Points of View

In writing, there are five basic points of view (POV), at least that I know of or have ever read. Here they are: (The first four of these I got mainly from Victoria Hanley’s book, Seize the Story, which I highly recommend.)

First-Person. In first-person Point of View, everything is told from the perspective of an “I” character. 

Some advantages are that in first person you feel very close to the character. Disadvantages are that you can’t write about anything the main character doesn’t experience.

Second-Person. In second-person POV, everything is told from the perspective of a “you” character. 

Advantages: It’s very informal sounding, and gives the story a sense of motion, as if you were talking to a friend.

Disadvantages: It’s really hard to write, and to read.

Limited Third-Person. In any third-person POV, a narrator tells the story, using “he” and “she” and “they” to talk about the characters.

In limited third, the story is viewed from the perspective of a “he” or “she” character. Limited third is very similar to first, only showing the thoughts and feelings of one character. It has the same advantages and disadvantages of first person: A feeling of closeness with the main character, but you can’t write about anything he or she doesn’t experience.  

Omniscient Third-Person. In omniscient third-person, the narrator is all knowing and can reveal to the reader whatever suits the story: the thoughts and feelings of all, including secondary characters and bad guys; events long ago or far in the future, even a lightning strike on a hill with no people nearby.

Advantages: This is the most powerful POV. You can write about whatever you want, wherever and whenever you want it to take place.

Disadvantages: Readers may feel detached from the main character, not caring quite as much what happens to him or her.

Semi-Limited Third-Person. This is actually a POV that I made up. I was wondering which POV I wrote in, and I realized it was none of these!

In semi-limited third-person, the story is viewed from the perspective of two or three main “he” and “she” characters. Semi-limited is a cross between omniscient and limited. I think of it like the narrator can reveal anything, but only chooses to reveal the main characters and occasionally a bad guy or two when it suits the story.

Some people say that this is merely a sub form of omniscient, but I disagree.  

Advantages: Like omniscient, you can reveal more in semi-limited than you can in limited, but you also feel close to the main characters like in limited.

Disadvantages: You don’t feel as close to the main characters, and it’s hard to tell which character is actually your protagonist.

If you don’t quite understand what I’m talking about these are different Points of View for the same scene, an interchange between the “star,” or protagonist, Robyn; the “co-star,” or second protagonist,  Jeremy; and the antagonist, Kelsey.

(First) I knew that something was wrong, but I couldn’t figure out what.

“Robyn?” Jeremy said again. “Are you okay?” I could tell by his expression that he was worried.

“I’m fine,” I said, shaking myself. “Let’s go get some lunch.”

“Okay...” Jeremy seemed suspicious, but he didn’t say anything more.

(Second) You know that something is wrong, but you can’t figure out what.

“Robyn?” Jeremy says again. “Are you okay?” You can tell by his expression that he is worried.

“I’m fine,” you say, shaking yourself. “Come on, let’s go get some lunch.”

“Okay...” Jeremy seems suspicious, but he doesn’t say anything more.

(Limited Third) Robyn knew that something was wrong, but she couldn’t figure out what.

“Robyn?” Jeremy said again. “Are you okay?” Robyn could tell by his expression that he was worried.

“I’m fine,” Robyn said, shaking herself. “Let’s go get some lunch.”

“Okay...” Jeremy seemed suspicious, but he didn’t say anything more.

(Omniscient) Robyn knew that something was wrong, but she couldn’t figure out what.

“Robyn?” Jeremy said again. “Are you okay?” He couldn’t help being worried about his friend. She had seemed distracted all day.

“I’m fine,” Robyn said, shaking herself. “Let’s go get some lunch.”

“Okay...” Jeremy was suspicious, but he didn’t say anything more. He wouldn’t get anything out of Robyn by pressuring her.

Behind a locker, Kelsey Greer watched. Robyn was dangerously close to figuring out the truth. She would have to be taken care of.

 (Semi-Limited Third) Robyn knew that something was wrong, but she couldn’t figure out what.

“Robyn?” Jeremy said again. “Are you okay?” He couldn’t help being worried about his friend. She had seemed distracted all day.

“I’m fine,” Robyn said, shaking herself. “Let’s go get some lunch.”

“Okay...” Jeremy was suspicious, but he didn’t say anything more. He wouldn’t get anything out of Robyn by pressuring her.

Behind a locker, Kelsey Greer watched.

The fact that Kelsey was even there is only revealed in Semi-Limited and Omniscient, and you only know why she is there in Omniscient. You also only know what Jeremy is thinking and feeling in the last two POVs. But you feel a little closer to Robyn in the first three POVs, or at least you would if I continued the story.

My favorite POV is Semi-Limited third. This is mostly because I tend to have more than one main character in my stories, and I want to be able to show the thoughts and feelings of all of them, but I think it would get confusing if I tried to write pure omniscient. I also like first-person for some stories, and I'm thinking of maybe trying limited third for the next series I'm going to write.

Wow, that was a long post. Congratulations for slogging through the whole thing!

                                                                       ~Hannah