How close the narration sits to the character’s thoughts, from camera-wide to inside the skull.

How deep inside a character's thoughts the prose sits (the zoom level of narration). POV choices are contracts about knowledge and voice. Break them deliberately, not accidentally.

As a concept, it names a force readers feel even when they never use the word.

This term narrows the broader idea of **point of view**. Keep parent and child roles distinct in outlines.

Why it matters

Psychic distance clarifies narration choices that affect empathy, irony, and what readers can know when.

Common pitfalls

Using psychic distance as a label without checking whether the page actually performs the job.
Treating child and parent terms as interchangeable in beat sheets.
Letting psychic distance crowd out scene goal, conflict, or change at the end of the unit.

Example only

Readers feel psychic distance when stakes tighten after the ally refuses to help.

More specific terms

Deep POV — Close third that erases narrator filter. Thoughts feel like first person in "he/she."

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Psychic distance

Also called

narrative distance

BeginnerPOV & narrationReference

How close the narration sits to the character’s thoughts, from camera-wide to inside the skull.

How deep inside a character's thoughts the prose sits (the zoom level of narration). POV choices are contracts about knowledge and voice. Break them deliberately, not accidentally.

As a concept, it names a force readers feel even when they never use the word.

This term narrows the broader idea of **point of view**. Keep parent and child roles distinct in outlines.

Why it matters

Psychic distance clarifies narration choices that affect empathy, irony, and what readers can know when.

Common pitfalls

Using psychic distance as a label without checking whether the page actually performs the job.
Treating child and parent terms as interchangeable in beat sheets.
Letting psychic distance crowd out scene goal, conflict, or change at the end of the unit.

Example only

Readers feel psychic distance when stakes tighten after the ally refuses to help.

More specific terms

Deep POV — Close third that erases narrator filter. Thoughts feel like first person in "he/she."