Writing Tip #3 -- Discovering Points of View in Books, Pt 1

In storytelling, the point of view (POV) is crucial as it determines how the narrative is presented to the reader. The POV shapes the reader's understanding of the characters, setting, and events. Different types of narrative perspectives—such as first person, third person, deep point of view, and omniscient point of view—offer distinct advantages and challenges. This article explores these different narrative styles, discussing their pros and cons and providing examples to illustrate how they work in practice.

First Person Point of View

Definition: In first person point of view, the narrator is a character within the story and uses the pronoun "I" to describe events and experiences. The reader is given direct access to the thoughts, feelings, and perceptions of the narrator.

Example: “I walked down the street, my heart pounding in my chest. Every shadow seemed to hide a threat, but I couldn’t stop. I had to keep moving.”

Pros:

1. Intimacy and Emotional Depth: First person POV offers an intimate connection with the narrator. The reader is inside the character’s head, experiencing their thoughts and emotions in real-time, which can create a strong emotional bond.

2. Reliability and Subjectivity: The narrator's perspective is singular, meaning everything is filtered through their perceptions. This allows for unreliable narrators, which can add intrigue and complexity to the story.

3. Voice: It allows for a distinctive, personal voice to emerge, which is ideal for character-driven stories where personality and internal conflict are central.

Cons:

1. Limited Knowledge: The reader only knows what the narrator knows. This can be limiting, especially if the plot requires broader knowledge of events or other characters’ motivations.

2. Subjectivity and Bias: The first-person narrator can be biased, making it harder to present a balanced view of events. This may frustrate readers who want to see multiple perspectives.

3. Restricting Plot Structure: Since the reader is confined to the narrator’s experience, the scope of the narrative may be narrower, which can be a challenge in more expansive plots.

Third Person Point of View

Definition: Third person POV uses "he," "she," or "they" to describe the actions and thoughts of characters. It can be divided into two main subcategories: limited and omniscient.

Example: "She walked down the street, her heart pounding. Every shadow seemed to hide a threat, but she couldn’t stop. She had to keep moving."

Pros:

1. Flexibility: Third person POV offers more flexibility than first person. Writers can shift between characters and provide multiple perspectives, allowing for more complex storylines.

2. Broader Scope: The narrative can explore events, settings, and characters beyond the protagonist’s knowledge, providing a fuller picture of the story world.

3. Less Bias: Since the narrator is not tied to a single character’s perceptions, the reader may get a more balanced and objective view of events.

Cons:

1. Distance from Characters: Unlike first person, third person can create a certain emotional distance between the reader and the characters, as the narrator is somewhat removed.

2. Head-Hopping Risks: In some cases, third person POV can become confusing if the narrator jumps too quickly from one character’s perspective to another. This is commonly referred to as "head-hopping."

3. Limited Emotional Depth: Without access to the character’s inner thoughts, it can be harder to delve deeply into their emotions unless the writer uses other techniques.

Deep Point of View (Close Third Person)

Definition: Deep point of view (also called close third person) is a variation of third person POV where the narrative is written in such a way that the reader is closely aligned with the protagonist's thoughts and feelings, almost as if they were in the first person, but using "he" or "she."

Example: “Her heart raced, a wild drumbeat in her chest. The shadows seemed to loom larger with every step she took, but she couldn’t stop. She had to keep moving.”

Pros:

1. Immersive and Intimate: Deep POV blends the immediacy of first person with the flexibility of third person. The reader experiences the character’s emotions and sensory details in a vivid and immersive way.

2. No Filter Between Character and Reader: In deep POV, the narrative doesn’t distance the reader from the character. Thoughts and emotions are expressed as the character experiences them, with no intermediary (like "she thought" or "he felt").

3. Enhanced Emotional Impact: Since the reader is inside the character’s mind, deep POV is particularly effective in creating strong emotional resonance and tension.

Cons:

1. Difficult to Master: Writing in deep POV can be challenging. It requires precision to avoid the distancing language often associated with third person (e.g., “she thought” or “he felt”).

2. Can Be Overwhelming: Since the reader is so closely aligned with the character, deep POV can sometimes feel too intense, especially in emotionally charged or action-packed scenes.

3. Limited to One Character: Deep POV is often confined to one character at a time, which can make it difficult to present multiple perspectives within a single scene or chapter.

Omniscient Point of View

Definition: Omniscient POV is a narrative perspective in which the narrator knows everything about the story, including the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of all characters, as well as events happening in different locations and across time. The omniscient narrator is not a character within the story, but rather an all-knowing, god-like presence.

Example: “She walked down the street, her heart pounding. Little did she know, just around the corner, a figure watched her every move. Far away, in another part of town, the storm clouds gathered ominously, but she was oblivious to the coming disaster.”

Pros:

1. Unlimited Knowledge: The omniscient narrator can provide insight into any character’s thoughts, emotions, and motivations, as well as the broader context of the story world. This gives the reader a fuller, more complete picture of the narrative.

2. Flexible Narrative: Omniscient POV allows for shifts in time and space, offering a bird’s-eye view of events and multiple plotlines simultaneously.

3. Complexity: This POV is ideal for epic or sweeping narratives, such as historical fiction or fantasy, where multiple storylines, characters, and settings need to be explored.

Cons:

1. Lack of Intimacy: Because the omniscient narrator is not emotionally invested in any one character, the reader may not form as strong a connection with the protagonist(s).

2. Overwhelming Information: The vast knowledge provided by an omniscient narrator can be overwhelming and confusing, especially if not carefully managed. The sheer amount of detail may distract from the main story.

3. Risk of Telling Instead of Showing: Omniscient POV can sometimes result in excessive exposition, where the narrator simply tells the reader things rather than allowing them to experience them through the characters.

Conclusion

Each point of view offers unique advantages and challenges, depending on the story being told. First person offers intimacy and emotional depth, but can limit the scope of the narrative. Third person provides flexibility and a broader perspective but can feel distant. Deep POV enhances emotional immersion by closely aligning the reader with the protagonist’s experiences, while omniscient POV provides a comprehensive view of the story world but may lack intimacy.

Ultimately, the choice of POV depends on the nature of the story, the author’s style, and the desired connection with the reader. Writers must carefully consider these elements when selecting the best POV for their narrative, as it can significantly influence the tone, pacing, and emotional impact of the story.