In this article we’ll discuss the different point of view (POV) options available to writers, how to execute them, and the benefits/drawbacks of each.
What is point of view?
Point of view is the technical term for the vantage point the writer uses to tell the story.
The reader experiences scenes through the perspective of that person, who is either the author or the viewpoint character. This means that you, the writer, can use your own narrative voice or you can tell the story through your characters.
Choosing the right POV for your project is one of the most crucial decisions that will make or break a work. The choice will ultimately depend on the effect you want to create for the reader.
Common types of point of view.
In this section, I’ll give you brief descriptions of the major types of point of view, and we’ll explore some of them in greater detail later on.
First person.
In this point of view, the story is told by the narrator, a character who is deeply involved in the story and relays their perspective with “I”.
I took a shortcut down a dark alley, felt a gun against my spine. A voice said to me, “Take out your wallet.”
One crucial element to remember is that first person point of view is limited to the knowledge, experience, and perception of the narrator. We can only tell the reader information that the character already has. The thoughts of other characters are off-limits.
We can, however, tell the reader what the narrator believes other characters are thinking. But we must stay in the mind and voice of our narrator, alone.
This is perhaps the most natural and intuitive POV to use, and will often be the best choice for beginning writers. Why? When we tell stories in day to day life, we almost always use first person, going all the way back to when we were children.
“How was your day, honey?”
“Great. I got an A in Spanish.”
Keep in mind that first person narration is not in the author’s voice. There is a character narrating the story, so it must be the character’s voice on the page.
This means that we have to pay attention to that person’s sentence structure, vocabulary, and rhythms of speech when writing the narration in the book.
First person remains a popular point of view in all styles of fiction, both commercial and literary.
Advantages and disadvantages of first person POV.
The main advantages are:
- First person is an intuitive voice for writers to produce and for readers to consume.
- It creates intimacy and immediacy. First person narration is the absolute closest in narrative distance that we, as readers, can get to a fictional character. We share the narrator’s thoughts, feelings, and views of the world. And, the events in the story are presented in real time—we are right there with the character in every scene.
- Closeness builds trust. If your story focuses on the trials and tribulations of a main protagonist, especially if that character undergoes immense internal change, the close narrative distance of first-person will heighten the impact of the story on the reader. In short, it helps connect the reader to the character. Other forms of POV can do this too, of course, but first person is excellent in this regard.
Some disadvantages:
- Limiting yourself to one character’s perspective can restrict your options as a storyteller. You won’t be able to enter the perspective of any other characters with first person. In some stories, there isn’t a need to. However, some forms of fiction, like thrillers, can benefit from switching between characters. Your choice of POV should factor that in.
Second person.
In this point of view, the narrator refers to the reader as “you”.
You take a shortcut down a dark alley, feel a gun against your spine. A voice says to you, “Take out your wallet.”
I won’t go into too much detail on this POV, because it is very rare for novelists to use it. My opinion is that second person can be more effective in short-form writing, but in long-form it is difficult to execute effectively.
As a reader, second person annoys me after awhile. I can’t help thinking, “No, narrator, you’re not talking about me…it’s the character.”
Third person.
This point of view means that the story is told from a narrative distance. There are several types of third person, so let’s break down each one.
Types of third person POV.
Third person is the most versatile point of view, especially in contemporary fiction. You can choose from the following:
Limited third person.
For limited third, the viewpoint character is “he” or “she,” and is directly involved in the events of the story. As with first person, we are limited to the perspective of that character and can’t divulge anything to the reader that our viewpoint character does not think, feel, or perceive.
This creates the same intimacy and immediacy that we get with first person point of view, resulting in a strong connection between the reader and the character.
However, limited third person comes with an advantage over first person…we can easily switch viewpoint characters with a scene or chapter break.
He took a shortcut down the dark alley, felt a gun against his spine. A voice said to him, “Take out your wallet.”
***
She pressed the .38 into his flesh, her finger over the trigger.
In this short example, we return to the same situation we’ve seen before. This time, we see the differences between the two viewpoint characters’ perspectives in the scene.
The man feels a gun (he doesn’t know what kind) against his back and hears a voice. We then have a scene break and enter his assailant’s viewpoint. She knows exactly what kind of gun it is (a .38 revolver) because it’s her weapon. She also feels her own finger over the trigger, so her viewpoint gives us that detail as well.
