What Is Second Person Point of View In Writing? Plus Fun Examples

Imagine opening a book and feeling like the story is talking directly to you. That’s the magic of the second person point of view. This narrative style is rarely chosen over first person and third person used because it is difficult to write but when done well, it can immerse readers completely into your story.

From the adventures of choose-your-own-adventure books to the gripping prose of Jay McInerney’s ‘Bright Lights, Big City’, writing in the second person can create an unforgettable reading experience.

Curious to learn about this unique narrative style? Let’s explore everything you need to know about writing in the second person, complete with examples and tips. 

What Is Second Person Perspective?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, 2nd POV is a ‘form of narration in which the reader, viewer, or listener is directly addressed (sometimes explicitly as ‘you’)’. As it directly involves the reader, this narrative style makes the reader feel like they are part of the story, experiencing firsthand events and emotions.

How Is It Different from First and Third Person POV?

Understanding how 2nd POV differs from first and third person perspectives is essential for grasping its unique impact on storytelling. Let’s break down exactly how it differs from other writing perspectives.

First Person Narrative

First person POV is a narrative style where the story is told from the perspective of the narrator using “I” or “we.” This approach allows readers to step into the narrator’s shoes, experiencing the world through their eyes and thoughts. It creates an intimate connection between the reader and the narrator, making the narrative personal and immersive.

Third Person Narrative

This perspective is created by using the pronouns ‘he’, ‘she, or ‘they’.It provides a broader view of the events and characters, allowing the narrator to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings of multiple characters. There are 3 different types of third person perspective including limited, objective and omniscient. It offers flexibility in storytelling, as the narrator can shift focus between different characters and plot lines.

3 Examples of Second POV In Literature 

From short stories to novels, here are some top examples of stories using this narrative point of view in fiction.

Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney 

Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss

Bread by Margaret Atwood

3 Tips On How To Write In Second Person Narrative 

1. Ensure It’s Appropriate for Your Story

Writing in this perspective should serve a purpose and enhance the reader’s experience. Use the second person when the story aims to involve the reader directly, making them feel like an active participant. For instance, in “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern, 2nd POV is used in specific chapters to draw readers into the magical world of the circus, making them feel like they are part of the spectacle and a character in the story. 

2. Don’t Start Every Sentence With ‘You’ 

Second person writing can quickly become repetitive if every sentence starts with “you.” To keep the narrative engaging, try using the imperative form, which creates 2nd POV without explicitly stating it. This technique keeps the prose varied and interesting.

3. Use Present Tense

Writing in the present tense can enhance the immediacy and intimacy of 2nd POV. Many writers choose this perspective because it transforms the reader into the story’s protagonist and this tense does just that, making the reader feel like they are experiencing events in real-time. However, sometimes the future tense can work too as you’ve seen in Dr Seuss’s ‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go!’. 

Pro Tip: Want to write master this perspective? Take one of your favourite passages written in first or third person and transform it into second-person narrative.  

Is It Second Person or Second-Person Point of View?

When writing, you might wonder whether to use “second person” or “second-person.” The difference depends on how the term is used in a sentence.

• “Second person” is a noun phrase used to describe a POV in which the narrative voice speaks directly to the reader using “you” and “your.” For example, “The story is written in second person.”
• “Second-person” is a compound adjective used to describe something related to the second person narrative. For example, “She excels at writing second-person perspective”

Using the hyphen correctly helps clarify your meaning and ensures your writing is grammatically accurate. 

When Is Second Person POV Used?

This narration is particularly well-suited for stories that aim to immerse the reader directly into the action and make them an active participant in the narrative. It is often used in:

• Interactive Fiction Writing: Choose-your-own-adventure stories and text-based games frequently use this perspective to involve the reader in decision-making and enhance the immersive experience. 
• Short Stories: The intimacy and immediacy created by this narrative perspective is powerful in the shorter formats. Why? because the story needs to quickly engage the reader and create a strong connection. ‘The Egg’ by Andy Weir is a great example of this. 
• Poetry: Poems often address the reader directly using “you” to provoke emotion and reflect on its themes and tropes. 
• Self-Help and Non-Fiction: Guides, instructional books, and self-help literature use 2nd POV to speak directly to the reader, making the advice feel personal and actionable. 
• Epistolatory: An epistolatory novel is a collection of letters, notes or even emails exchanged between two characters or more. A famous example is ‘Love and Friendship’ by Jane Austen.
• Marketing: Speaking directly to the audience in ads and slogans makes the reader feel they are being spoken to directly. This direct address drives drives higher conversions and sales. 

How Does Second Person Point of View Affect the Reader?

Telling the story in second person POV can deeply impact readers in unique ways. Here’s how:

• Direct Engagement: It pulls readers into the story by addressing them directly. This creates a sense of immediacy and involvement, making the narrative feel like a conversation. It’s as if the book speaks right to you, making you a central part of the unfolding events.
• Enhanced Immersion: When the narrative says, “You walk into the room,” readers can easily visualize themselves in the setting, heightening the sensory and emotional experience of the story.
• Intimate Reflection: By putting readers in the main character’s shoes, 2nd POV encourages personal reflection. Readers may find themselves pondering their own thoughts and feelings as they navigate the protagonist’s journey.