Writing Point of View Guide for Authors

The complete guide to writing perspectives and point of view for authors planning their book!

 

The Point of View (POV) is the perspective that you use to tell a story. In this writing point of view guide for authors, we’ll cover the different points of view used in storytelling, including first person POV, second person POV, third person POV, and omnipresent POV.

Ultimately, the point of view you choose to write in is entirely up to you. However, some readers do have strong opinions about POV, and the choices you make when you’re writing a book could influence potential readers.

Different points of view have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. As the author or writer, you’ll need to weigh up the pros and cons before making a decision.

If you’re ready to self-publish your book and considering Amazon KDP, check out Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for Canadian Authors, where we cover everything you need to know about setting up your Amazon KDP account, uploading print and ebooks, and managing titles through your author dashboard.

 

What Is Point of View (POV)?

The point of view (POV) is the perspective used to tell the story and describe what’s happening around the main character or characters. Some authors can weave their way through multiple points of view effortlessly, while others prefer to stick to one point of view throughout their book.

So, why does perspective matter? Point of view or perspective in a book is everything.

All too often, a great book is torn apart by readers because the author has jumped back and forth between perspectives, leaving the reader confused and lost.

Imagine your book like a movie. Where is the camera focused on and what does the audience see?

• If the view the reader is seeing is what the main character sees, that’s a first-person perspective. If you add a narrator, you’ll be writing in close first-person perspective.
• If the main character is looking directly at the camera, or talking to the reader directly, that’s a second person perspective.
• If the reader is seeing the reactions of all the main characters at once, that’s an omniscient third-person perspective.

The point of view you choose in your book determines what the reader sees or learns.

For example, your main character is battling against time to solve a crime. They need to discover clues, and there are probably multiple people involved in working on the case. If you want to add new information or discoveries into the plot, you need to do it in a way that suits the point of view or perspective you’re writing in.

 

First Person Point of View or Perspective

This would commonly be written as I, me, us, and we.

First person perspective is typically used to tell a story directly from the main character’s perspective. It gets your reader close to the action and allows your reader to put themselves in the shoes of the main character.

Popular books written using first-person point of view include:

• The Hunger Games by author Suzanne Collins
• The Catcher in the Rye by author J.D. Salinger
• The Bell Jar by author Sylvia Plath
• The Martian by author Andy Weir
• Gone Girl by author Gillian Flynn

Using a first-person perspective is intimate, and when paired with the present tense, will allow readers to immerse themselves in the action. It’s what the main character sees, smells, feels, hears, experiences, and believes.

 

Second Person Point of View or Perspective

This would commonly be written as You.

Using the second person point of view directly inserts the reader into the story, but it doesn’t come without certain risks. Some readers don’t like being told what they should be thinking or feeling. Other readers can tolerate it for short amounts of time but get sick of it when used throughout a novel.

But, when done well, the second person perspective can allow the reader to immerse themselves deeper into the story.

Articles like this one and non-fiction books are where you see second person point of view most commonly used. The author is talking to the reader as if they’re the only reader. It’s more like a conversation between two people where one person is explaining everything to the other.

If you slip into second person POV in fiction, it can quickly break your worldbuilding illusion and take the reader out of the story. Second person POV in non-fiction is more common but doesn’t come without risks. When it resonates with a reader, they’ll feel like you’re talking directly to them. If they don’t agree, you can come off as condescending.

Popular books written using second person point of view include:

• The Fifth Season by author N.K. Jemisin
• Bright Lights, Big City by author Jay McInerney
• The Raven Tower by author Ann Leckie
• You by author Caroline Kepnes
• In the Dream House by author Carmen Maria Machado

 

Third Person Point of View or Perspective

This would commonly be written as he, him, she, her, they, or them.

The third person POV is the closest to watching a film or a movie. You’ll see the character in their setting and how they interact with other characters in the book. As the reader, you experience the whole scene, and you can draw your own conclusions.

