One of the easy ways to slip up we see in our critique group is the point of view. Staying in the same POV is often difficult, especially for novice authors. Let’s take a look at point of view and see what we’re up against.
The definition of point of view is the narrator’s position in the description of events. The term comes from the Latin term punctum visus, which means “point sight” or where in the story the narrator is pointing the reader. POV is sometimes also known as narrative perspective.
There are basically four points of view:
- First Person: this is the POV where “I” am telling the story.
- Second Person: this is the POV where the story is told about “you.” It’s not a very common POV in fiction (and devilishly difficult to write), but it is more common in nonfiction.
- Third Person Limited (or Close): this is the POV where “he” or “she” is telling the story, but the reader is limited to what the main character knows and feels.
- Third Person Omniscient: this is the POV where “he” or “she” can include almost any character as well as the protagonist.
One error writers make with point of view includes changing POV during the story. Don’t. If you start off with third person limited and suddenly give the narrator omniscience, you’re just going to confuse the readers and show your own lack of writing ability. There have been a small number of novels that got away with a POV shift, but they’re few and far between and it’s far easier to mess up than to get it right, so just don’t do it.
Another error is making an unlikeable protagonist and using first person POV for your story. If you’re using first person, the narrator must be someone the reader can identify with, even if they are unreliable or a rascal. There has to be something likable in there somewhere. And then there’s the first person narrator who tells you all about their thoughts and feelings without showing you what they’re doing. Try to avoid that pitfall as well.
The biggest mistake writers make in third person POV is “head hopping,” which is where you’re supposedly in third person limited POV, but suddenly you are given the thoughts or feelings of another character as if you are omniscient instead. This is not only confusing, but a red flag to editors that they’re dealing with an amateur writer. Stick with your character, as in first person, and show only what they would know, experience, or feel.
Can you have multiple POV characters within one book? Yes, although it’s hard to keep track of everyone if you do this. Remember not to “head hop” but switch characters at the end of a chapter or section, not within the same chapter.
Once you master point of view, you’ll find your writing becomes much more clear and your readers will enjoy it more.