By using limited third, we’re able to seamlessly switch viewpoint characters to give the reader multiple angles of the situation, with high levels of immediacy. Now, we’re connected to both characters.
Limited third person or first person?
By contrast, having multiple first person narrators is awkward and clumsy.
I took a shortcut down a dark alley, felt a gun against my spine. A voice said to me, “Take out your wallet.”
***
I pressed the .38 into his flesh, my finger over the trigger.
Having two first person viewpoints here creates confusion for the reader, because we can’t distinguish between them. In third person, we can use different pronouns or give the characters’ names. But in first person, we must stick with “I”.
Limited third person delivers the intimacy of first person with the flexibility of a more distant narrative style, allowing us to shift viewpoints. For this reason, it is the most popular point of view in fiction today, especially commercial fiction.
Think about thriller novels, which often have large casts and will shift between the protagonist, the villain, and multiple supporting characters. All of those different perspectives make the storytelling more interesting and exciting for the reader. Third limited makes that possible.
Third person omniscient.
In this point of view, the narrator is the all-knowing author, who sees the story from a greater narrative distance and has access to the thoughts, feelings, and perception of every character.
We can switch between viewpoints easily with third omniscient. Additionally, we can give the reader information that only the storyteller would know. For instance:
John thought this would be the last time he’d see the bloody knife. Ten years later, he’d learn otherwise.
In the moment, John can’t possibly know what will happen ten years from the time he uses that knife to kill someone. But the all-knowing narrator does, and can include that little teaser for the reader without breaking the rules of third omniscient.
It is a very natural storytelling voice to read, since we’ve seen it over and over again since we were young. Children’s stories, folktales, and fables commonly use this POV.
Stephen King is the contemporary author I recommend studying to learn this technique—especially his novel, It. King himself is the narrator, and most of the book employs a close narrative distance to the characters. He even switches to first person and limited third in various sections.
However, he’ll also include some ominous lines that only the omniscient narrator could know. When the Losers’ Club are still children, for instance, he’ll tease the horrific events they’ll encounter as adults.
The resulting effect is a mood of impending doom and mystery that is perfect for horror fiction.
Advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages are many:
- This is the most flexible point of view, giving us the most liberty in our storytelling. We can follow any character at any time, discuss anyone’s thoughts, and even introduce events that are yet to occur.
- Once again, it is a very natural voice for the reader to hear. We’re all familiar with stories told by an all-knowing narrator, and it is easy to become immersed in this point of view when it is done correctly.
- Like third limited, we have the opportunity to deeply connect with multiple characters, because we can see inside their psyches. The difference is that third limited requires a scene or chapter break to signal a change in viewpoint, whereas third omniscient does not.
There are a couple of key disadvantages:
- It is the hardest point of view to use. This makes sense, because with greater freedom comes greater labor. Yes, we can follow any character at any time, discuss anyone’s thoughts, and even introduce events that are yet to occur. But that involves managing a tremendous amount of moving pieces.
- The narrative distance is greater than in both first person and limited third. While we can still close that distance by telling the reader the most intimate thoughts of the characters, third omniscient can’t accomplish the same level of immediacy as those other two POVs. This can be a benefit, depending on the desired effect you want to create.
Summary.
To review:
- The most common POVs in fiction today are: first person, limited third person, and third person omniscient.
- In first person, the viewpoint character is “I” and narrates the story from their perspective. It has the highest levels of immediacy and intimacy.
- In limited third, the viewpoint character is “he” or “she” and narrates the story from their perspective. It combines the immediacy of first person with a slightly greater narrative distance, making it easy to switch viewpoints with scene and chapter breaks.
- In omniscient third, the narrator is all-knowing, and can give the reader any information about the characters and events. It has the lowest immediacy but the highest level of flexibility for the writer.
- Second person is worth knowing, but is rarely used in long-form storytelling.
There are even more variations of these points of view, which we will cover in future posts.
- My article on How to Write in Free Indirect Style
For now, if you liked this article and found it helpful, please share it!
Looking for a new thriller?
Check out my supernatural thriller, The Nowhere Game!
