Exploring Point of View in Fiction: Techniques to Enhance Your Writing

What if The Great Gatsby was told through Gatsby’s perspective instead of Nick’s?

What if Catcher in the Rye wasn’t told through Holden’s perspective?

Perspective is everything when it comes to creating fictional characters and places!

One of the most important features to consider when writing fiction is point of view. How you narrate your story will either draw readers in or turn them away.

But no pressure, right?

Don’t worry. I’m going to share everything you need to know about point of view in fiction writing in this post.

But first, what is point of view exactly?

What is point of view in fiction writing?

Point of view is the lens – or narrative voice – through which your readers experience your story.  It describes the perspective from which your story is told.

Before writing your story, you have to decide on who is telling the story as well as who they are telling it to. Will it be told by a character who is involved in the story? Will it be from a perspective that sees all of the characters but isn’t one of them?

There are three main types of point of view in fiction writing:

• first person
• second person
• third person.

Three types of point of view

1. First-Person

In first-person point of view, one of your characters is narrating the story. That character tells the story from their perspective – they share everything that is happening as seen through their eyes. However, they can only describe scenes in which they are present.

First-person uses “I” pronouns: I, me, my, mine, myself, we, our, etc.  

By using first-person, you can explore your character’s personality on a deeper level. It gives you a chance to provide intimacy and take a deeper look into your character’s mind. Your character’s words can reveal their thoughts, feelings, and reactions to the events that happen in the story.

When first-person point of view is written well, readers will feel connected to the character. They will know their voice, their thoughts, their commentary, and their feelings.

What is first-person point of view best for?

• Romance novels
• Ghost stories
• Coming-of-age-novels
• YA books

What are the pros and cons of using a first-person point of view?

• Pros:
  • The reader sees the view of the fictional world through the eyes of the narrator
  • The reader knows the thoughts and feelings of the narrator
  • The reader knows and understands the same thing the narrator does
  • The reader can empathize and connect on a deeper level with the narrator
• Cons:
  • The reader is limited to only seeing the same view of the world as the narrator
  • The reader can only see and experience what the narrator does
  • Since the focus is on the internal dialogue of only one character, storytelling can be narrow in scope

2. Second-Person

In second-person point of view, the “you” pronoun is used. It allows the reader to be put into the action of the story. While it’s difficult to pull off in long works of fiction, a second-person view can add excitement to the plot if done well.

Since the narrator is speaking directly to the reader in second-person, it allows you to pull the reader into the story and make them feel like they are part of the action.

What is second-person point of view best for?

• Interactive stories, such as Choose Your Own Adventure books
• Epistolary novels
• Personal essays
• Literary fiction
• Experimental literaturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experimental_literature
• Short stories
• Flash fiction
• Science fiction and fantasy
• Horror
• Psychological thrillers

What are the pros and cons of using second-person point of view?

• Pros:
  • Creates a sense of immediacy and involvement
  • Allows the reader to live the events of the stories as they happen
  • Engages readers on a deeper level
  • Breaks down the barrier between the story and the reader
• Cons:
  • Some readers may not enjoy reading this point of view because it isn’t as common
  • Difficult to maintain a high level of consistency and intentionality
  • Having to avoid assumptions about the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the reader
  • Limited character development
  • Limits the scope to the narrator’s experiences and viewpoints

3. Third-person

In third-person point of view, the author is telling the story about the characters and what happens to them. It is told from an outside perspective where the characters are referred to using the third-person pronouns: “he/she.”

There are two different approaches to writing in third-person: third-person omniscient and third-person limited.

Third-person Omniscient

In this point of view, the narrator has an all-knowing and all-seeing perspective. They know everything about the story and its characters and can enter any character’s mind. Also, they can move through time freely and give the reader their own opinions and observations as well as those of the characters.

Third-person Limited

In this point of view, the narrator only has access to one (and sometimes more) of the character’s thoughts, feelings, and sensations. This allows readers to have a deeper experience of a character and the scene. Other characters in the story are revealed only through their actions and words.

Using third-person limited allows you to use what the reader doesn’t know to build suspense.

What is third-person point of view best for?

• Fantasy
• Sci-Fi
• Mystery
• Thriller
• Romance
• Historical Fiction

What are the pros and cons of using a third-person point of view?

