PoV Part II: Guest Blogger Terri Main

I've recently seen Reedley College instructor and author Terri Main write great PoV tips, and invited her to share them here. Enjoy!--f

In the last blog entry, we looked at the different types of point of view and discussed some issues related to terminology. After reading that, you may be wondering about how to apply this information. You may be asking, "How do I choose a point of view for my story?"

I won't offer any easy answer here. Writing is an art. Artists rely as much on instinct as they do on skill. However, you need to answer four questions when choosing a point of view.

What mood do you want to convey to the reader?

Different points of view impact a reader differently. Third Person Objective (whether general or limited) creates a sense of detachment. The reader stands outside the window staring in as the story unfolds. Sometimes this sense of detachment, even alienation, is what you want to convey. Existentialist writers use the point of view frequently to communicate a feeling of isolation.

The third and first person (main character) limited points of view tend to bring a reader closer to the main character. We get an inside look at their moods, thoughts, attitudes, dreams, hopes and fears. We crawl into their skin and look out their eyes at the story.

The oblique point of view treads a line between purely objective and complete immersion into the main character. By seeing the story unfold through the eyes of a minor character, we have some distance without having a sense of detachment. This doesn't mean that it is a "happy medium." The reader will begin to identify with this outsider if that person plays a major role in the unfolding of the story stealing the spotlight from the main character.

What is your level of writing skill?

Most beginning writers need to stick to either first person main character or third person limited. The other points of view tend to be difficult for even accomplished writers to handle well. Trying to write in the omniscient point of view while still learning you craft, is like trying to jump a car while still learning to drive.

Even if you have been writing for awhile, think twice before going for the less popular and more complicated points of view. Write a scene in two different points of view. Read them. Have others read them. Which reads better? Which creates the mood you want to create? Which do other people enjoy most? You don’t want to be 100 pages into a story only to discover you can't handle that point of view.

How will this affect the portrayal of this character?

I cannot imagine the Sherlock Holmes stories being written in first person by Holmes. Holmes is brilliant, but also conceited, a drug addict and a misogynist. From the outside perspective of Watson, we can forgive his failings and see his brilliance. However, hearing Holmes in his own voice say how smart he is and how impatient he is with people not as smart as him would not endear us to this complicated character.

How will this affect the marketability of the book?

I purposely did not put this first since it should not, from an artistic perspective, be your first consideration. However, writers are businesspeople as well as artists. Certain genres more or less demand a certain point of view. Be sure you understand your genre first. If 85% of the books written in that genre are main character first person, then you need to write in that perspective. Overall, third person objective and omniscient points of view are out of favor. Likewise, few writers use the oblique point of view. First person main character and third person subjective limited are most common.

Ultimately, you choose the point of view which works best for your story, your genre and your own personal writing style. However, answering these four questions help you make a wise choice.


By Terri Main
Author of Creative Calisthenics: Workout for the Writer's Imagination. Hints and tips at CreativeCalisthenics.com ( http://www.creativecalisthenics.com )
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