Well, here we are just moments away from February. The month of the groudhogs and valentines.Do remember to send a card to your favorite groundhog. They are sensitive and will be hurt if you don't.I love February. It is usually a punk month here in upstate NY, but this year it's been a pip. Yesterday it was 47 degrees. Good thing too as hubby decieded to replace a window.Now lets get down to the nity gritty. The Tip of the Month for February.Point of View.This is somewhat tough for a new writer, as we tend to think everyones input is important. You have probably read books that head hopped, some can do it beautifully, but it is a rare talent. Nora Roberts has the lock on it. However, most of us are not Nora, so we have to play the hands we are dealt.SOGo and purchase several colored markers and a copy of your favorite book (get an extra copy if writing in your favorite gives you the willys)Assign each principal character a specific color. Also assign a color to the important secondary characters.Just for the sake of demonstration we'll use Little Red Riding Hood.For Little Red- red of courseFor the Fox - blueFor the Woodsman - yellow.For Grandma -green.This is just to point out who is who.Now take your favorite book and do likewise. As you hgihlight each character's POV (point of View) that is what they say and what they think, you will note there is a pattern of a certain color in each paragraph. That is the point of view of that particular character. Going on throughout the book you will see one or two colors more prominent that the others. These are the important characters. Now do the same to one of your manuscripts. Do you see many colors in a single paragraph? Too many points of view. You should see a rhythm of color throughout the work, as you saw in your favorite book.When I first heard of this method I thought it might be just silly (which is what led me to try it) however seeing the colors simplified what to that point had been complicated. Hope this helps those of you wonder what in the Sam Hill is POV. Feel free to question me through my e-mail.Come back often and look for March's Tip.