• Pros:
  • The protagonist knows information the reader doesn’t
  • Ease of describing characters
  • Author voice is not limited
  • Allows you to float between multiple characters
  • You can show the characters’ thoughts and feelings along with the events
  • Allows the reader to see the bigger picture within the story
  • Allows for a greater sense of a scene when you switch between viewpoints
• Cons:
  • Weak character voice
  • Limited knowledge of other characters
  • The reader is detached from the characters which can prevent them from building empathy
  • Multiple characters can become confusing to follow

How to Choose the Point of View That’s Right for You

Choosing the best point of view that works best for you can be quite challenging. My best tip for this is to try out a few different ones and pick what feels right. For example, if you’re writing a cozy mystery, ask yourself if the words sound better coming from a first-person or a third-person point of view. If you’re writing a romance novel, perhaps a more intimate approach would work better.

The key is to understand how each point of view can impact your story.

When choosing your point of view, consider these questions:

• What genre are you writing in?
• What age group are you writing for?
• Whose voice do you want your readers to hear when they are reading the story?
• What point of view feels most natural for you to write in?
• Do you want to write in just one point of view or multiple ones?
• Do you want to create intimacy between the character and the reader? Or do you want to create distance?
• Will the narrator remain invisible?
• Do you want to describe your character from the outside and give insight into their thoughts and feelings?

Here are some steps to help you figure out which point of view would be better for your genre:

1. Try using different points of view.

The best way to decide which point of view feels more natural for you to write in is to try writing in different ones. You’ll know which one is best for you because your writing will begin to move more quickly and you’ll feel the momentum. Remember:

• First-person allows you to create intimacy by granting the reader access to your character’s internal monologue.
• Second-person can stir up feelings of confusion or claustrophobia and can be challenging and overwhelming to write in.
• Third-person is more flexible because it allows you to switch between characters’ points of view.

2. Establish your chosen point of view quickly.

Let the reader know which character’s perspective you’re following at all times. For example, when writing in third-person, use the character’s name early in the scene. Also, make sure you stick to the point of view you’re writing in. For example, if you’re narrating from the hero’s perspective and you suddenly switch to a different character’s perspective, the reader will quickly become confused and put off.

3. Be mindful of character limitations.

Remember, you’re describing the world through your character’s eyes, allowing the reader to know what they are thinking and feeling. Be mindful of what your character’s limitations are. Make sure to go over your writing often so you can look for mistakes you may have made in giving your character opinions they might not usually have. Point of view is an important tool in character development.

4. Mix it up.

It’s okay to mix things up a bit and move from first to third or first to second. However, remember that when you establish a point of view, you need to stick to that point of view throughout the entire scene. You can have different subplots told from different perspectives throughout your novel, but be sure to treat each point of view as an individual section or chapter.

Techniques to Enhance Your Writing

Here are some techniques to master the art of using point of view in fiction writing:

1. Character Consistency

It’s important to maintain consistency in the chosen point of view to avoid confusion. If you start with first-person narration, stick to it throughout the story.

2. Reader Engagement

Consider the emotional impact on readers. First-person narration can create a strong connection, while third-person limited allows for a broader engagement.

3. Experiment with Multiple Points of View

Explore the option of using multiple points of view to provide a well-rounded perspective. This can add depth to the story and reveal different angles.

4. Show, Don’t Tell

Use the chosen point of view to show events through the characters’ experiences rather than telling the reader what is happening. This adds a layer of engagement.

5. Balancing Act

Create a balance between a character’s thoughts and actions. Too much internal monologue may slow down the tempo.

6. Use Dialogue Effectively

Dialogue is a powerful tool in fiction writing, but it should only be used to reveal character traits, relationships, and conflicts within the chosen point of view.

I recommend reading these next:

• Brainstorming Ideas & Techniques for Your Fiction Novel
• How to Create Central Conflict in Your Fiction Novel
• Story Setting: How to Create a Captivating Setting
• What is a Proofreader & How Do I Find One?

Books I recommend on point of view:

*As an Amazon affiliate I earn a teeny tiny commission if you make a purchase. (And I mean tiny!)

• Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot: How to Write Gripping Stories That Keep Readers on the Edge of Their Seats
• A Year of Creative Writing Prompts (Write On!)
• Plot in a Day, Write in a Month: A Failproof System to Revolutionize Your Fiction