Children’s books, biographies, fiction (particularly thriller and mystery), and history books commonly use the third-person perspective to tell a story. Some readers feel like the third person POV makes them feel as if the action is happening at a distance.

 

Limited Third Person Point of View or Perspective

This is where you pick one specific character to follow. In limited third person POV, the narrator is invisible but sees and knows everything that’s happening. It can also be useful for telling the reader what the main character is thinking or feeling, or what their perception of events happening around them can be.

One of the biggest drawbacks to this point of view is that by picking a main character, authors then have to rely on characters explaining to other characters what’s happening because the main character can’t be present in every single situation.

To get around this, you could consider having multiple main characters, which is known as multiple points of view. As the author, you’ll still be sticking tight on a few characters, but it allows you to rotate through multiple characters. The upside is that you’ll be able to explain more to your readers, but there is a downside. Readers may fall in love with some characters, but hate others, which can make reading through multiple character perspectives a little harder.

 

Omniscient Third Person Point of View or Perspective

When you’re telling an epic story, or have a huge cast of main characters, you’re going to need multiple characters to tell the story. The narrator will become an invisible entity which can pass on essential information to your readers.

The biggest risk authors face when using the omniscient third person POV is the remote impact and head hopping too much between characters. Too much head hopping can leave readers confused, not only with what’s happening in the story and why, but also who’s passing on the information to them.

Popular books written using third person point of view include:

• Throne of Glass by author Sarah J. Maas (Multiple Third-Person Limited)
• Ender’s Game by author Orson Scott Card (Third-Person Limited)
• Everything I Never Told You by author Celeste Ng (Third-Person Omniscient)
• The Book Thief by author Markus Zusak (Third-Person/Omniscient blend)
• Pride and Prejudice by author Jane Austen (Third-Person Limited/Free Indirect Speech)
• Nineteen Eighty-Four by author George Orwell (Third-Person Limited)

 

Point of View FAQs

• What is Point of View (POV)? ~ Point of view in books or writing refers to the narrative voice or perspective the story is told in. The POV determines who is telling the story, how much they know about what’s happening, and who the reader experiences the story through.
• What are the main types of POV? ~ There are three main types of POV used in books: First Person POV, Second Person POV, and Third Person POV.
• How do I choose the best point of view for my story? ~ You need to consider four main factors when choosing which POV to write in: Intimacy, Information Delivery, Genre Conventions, and Scope of the Narrative.
• What is head hopping? ~ Head hopping is when you switch from one character’s perspective to another character’s perspective.
• Can a story have multiple points of view? ~ Yes. A lot of books utilize first person POV as well as multiple third person limited perspectives.

 

Writing Point of View Guide for Authors | Conclusion

Now that you have a better understanding of the impact point of view can have on your reader, what point of view works best for you as the author and allows you to tell the best version of your story?

If you’re struggling to decide, try writing a scene from multiple points of view and see which one sits best with you and your story.

All perspectives have their time and place. As the author, it’s up to you to choose the best one for you and your story.

If you are writing a book and need any assistance with paperback or ebook formatting, cover design, professional editing, uploading to self-publishing sites such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark Publishing, or Amazon KDP keyword and category research, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also offer children’s book illustrations and formatting services.

For Canadian authors still considering whether or not Amazon KDP is the best self-publishing platform for them, check out The Complete Guide to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for Canadian Authors, where we cover everything you’ll need to know about getting started on Amazon KDP for the first time.

Other Indie Publishing Group writing guides and articles that you may find interesting:

• How Long Should A Book Be? An Author’s Guide to Word Count
• How To Craft Your Own Fantasy Fiction Book
• Tips For Writing A Great Book Description

Chrissy Hobbs is the owner and founder of Indie Publishing Group, a self-publishing services provider based in Ontario, Canada, which helps authors self-publish their books on Amazon KDP, IngramSpark Publishing and other self-publishing platforms. With over a decade of experience in the publishing industry and also being a best-selling children’s book author of The Day My Fart Followed Me to Hockey and Hockey Wars, you know your book is in good hands.