I? We? They? You? For a writer, it can be hard to figure out which point of view to use when telling a story. The choice between first person, third, or omniscient might depend on personal preference, but it also depends on the audience and intention.
Point of view can be one of the most important decisions for a writer to make. How should the reader relate to the topic? Is it a formal essay, a blog post, or a short story? Let’s look at some point of view (POV) tips to guide you and your narrator in the right direction.
First, Second, Third
There are three main points of view for a writer: first person (I), second person (you), and third person (he/she/they). Each one has its ideal uses, as well as situations where it’s not so effective.
A book, whether fiction or nonfiction, is probably going to be either first or third person. Choose the POV that works best for the story or subject matter. A first-person account of an historical event can be an engaging read, but the first-person voice wouldn't be appropriate in a textbook.
An entire novel in second person, referring to the main character as “you” is probably not ideal. It can sometimes pull the reader away from the story rather than immerse them in it. But second person is great for talking directly to the reader in a friendly article. (Hello, you!)
It’s All in Your Head
First-person point of view can be great for fiction. It serves to connect the reader more closely with the main character. The reader gets the character’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences through the narrator's perspective. For fiction audiences, this can create a close, relatable experience.
In nonfiction books or articles, the first person can also be effective if the point of the work is to share your inner thoughts with the world. Many writers on the internet write in first person in order to share their opinions, expertise, and advice.
Close? Distant? Omniscient?
Third person is a little trickier. There are three main categories of third-person point of view: close, distant, and omniscient. Close third person is almost like first person. It still follows one character, but there’s a little separation between reader and protagonist, because it's using a he/she/they pronoun.
Distant third person is a way to put even more space between the story and the reader. This is used more in older works, when the author interjects their opinion on the character’s choices or surroundings.
Third-person omniscient isn’t exclusive to a single character. Instead it follows everyone — “playing god,” as The Writer puts it. This POV can get messy fast, so outlines or even index cards can help ambitious writers who want to try it.
Third-person POV is ideal for most works of nonfiction, especially when the writer wants to keep any prejudice out of their writing. By maintaining a distant third-person narrator, writers can present objective information without clouding the content with too much interior dialogue or bias. This is effective for scientific or research-driven writing.
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