How Many POVs Are There?

In this blog, you’ll learn how many POVs there are.

A story’s narrative perspective, especially in fiction, is often called Point of View (POV). In countless works of literature (and often the most famous ones), the narrative technique used played a significant role in the book” s success.

While, as an author, your focus is to communicate your story, the way you tell it should never be understated.

The Narrative POV

The narrative POV is essentially the lens through which a story is told. It determines who is telling the story and from what perspective. In the most basic definition:

The first-person POV uses “I” or “we,” making the narrator a character who reveals personal experiences and perceptions. Doing so creates a sense of intimacy, allowing readers to connect with the narrator” s emotions.

While less commonly used, the second-person POV involves the narrator addressing the reader directly as “you,” thus creating an interactive reading experience. It is often used in choose-your-own-adventure books and instructional content, not fiction like novels and short stories.

The third-person POV uses “he,” “she,” or “they” and revolves around one or multiple characters. It can be further divided into two main types: third-person limited and third-person omniscient – both of which will be extensively discussed later.

The selection of a particular POV largely depends upon the story you wish to tell and how you want your readers to engage with the narrative. The choice of narrative POV is a crucial component of storytelling that can greatly impact how your intended audience receives your story.

The Attributes of POV in Writing

When discussing POV in writing, one must understand the three key components. These include:

• Narrator – Who is telling the story?
• Perspective – How much does the narrator know or understand?
• Accessibility – How close do readers feel to the characters and events in the story?

These three attributes will collectively be used to determine the narrative POV, as a different type of Point of View impacts each aspect.

For instance, the first-person perspective provides readers with a deeper experience as they’re being taken through the story by an active participant in the narrative.

Meanwhile, third-person omniscient allows more distance between readers and the story’s events.

Authors must carefully consider which narrative POV will best suit their story before beginning to write.

To do this, a thorough understanding of the different types of POVs available and their respective advantages and disadvantages must be comprehensively understood.

Different POVs at the Writer’s Disposal

Your responsibility as a fiction writer is to pick a narrator that you think best complements the story.

The goal is for readers to fully immerse themselves in the narrative and relate to it more personally.

We’ll look at three different POVs at the writer’s disposal. But along the way, we’ll come across some arguments and possible conflicts of interest.

First Person

The first-person POV serves as a personal lens through which a story is recounted.

One of the most prominent advantages of the first-person POV is the ability to create a deep emotional connection between the reader and the narrator.

Allowing the reader to experience the story from the protagonist’s perspective, an opportunity to develop empathy and understanding for the character” s journey will emerge.

First-person POV likewise adds a layer of authenticity and immediacy to the narration. Readers receive a first-hand account of events and perceptions, creating a visceral and engaging reading time.

This perspective allows for an in-depth exploration of the character’s inner world, offering insights into their motivations, fears, and desires.

Moreover, the first-person POV lends credibility to the narrative, as the story comes directly from a character within the story world. As such, it’ll make the events seem more realistic and believable.

The narrator’s reliability essentially becomes a powerful narrative device in first-person POV.

A reliable narrator builds trust with the reader, while an unreliable one adds intrigue and complexity to the narrative.

Furthermore, the reader gets a direct window into the events as they happen, making the narrative more dynamic.

This perspective is particularly effective in genres like suspense or mystery, where the reader unravels the story along with the protagonist.

What’s an Unreliable Narrator?

The term “unreliable narrator” comes into the picture when the credibility of the storyteller is in question.

It could very well be a deliberate decision on the author’s part, creating a narrative subject to biases, misinterpretations, or even deceptions of the character telling the story.

The unreliability may stem from a host of factors, i.e., immaturity, lack of knowledge, personal bias, or even mental instability.

A significant advantage of using an unreliable narrator is the suspense it injects into the plot.

Readers are accustomed to taking a narrator’s account as a true representation of events.

When readers realize the narrator may be unreliable, it introduces uncertainty and unpredictability to keep readers engaged.

Unpredictability is a cornerstone in creating tension within a story, and an unreliable narrator provides just that.

The reader is forced to question what they’re being told and to seek out their own truth within the narrative, fostering a sense of active participation and deeper engagement with the story.

An unreliable narrator may likewise introduce dramatic irony, where the audience knows more about the events in the narrative than the characters. This dissonance between the narrator’s beliefs and the reader’s understanding potentially generates dramatic tension.

Moreover, this narrative technique allows the author to explore complex themes and issues, as it enables the presentation of different perspectives or versions of reality.

The readers are compelled to examine their biases and preconceptions, making the reading experience thought-provoking.

An unreliable narrator is an upside when placed in the hands of a skilled writer.

It adds depth to the narrative while engaging the readers on a level that goes beyond the plot’s surface.

But then again, it requires careful handling, as excessive ambiguity will ultimately confuse or frustrate readers.

A balance must be struck between revealing enough to keep readers invested and withholding enough to maintain their interest and curiosity.

