Understanding Point Of View in Literature

Point of view in literature is probably the biggest single area of novel writing that aspiring writers have problems with. It also happens to be one of the most crucial areas to get right, as explained in this article on Mastering Narrative Point of View.

More specifically, the thing that newcomers to novel writing often can't decide is whether to use first person or third person point of view.

You might already have a good idea yourself, but I urge you to keep an open mind until you have read all of the articles I have written on the subject. You will find these in two sections:

• This section deals with the theory of point of view in literature.
• Deciding between one viewpoint and another - in particular, between first person and third person - is dealt with in Choosing a Point of View.

The Theory of Point of View in Literature

To start with, two essential articles:

• Understanding Third Person Narrative, and
• Understanding First Person Narrative

Yes, I know that you're itching to push on with the nitty-gritty of viewpoint - namely, which one should you choose - but without getting to grips with the theory of point of view, it will be impossible to make an informed decision.

And two articles which will help to explain all of this theory - by showing it put into practice through worked examples - are:

• Writing in the Third Person, and
• Writing in the First Person

Next, How to Choose a Viewpoint Character.

In most cases, novels are seen through the eyes of the leading man or woman - the protagonist, in other words - but not always, so read this article before you decide.

Using Several Viewpoints

In novel writing, you are not restricted to presenting the events through just one pair of eyes. Having two or three viewpoint characters is common, and there is nothing to stop you having as many as you like.

Writing a Multiple Viewpoint Novel explains all of this is much more detail.

Choosing a Point of View

And so to the main event: deciding whether to use 1st person, 3rd person or one of the less common choices.

It might seem that you have had to plough your way through an awful lot of theory before getting to the heart of the matter but, trust me, without all this theory under your belt you can never hope to handle viewpoint like the professional you intend to be.

In other words, don't be tempted to skip all of the articles explaining point of view in literature above - not if you are serious about novel writing success.

Once you have read and understood everything, you will find all the help you need in choosing a point of view in this section: 1st Person, 3rd Person & Beyond.