Top Tip for New Writers: Master Third Person by "Showing" Not "Telling"

[Georg]

I see so many questions from beginners struggling with third person, and I remember being there myself! One of the biggest "aha!" moments for me was learning to use it to show emotion rather than just telling the reader about it.

Instead of writing "He was angry" (telling), try describing the world through his angry eyes in third person: "The cheerful whistle of the kettle felt like a personal insult. He slammed the cupboard door, and the spoons rattled a nervous protest." It's still in third person, but we're experiencing his anger from the inside out, not just being informed of it.

This simple shift makes your prose so much more vivid. Does anyone else have a golden rule or tip that helped them unlock the power of third person? Let's share our wisdom!

 

[Taurus]

The "show don't tell" principle is everything. Instead of "she was nervous," I now write "she twisted her ring until it left a red mark." Same information, but the reader feels it.

My addition: use sensory details through your character's perspective. In third person limited, you can describe what they notice, which reveals their emotional state. An anxious character might notice every exit sign; a happy character might notice the warmth of the sun.

Also, filter carefully. Instead of "she saw the sunset," just describe the sunset through her eyes. We know she's seeing it because we're in her perspective!