What Is Point Of View In Writing? The 3 POVs Explained

When it comes to writing, few choices are as important as point of view (POV). The perspective from which you tell your story shapes how readers experience it – what they see, how they feel, and how they connect with your characters.

Get it right, and the POV can pull readers into your world, making them care deeply about what happens. Get it wrong, and your story might feel flat or disjointed.

In this post, we’ll explore what point of view is, break down the three main types – first, second, and third –  so you can decide what works best for your story.

What Is Point of View?

Point of view is the narrator’s position in a story, or simply, who’s telling it. It determines how much information readers have, whose thoughts and feelings they’re privy to, and how the story’s events unfold. Think of it as the lens through which readers experience your story.

Choosing the right POV dictates many things, including how much access the reader gets to the characters and action. 

Types of Point of View

First Person Point of View

First person POV tells the story through the eyes of a character, using pronouns like I, me, and my. This perspective is intimate and personal, allowing readers to experience the world as the narrator does. It’s like stepping into the narrator’s shoes, hearing their inner thoughts, and feeling their emotions in real time.

Example of first person point of view in literature:

“Mornings, before daylight, I slipped into corn fields and borrowed a watermelon, or a mushmelon, or a punkin, or some new corn, or things of that kind. Pap always said it warn’t no harm to borrow things, if you was meaning to pay them back, sometime; but the widow said it warn’t anything but a soft name for stealing, and no decent body would do it.” Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Strengths: Creates a deep connection between the reader and the narrator. Writing in this perspective also help readers experience emotions and events from a personal, subjective perspective.

Challenges: It only shows the perspective of one character to the story is limited to what the narrator knows or observes. Plus, it can feel restrictive if your story has multiple layers or requires insight into other characters.

First person POV works beautifully in character-driven stories or those that deeply explore a singular perspective.

Second Person Point of View

Second person POV directly addresses the reader using pronouns like you and your. This style is less common but incredibly engaging when used effectively. It places the reader at the centre of the story, making them feel like an active participant.

Example in literature: 

“You’re still trying to decide who to be. The self you’ve been lately doesn’t make sense anymore; that woman died with Uche. She’s not useful, unobtrusive as she is, quiet as she is, ordinary as she is. Not when such extraordinary things have happened.

But you still don’t know where Nassun is buried, if Jija bothered to bury her. Until you’ve said farewell to your daughter, you have to remain the mother that she loved.

So you decide not to wait for death to come.” – N.K. Jemisin, The Fifth Season

Strengths: Creates immediacy and immersion. Plus, it makes the reader feel directly involved in the narrative.

Challenges: Can feel gimmicky or unnatural if overused. It also has a limited appeal because some readers may find it jarring.

Third Person Point of View

Third person POV is the most versatile, using pronouns like he, she, they, and it. The narrator exists outside the story and can be limited (focused on one character’s perspective) or omniscient (knowing everything about every character).

Strengths: You have flexibility as a writer because you can reveal or withhold information as needed. It also allows you to describe multiple characters’ thoughts and perspectives.

Challenges: Can feel less intimate compared to first person and it requires skilful transitions if using multiple characters’ perspectives.

Types of Third Person POV:

1. Third Person Limited: The narrator follows one character closely, revealing only their thoughts and feelings.

• Example: “She hesitated at the door, her hand hovering over the handle. What if he was right?”

2. Third Person Omniscient: The narrator knows everything about every character and event, providing a god-like perspective.

• Example: “She hesitated at the door, unaware that he was pacing inside, rehearsing his apology.”

3. Third Person Objective: The narrator reports events and dialogue without revealing any characters’ inner thoughts or emotions.

• Example: “She stood at the door for a moment, then turned and walked away.”

Third person POV is ideal for complex stories with larger casts of characters or when you need to show the bigger picture.

Alternating Point of View

Alternating POV involves switching between two or more perspectives, often in separate chapters or sections. This is a great way to give readers insight into different characters’ experiences, motivations and conflicts. It’s commonly used in multi-protagonist stories, such as romantic novels that alternate between two love interests, or epics with intertwining plots and character arcs. 

When using alternating POV, consistency is key. For example, stick to a clear pattern (e.g., one chapter per perspective) and signal transitions clearly so readers always know whose perspective they’re following. Alternating POV is a powerful tool for showing how different characters view the same events or how their lives intersect in surprising ways.

Ready To Choose A Point of View?

Point of view isn’t just a technical decision – it’s a fundamental part of how your story is told and how it connects with readers. Whether you choose the intimacy of first person, the immersive experience of second person, or the versatility of third person, each POV has its own strengths. 

The key is to choose the perspective that best serves your story’s goals and the experience you want to create for readers.