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Q&A How much uncertainity will the 'general (Non-YA) fantasy reader' tolerate?

It is fine to keep the POV on the character and go on. The reader will find out things at the same time the POV does. What you should do is to make sure they understand that every information is s...

posted 4y ago by Mindwin‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Answer
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T13:07:40Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/48464
License name: CC BY-SA 4.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar Mindwin‭ · 2019-12-08T13:07:40Z (over 4 years ago)
It is fine to keep the POV on the character and go on. The reader will find out things at the same time the POV does.

What you should do is to make sure they understand that every information is something the POV perceived, not some absolute truth. (you didn't state but I am assuming you are using 3rd person limited).

Everything should spin around the POV. So, in your text,

> Next to the path winding between small bushes and trees stood a great old tree. A white hole was shining in its dark bark. Peter skulked into the direction of the tree. The hole in the bark was bigger than his head. **The marks seemed like** great talons had almost split the trunk in two. Peters muscles tensed and he clutched his spear, his hands suddenly sweaty and slick. **He knew what made those marks.** What does a boneslicer do here in the North? Was it not supposed to stalk the waste far to the south? He pried into the silent woods and kept walking into the shadows.

The one explaining things to the reader is Peters. Peters' knowledge, Peters' perception.

Addendum:

The narrator has access to the character's head. The text could say Peters imagination evoked the figure of the boneslicer and then describe it, with the emotional load Peters feels about the boneslicer.

> Peters muscles tensed and he clutched his spear **as he recalled the image of the terrible creature that left those talon marks. Tall, ghoulish, long-limbed and vicious.** He came to his senses and felt his hands suddenly sweaty and slick. What does a boneslicer do here in the North? [...]

I don't even have to describe the entire boneslicer now. I can tell only what characteristics make Peters so afraid of them.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2019-10-08T14:35:07Z (over 4 years ago)
Original score: 0