Second Person’s Absence in Fiction

The second-person POV is rare in fiction.

It’s a narrative style that places the reader directly in the scene by addressing them as “you.”

It’s as if the narrator speaks directly to the reader, so the reader becomes active in the narrative. The narrative would say things like, “You reluctantly open the door” or “You feel the chill run down your spine.”

It obviously creates a deep sense of immersion, as the reader is not just observing the story but is, in fact, a part of it.

While the second-person POV is intriguing, it’s not often used in fiction for several reasons. For one, it’s difficult for readers to sustain a sense of immersion over the length of an entire novel. Continuously being told what “you” are doing or feeling is tiring and may even alienate readers who don’t identify with the actions or emotions ascribed to them from the beginning.

It also runs the risk of becoming repetitive or monotonous, as it requires constant use of the pronoun “you.”

The task of creating variation and maintaining reader interest becomes significantly more challenging.

The heavy reliance on “you” likewise limits the author’s ability to develop characters and explore their individual perspectives, which are crucial elements in long-form narrative writing.

Yes, second-person POV will create a sense of immediacy; but it demands more from the reader.

It requires the reader to continuously put themselves in the story’s setting, doing and feeling everything the author describes.

It’s a level of commitment that may be too intense for some readers, who prefer to engage with the story at their own pace and from a more detached perspective.

Nevertheless, second-person POV could still be effective when done well, i.e., in short stories or specific segments of a larger work.

Its unconventional nature and novelty factor make for a unique and engaging reading encounter.

Third Person: Omniscient vs Limited

The third-person point of view (POV) in fiction is arguably one of the most flexible and widely used narrative styles.

It’s divided into two types: omniscient and limited.

The third-person omniscient POV provides the narrator with an all-knowing perspective.

The narrator knows and can reveal everything about every character, including their thoughts and history.

This god-like perspective allows the author to explore and present different viewpoints and to delve deeply into the history and future of the plot.

Being privy to characters’ innermost thoughts and feelings can create a greater sense of empathy among readers.

Omniscient POV is particularly effective in complex, multi-character stories where the interplay of various perspectives can enrich the narrative’s texture and depth.

For example, it can be an ideal choice for epic sagas, where a broad perspective is crucial to understanding the overarching narrative.

In contrast, third-person limited POV restricts the narrative to a single character’s knowledge, perceptions, and experiences at a time.

The narrator only knows what this character knows, giving the reader a close-up view of this character” s experiences.

This limited perspective creates an element of suspense since the reader only knows as much as the character does.

The third-person limited POV is quite versatile and can be used effectively across a variety of genres.

It’s especially fitting for character-driven novels focusing on character development and personal growth.

It’s likewise a staple for mystery or thriller genres, where withholding information adds to the suspense and intrigue.

Choosing a POV That Makes the Most Sense

When choosing the POV for a narrative, you ought to consider the nature of the story you wish to tell.

The POV selected should enhance the narrative’s depth and texture, aligning with the story’s thematic elements vis-a-vis your storytelling goals.

If you choose to develop a personal narrative where readers closely follow one character’s journey, then the first-person POV makes perfect sense. It” ll foster a close connection between the reader and the character.

But the third-person omniscient POV might be the most effective if your story demands a broader overview where the interactions and interplay among various characters are a “can’t miss” element.

This all-seeing perspective offers substantial depth, affording insights into multiple characters’ thoughts and histories.

While rarely used, the second-person POV presents a high engagement level, pushing the reader into the narrative.

This POV is best for stories intending to immerse the reader in experimental narratives.

The third-person limited POV is versatile – it’ll create an equilibrium between character attachment and narrative breadth.

It aligns well with stories that focus on one character’s journey but also require some degree of external perspective or commentary.

At the day’s end, the choice of POV should serve the story. Each POV brings its unique strengths and drawbacks.

The author’s task is to consider their story’s requirements, character development, plot structure, and intended reader engagement level.

Switching POVs

Switching POVs within the same story offers a multi-faceted perspective.

Each character’s unique viewpoint will add layers to the plot.

The best example is in a mystery or thriller novel. You could start in the first-person perspective of a detective and then switch to a third-person POV for other characters like a victim or witness to a crime.

This switching of perspectives makes sense because it allows the reader to gain insight from different characters.

Switching POVs could also be used for comedic or satirical effects, such as when a character’s internal thoughts are revealed in ironic contrast to what they say and do.

Or it can create a feeling of surprise and anticipation by showing events through the eyes of a new character.

But then again, the strategy carries risks. Frequent and abrupt POV switches will confuse or frustrate readers, making it difficult for them to develop a connection with the characters.

If not handled carefully, it may disrupt the narrative flow, leading to a disjointed story.

So, you must tread with caution while switching POVs.

They should be done logically and purposefully to create distinct and engaging reading experiences. The different perspectives must be established through excellent storytelling and dialogue, so readers will easily recognize when the change takes place.