From Ginny Wiehardt, former About.com Guide
Article from about.com
How to Choose a Point of View
Point of view is the perspective from which a story is told. We may choose to tell our story in
first person, using "I" or "we";
third person ("he," "she," "it"), which can be limited or omniscient; or
second person, "you," the least common point of view.
As a writer, you must think strategically to choose the point of view that will allow you to most effectively develop your characters and tell your story.
first person point of view
Definition:
First person point of view is a point of view in which an "I" or "we" serves as the narrator of a piece of fiction. The narrator may be a minor character, observing the action, as the character Nick does in The Great Gatsby, or the main protagonist of the story, such as Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye. In addition, a first-person narrator may be reliable or unreliable.
While first person point of view can allow a reader to feel very close to a specific character's point of view, it also limits the reader to that one perspective. The reader can only know what this character knows. Some writers, especially beginning writers, have a tendency to get stuck in first person point of view. It's helpful to at least try writing in third person from time to time.
Examples:
Alicia Erian's novel Towelhead is told from the first person point of view.
First person limits the reader to one character's perspective. With a book such as On the Road, for instance, the first person point of view puts us right there in the car with Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty; we follow Sal's every exhilarating thought as they careen across the country. First person feels more personal.
What about unreliable narrators and first person? See an example of unreliable narrator from Chang-rae Lee's A Gesture Life.
Example of Unreliable Narrator from A Gesture Life
Chang-rae Lee, in a A Gesture Life, uses the limitations of first person point of view to create tension in the story. Because his narrator is unreliable, the reader must do a certain amount of detective work to figure out the truth: this tension engages the reader and advances the plot. For instance, we have the sense that Doc Hata is lying to himself about why his daughter left, about the sale of his business, and about what happened during the war. We keep reading in the hopes of putting together the truth.
In a similar way, the unreliable first person narration in A Gesture Life helps build character. From the beginning it's unclear whether the character is Korean or Japanese; when we realize that he lies to others and to himself about his nationality, we understand that he has a deep-seated issue with his own identity. This fact complicates his decision to adopt a Korean girl and sheds light on the conflict between Doc Hata and his adopted daughter.
third person point of view
Definition:
The third person point of view is a form of storytelling in which a narrator relates all action in third person, using third person pronouns such as "he" or "she." Third person point of view may be omniscient or limited. Often new writers feel most comfortable with first person, but writing in the third person allows a writer more freedom in how a story is told.
If you're unsure about which is right for your story, read an article on choosing a point of view, or a discussion on point of view in response to a blog post.
Examples:
Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice, like many classic novels, is told from the third person point of view:
When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister how very much she admired him.
"He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible, good humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners! -- so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!"
Though first person can be powerful, as the examples above illustrate, third person is actually the more versatile point of view. Third person allows you to create a much richer, more complicated universe. A book such as Anna Karenina, for example, could only have been written in third person. One reader, Wendy, put it this way: "When I write in first person, I tend to make the story more personal to me, which can limit how far I will go with a character. Third person isn't as much about me, and I can be much freer with the plot."
New point of view
Though it's easy to fall into the habit of always writing in the first person, it's crucial to be able to use third person as well. Both first person and third person have their strengths and weaknesses; what works for one story may not work for another. This exercise will help you observe the effect of writing in the third person point of view to add this tool to your toolbox. It might also show you directions for the story you hadn't considered before.
For more on point of view, "How to Choose a Point of View" will help you think strategically about your choices.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 1 hour
Here's How:
Choose a particularly compelling -- or problematic -- scene from a piece of prose you have recently written in the first person.
Rewrite the piece from the third person point of view. Take your time. It may require some strategizing to pull off the transformation. You'll also have to consider whether or not you want to use third person omniscient or limited. In moving from first to third, it might be easiest to try third person limited first.
Notice how the change in point of view changes the voice and the mood of the story. What freedom do you have with this narrator that you did not have before? Likewise, are there any limitations in using this point of view?
Make a list of three or four advantages of the new point of view: ways the new voice helps develop plot and/or character.
Make a list of the limitations of the third person point of view with regard to this particular piece. Is it the most effective way of telling this story? Were there ways in which it was harder to develop your central character with third person? Did it force you to use other techniques in revealing your character? Was the voice stronger or weaker? If weaker, was the trade-off worthwhile?
If the new point of view works well with this scene, consider changing the point of view for the entire piece. Otherwise, return to your original.
Tips:
Even if changing to the third person point of view has not improved this particular piece, remain open to it in future work. Use the lessons learned in this exercise to evalaute point of view in all the fiction you write.
Lorrie Moore has a good explanation for how she chooses POV: "There are times when the first person is necessary for observing others (not the protagonist) in a voice that simultaneously creates a character (usually the protagonist); then there are times when the third person is necessary for observing the protagonist in a voice that is not the character’s but the story’s."
Want to practice other aspects of craft and technique? Find more craft exercises here.
What You Need
Scene from a recent story or novel.
Computer or paper and pen.
Quiet place to work.
How To Start Writing in the Third Person
Nevertheless, beginning writers tend to fall back on first person, either because it's easier or because they are indeed writing about themselves. Even if your story is autobiographical, consider trying third person. Doing this will actually help you to view your story more dispassionately and therefore allow you to tell it more effectively. It might also show you directions for the story you haven't considered before.
At first, it may be easiest to use third person limited, which still adheres closely to one person's point of view. As your plots become more complicated, you may find you need more than one point of view to tell your story and begin to use omniscient.
If you keep hitting a wall in a story or novel, consider switching point of view. For most people, this will involve going from first person to third. Beginning writers may groan at the idea of rewriting an entire story, but for professional writers, such experimentation is par for the course. If it's your first time to consider such a switch, this point-of-view exercise will lead you through it. You might also read a discussion on point of view from a blog post. In it, a number of writers share what's worked for them regarding point of view.
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