Point of View

So when I went to write a new post, I saw the title of my last one, Voice: It Needs to Fit. Guess what it made me think of. Yup; point of view, or PoV for short.

Now, I prefer to write my stories in first person past. You, on the other hand, might prefer using third person omniscient. Or maybe even a second person present! Point of view is not the easiest thing to pick for your story. For example, it took me ages to figure out what PoV I should use for my current novel. First I planned it a first person past with one of my main characters. I got about halfway through only to realize that this wasn't right for my story. I tried the same thing, but with a different character who was just as important to the story. Hers is on a document on my laptop, full if lots if valuable info, but with a PoV that wasn't right. Then I tried switching back and forth between first person. All of these might fit yours, but they didn't mine. Finally I got it. Now I'm working with a third person omniscient.

*Those of you who didn't skip ahead of my sob story, I applaud you. :)*

Maybe for you, picking PoV is a cinch. Others might have the trouble that I have with mine. Sometimes, though, you have to step out of your comfort zone a bit to find the best thing for your story. That means different things for different people. *spoiler alert* You might have to experiment a bit!

Have you ever read a book where the author uses multiple PoV? That's another choice, in case you needed some more. :) Say you have three different main characters, and they all have an important part of the story to tell. So give them each a part where they get to narrate. This is more complicated, but oftentimes it is rewarding.

So, experiment! Step outside your comfort zone and write, write, write!

Autumn