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What Is Show vs Tell in Writing? Easy Guide
January 15, 2026How Do I Know If My Story Idea Is Good?
January 14, 2026What Is Show vs Tell in Writing? Easy Guide
January 15, 2026
What Is Point of View (POV) in Writing?
Many beginning writers ask the same question, what is point of view (POV) in writing and why is it so important? The easy answer to this is this, point of view in writing is the position from which your story is told. It defines who is talking, who is observing the events and how much does the reader know.
POV helps in shaping the reader’s experience. It affects voice, emotion and clarity. If you select the right POV for your story your story will be stronger and easier to follow. If you get the wrong one, your readers may get confused or out of touch with the characters.
What does it mean by that?
Point of view (POV) in story writing could be explained as like a camera and the lens through which the reader is seeing the story.
- Who is holding the camera?
- Who the camera can follow?
- What can the camera see?
- What it cannot see?
That’s POV, in simple terms.
A story can be told by a character in the story, a narrator outside the story or a narrator who knows what all characters in the story are thinking. Each choice changes the way the story feels.
Here are the major types of POV in writing,
First-person POV
First-person POV uses words like ‘I’ and ‘we’ in this case, the narrator is involved in the story.
Example: I opened the door and my hands were shaking.
This POV is personal and intimate. It is great if you want the readers to have a deep connection with one of the characters.
Second-person POV
Second-person POV uses ‘you’ makes the reader feel as if he/she is in the story.
Example: You open the door and you hear some footsteps behind you.
This is less common for fiction, but can be direct and immersive.
Third-person limited POV
Third person limited POV uses ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘they’ the narration is restricted to one character at a time.
Example: Maya opens the door and tries her best not to show her fear.
This is enough room to be a distance, but not so much that the emotional focus is lost.
Third-person omniscient POV
Third person omniscient POV also uses ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘they’ but the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of the many characters.
Example: Maya was scared of the dark hallway and Raj already knew what was waiting there.
This point of view gives you more freedom, but it can be more difficult for beginners to get control of.
If you want to know what POV is, the simplest way of remembering it is, POV tells readers whose eyes, mind or voice they are experiencing the story through. POV is powerful right from the first line, it draws the reader into the scene, so choose it carefully.
If you would like to take things a step further when it comes to writing good beginnings, you can read up on our guide on What Is a Story Hook.
How to Decide the Point of View for Your Writing
If you are a beginner and having difficulty deciding upon your point of view in writing then here is a simple method for you.
Decide who the story is really about
Ask yourself, whose change, struggle or goal is of the most importance? If one character has the emotional core of the story it is usually best to use first person or third person limited.
Decide how close you want to be to the reader
If you want the reader to get really close to the thoughts of the main character?First person/third person limited is best.
Do you want to have a more broad perspective to the story world? Third person omniscient may be better?
Think about the things that the reader needs to know. Some stories work best when the readers only know what one character knows, this creates mystery and tension. Other stories need a wider view. For example, a family saga or epic fantasy may require multiple viewpoints.
Match POV According to your genre and style
- A personal story, in the form of a diary, can often work well using first person.
- A thriller often relies on third person as it creates suspense.
- A huge sweeping fantasy may demand third person with multiple character points of view.
You don’t have to blindly follow rules. But when POV is appropriate to needs of story it will be easier to write.
Test the same scene in two different POVs
Write one short scene from first person point of view. Then rewrite it using third person limited and compare them.
- Which one feels more natural?
- Which one sounds stronger?
- Which one offers the emotion you need?
This is one of the most practical ways to get out which POV works for your story.
Once you choose, be consistent
Once you have chosen a POV, stick with it unless you have good reason to change, it can be confusing to the reader if you change suddenly. A constant POV helps to build trust and makes your story smoother.
Examine each scene for POV control
During writing, ask,
- Who is telling this scene?
- Whose mind does the reader get to hear?
- Is there any line of interruption to the POV decided upon?
This habit will help you become a better storyteller, quickly.
If you need help getting started with your novel as storyteller, you can read How to Start Writing a Book and How to Write a First Draft of a Book will be useful as a beginner.
Examples/Mini Tips
Let’s consider some examples of POV within writing that every beginner can understand.
Example 1: First-person POV
I walked up into the classroom and knew all was not well. When I sat down there was total silence.
Why it works: The reader is extremely close to the narrator. We only know what the ‘I’ knows.
First person use if the insider voice of character is strong, emotional or unique.
Example 2: Third person limited point of view (POV)
Meena walked into the classroom and knew all was not well. Everyone got dead quiet as she sat down.
Why it works: This still has a way of being close to Meena, but leaves more room for flexibility than first person.
If first person is too intense or too difficult to sustain, third person limited is often a great option.
Example 3: Third person omniscient POV
Meena came to class and she knew something was wrong. There was silence as she sat down. At the back of the room, Mr. Kunal was afraid that she had already guessed the truth.
Why it works: Now the reader knows what Meena feels and also what Mr. Kunal thinks. The narrator has a wider view.
Use omniscient carefully. If you jump between too many heads too quickly it can make the scene messy.
A good question to ask is What should the reader be allowed to know at this point?
Common Mistakes Made By Beginners
Here are some of the common mistakes made by beginners when it comes to choosing and writing POV,
- Switching POV too often (called “head hopping”), which makes readers confused.
- Choosing a POV that is too far away from the emotional heart of the readers.
- Writing first person but having no strong/engaging voice
- Breaking 3rd person limited by posting the inner thoughts of another character
- Making a commitment too soon without trying out various POVs
Rather than jump between the thoughts of different characters in the same paragraph, stick with the mind of the same character and reveal information piece by piece. This helps to keep the story clear and immersive.
FAQ
Final Thoughts
Point of view in writing is no more than the way in which your reader experiences the story. It has an impact on voice, emotion and information. Once you know the basic types of POV and you practice them, then writing is much easier. Start simple. Test your scenes. Stay consistent. You don’t need to get all POVs down at once, you just need to select the one that makes your story shine.
