooded river. Belts secured each passenger in place.
Denise gripped the armrest of the airplane seat with one hand and her husband’s hand with the other. The three-seat wide turbo prop shifted sideways, then lurched upward—again. It was the roughest ride she’d experienced since flying in a Russian-made jet on her return from the Polish concert tour in 1979. At least this plane doesn’t sound like it’s falling apart.
Gordon’s laughter broke into her thoughts. “It’s always rough when they fly over the mountains.” She smiled at her husband as he patted her arm. “It’s better once we’re over the water,” he reassured her.
“I sure hope so,” she said. “I don’t like feeling my stomach in my throat.”
See how the pure objective viewpoint has added depth to the story? We’ve moved from watching the plane climb into the sky to Denise gripping the armrest to Denise’s thoughts. This has opened up an opportunity to go into Denise’s past with her memory of the Aeroflot flight from Poland to New York.
Summary
Pure objective viewpoint can open up opportunities to provide a larger view before you narrow your story to the perspective of one individual. However, if you choose to use it, remember it may only be used with third person viewpoints.
