Oskar

The second form of second person makes the reader into the protagonist of the story. This is a bit easier to spot, although it can be subtle as well. Here is an example: “You wake up in the morning to find that you have turned into a giant insect overnight.”

Second person feels different for a reason. Beyond using or implying the word you, it forces the reader to become an active participant in the story. Being a participant to what is happening can affect the reader in ways that first and third person simply cannot.

Put every person you see through their PACES.”

PACES stands for:

Physical characteristics

Attitude

Cues (nonverbal)

Emotional vulnerabilities

Setting

CHARM KILLERS

A charming sleuth would never:

• Use the word should

• Criticize (“That was dumb.”)

• Speak in an aggressive or skeptical tone

• Dismiss someone’s worries

• Offer platitudes

Emotional vulnerabilities make characters endearing to readers, so they’re important to think about during people-watching sessions.