This post is all about how to choose the right POV.
The point of view (POV) is one of the aspects of writing which can affect how a story is viewed. Choosing which POV to use for your story can be difficult, especially if you’re unsure which one will work best. Learning how to choose the right POV for your story requires learning how each POV functions, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and understanding what kind of story you’re writing.
What are the different POVs you can use in a story?
Third person omniscient:
Characters are referred to by an unknown narrator, who has knowledge of the thoughts and emotions of the entire cast of characters.
Ex. “Larry looked around for his wallet, getting more frantic. Sandra wished she didn’t have to take his money, but it was the only way to buy a train ticket to leave town.”
Third person limited:
Characters are referred to by an unknown narrator, but only focuses on the thoughts and perspective of one character, usually the protagonist.
Ex. “Larry looked around for his wallet, hoping that nobody stole it.”
First person:
A character (commonly the protagonist) narrates their own thoughts and actions.
Ex. “I fell down onto the floor, the realization of what I had heard sinking in.”
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HOW DO YOU DECIDE ON A POV?
Pros and cons of First Person POV
Pros:
- Keeps the reader emotionally close to the narrator: First person allows the reader to have access to thoughts and feelings of the narrator that they may not otherwise get.
- Easier to write an unreliable narrator: People have biases, insecurities, and beliefs which can prevent them from giving a clear picture of a situation. Therefore, they can sometimes be unreliable, which is great for creating intrigue.
- Reader discovers information at the same time as the protagonist: This can help maintain intrigue if you don’t want the reader to know certain things for a reveal. It can also help deliver exposition in a more natural way if the information is also new to the protagonist.
Cons:
- The story is limited to one person’s head: Some stories benefit from the reading knowing what multiple characters are feeling and experiencing. When you’re only getting one character’s thoughts, it can make the story feel cramped.
- Sentences can become repetitive as many will start with “I”: This is to be expected with the POV, so it can’t be fully avoided. However you can still vary your sentences by utilizing more figurative and/or active language. Ex. “I was terrified,” could be changed to “Fear froze me in place.”
- Continuous internal monologue can feel repetitive or give a reader less room to draw their own conclusions: With the POV essentially being the narrator’s train of thought, it can be very easy for the author to just tell the reader things to develop character arcs or themes. It can also feel repetitive, especially if your narrator is fixated on something, and therefore repeat the same sentiments.
Pros and cons of Third Person Omniscient POV
Pros:
- Complete freedom: You can enter any character’s mind and thoughts to share information with the reader.
- You have space to use dramatic irony to enhance your story: Dramatic irony is when the reader knows a piece of information that the characters don’t know. This can colour their interpretation of the events in the story.
- The narrator develops their own distinct voice: Since the narrator is likely not introduced as their own character, nor focusing solely on the perspective of one character, you actually have lots of space to develop a unique voice and tone through the narration. The distinct voice of the narration has a huge impact on the way the reader experiences the story.
Cons:
- Added distance from the protagonist: Because the narrator is more of an all-knowing presence, the reader doesn’t necessarily experience the same emotional closeness with the protagonist as they do when a book is written in First Person POV. The narrator still gives a window into the protagonist’s thoughts and actions, but it’s one step removed.
- Sloppy head hopping: Moving from one character’s thoughts to another’s in a single scene can come off as awkward. A way to avoid this is to only reveal a character’s inner thoughts when it’s absolutely necessary, or find a way to communicate it through a character’s dialogue or body language.
- Can be difficult to develop a consistent voice: Stories in first person or third person limited have the POV to use as the basis of getting a consistent voice. But with omniscient POV, there’s not as solid foundation, as the narrator’s voice needs to accommodate multiple characters.
Pros and cons of Third Person Limited POV
Pros:
- Keeps readers close to one character’s viewpoint without needing to stay in their head: This is like a happy medium between first person and third person omniscient, as it allows the reader to know what one specific character (the protagonist) is thinking, without having to know every thought.
- Adds suspense as events unfold: When the reader is unaware of what other characters are thinking, or what they’re doing when they’re not with the protagonist, it provides a space for the author to build tension. For example, a mystery may use third person limited so that the reader is unaware of what certain characters’ motivations or whereabouts during the murder and instead learn new information along with the protagonist.
- You can still describe the body language and actions of the main character: There’s certain body language that is more awkward to describe when you’re writing from First Person POV. For example, when you become angry you might notice your cheeks becoming hot, but another person may also see your eyebrows twitch in a way you didn’t even notice. Writing from Third Person Limited POV gives you, as the author, more space to describe the protagonist visually.
Cons:
- Risk of head hopping, which would make your narration inconsistent: This POV has to stick to the thoughts of one character, like with first person. But because third person limited is similar to third person omniscient at first glance, it can be easy to accidentally slip into the wrong POV or begin “head hopping” which will make your narration feel inconsistent.
- Difficult to show events occurring away from the main character: While the limit to the main character can create suspense, in some cases it can weaken the story. For example, if something major happens off page because the main character wasn’t present, and the reader gains that information after the fact, it can feel unearned.
- Slightly more distance from the main character: With this extra distance, you can’t describe a character’s present thoughts as often or in as much detail compared to first person. Describing thoughts may also come off as intrusive or overtly telling to the reader.
Should I use multiple POVs?
Some books alternate different characters’ POVs, instead of following one character. For example, each chapter may be told from a different character’s perspective or the chapters may alternate which POV it’s coming from. This technique can be useful if you have a large cast, and/or if the characters are physically separated for most of the story. It also creates a grand sense of scale, which can be effective for a high fantasy story.
However, having multiple POVs also means needing to create strong and distinct voices for each character. Sometimes having multiple POVs can make a story feel overcrowded, or one POV will be clearly stronger than the other.
Multiple POVs can also end up being used as a crutch. You may feel it’s easier to just show various characters’ First Person POV rather than allowing the reader to collect information by describing what one character notices about the other or picking up on subtext. This is why it’s important to intentionally choose your POV and then develop strong voices surrounding the narrator or narrating characters.
Consider the characters your reader needs to know on a deeper level the most. If you can name multiple characters, then having multiple POVs may be a good fit for your story.
Which POV do readers prefer?
Every reader has their preferences on POVs, so choosing which POV to use shouldn’t depend on them. Everyone is going to have a different answer for which POV they like, so it’s better to choose based on what will work best for your story.
If your story requires the reader to get to know the protagonist on a deep level, then first person will be your best option. If your book has multiple characters that affect the plot and story in a significant way, then third person omniscient will work best.
Trying out different POVs for practice is a good way to determine which one works best for your book.
This post was all about how to choose the right POV.
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