Once you have the idea for a story, creating it may be difficult if you don’t know what your perspective should be. I am working on a story and cannot decide upon the best stance. My final choice should portray an interesting viewpoint. As I ponder this, I see an analogy.When composing a photograph, do you look at your subject from only one perspective? I am guilty and must answer, “Yes, sometimes.” However, this isn’t the technique that I learned in photography class. I learned that you must walk 360 degrees (if possible) around your subject and study all angles. I also learned to consider my subject from a possible bird’s eye or a worm’s eye view. This is the only way to get a complete view from all perspectives. Once you have seen all perspectives, you must decide which one will make the most interesting composition. Then you take the photograph.
In creating a story, or rewriting a folktale, the analogy of viewing your subject 360 degrees may help to see the best perspective of the story. After all, you must help create a vision within the minds of those who will be listening to or reading your story.
When creating a story, there are so many perspectives from which to choose. For example, I am working on a North Carolina story that took place at the end of the Civil War. It happened in my hometown. Whose viewpoint might portray the most interesting story as hundreds of enemy soldiers pillage through the center of town and take over? I have thought of a number of ways. For example, I can choose the viewpoint of an elderly person, a frightened horse stolen by the soldiers, a store owner, a vulnerable woman whose husband is away, or maybe a child feeling all alone and helpless with his ill mother.
How the story is written, will be left to me. My imagination and choice of perspective can make or break the story.
