If you’re a writer, especially of fiction, you know something about point of view. You know it’s one of the most important choices you must make for your particular story. There are three main POVs to choose from.
First person- with this narrator you can build closeness, intrigue, and suspense. They can be reliable or unreliable. You may be able to trust everything they say because they’re honest. Or you may doubt their version of events because they’re trying to deceive you. Or else they are deceived themselves, thinking they’re speaking truth to you. The Screwtape Letters is a prime example of this POV. ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is another classic written in the first person-from the view of a six year old girl.
Second Person-This is a rare POV for fiction. It is used in cookbooks and self-help books too. Below is an example from my non-fiction book, ‘How To Be Really Street Smart’.
‘Have you ever been riding your bicycle down a narrow road and suddenly you see a car coming right toward you? If so, you were probably on a one way street. Whoever didn’t read and obey the street sign was the person going the wrong direction. Isn’t it common sense to read and follow the signs so you’ll be going the right way every time?
The world is filled with people trying to tell you the right way to think, to live, and to be. They may be preachers, teachers, scholars, coaches, movie stars, popular singers, politicians, parents, family members, or friends. You must be careful about who you let influence how you believe. Some may deceive you, others may confuse you, but hopefully, more than a few will tell you the truth.’
Third Person- There are two main types of this POV. Limited view is when the narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character (at least one character at a time). Omniscient view is when the narrator knows and sees everything going on in the story.
There are other versions of these 3 types that you can learn about here and here.
The third person omniscient point of view has the most trustworthy narrator. They tend to be unbiased. And of course they know more than the other narrators do. In like manner the Spirit of God moved on godly men to write the books of the Holy Bible. Down through the years evil men have written corrupt versions of His Word but they have not succeeded in destroying the True Living Word which will abide forever.
Why wouldn’t we want our story to be penned by our Omniscient God, Savior, Deliverer, Healer, and soon coming King? We can trust Him. His Word is coming to pass more and more every day. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith and He desires for us to experience real life and life more abundantly. The reality of it can be found between the pages of His Book-which is written from His point of view-not ours. It takes the Holy Spirit to lead us to the true POV of abundant life in Jesus Christ.
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. II Peter 1 kjv
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55 kjv
Update on Alley Rose, my work in progress: At the beginning of Corona virus season I had to take a hiatus from writing it because of family obligations. In the last few weeks I’ve had more time to write. So I’d like to share a few lines with you of ‘Alley Rose’ my second novel.
‘After feeding and petting Panther, Savannah walked off the porch and raised her head up toward the sky, expecting drops of rain to hit her in the face. Instead she spotted dense gray clouds moving swiftly in the direction of the midday sun which was shrouded in more clouds. It was disappointing not being able to see the ‘great eclipse’ everyone at school had been talking about.
Mom and Dylan didn’t seem interested in it. But it would’ve been so exciting to see it happen. A once in a lifetime event. And all anybody has to do is look up into the sky at the right time. If I could’ve been at Mamaw Liza’s I’d be having so much fun. Maybe it’s not cloudy in Newport. Melia and her parents might be there. I wish I was.
Returning to the back of the house, she headed for the porch steps. At that moment a flash of light pierced through the gray gloom. The clouds in front of the sun rolled swiftly back and revealed the moon’s shadow engulfing the sunlight. A thin, silvery ring appeared from the edges of the giant fireball.
Untimely darkness enveloped everything in its midst, as the stars emerged in the background. Previously chirping birds and barking dogs were silenced as confused crickets and cicadas began their nightly rhythmic tunes. Feeling the effects of the immense temperature drop, Savannah wrapped her hands around her shivering arms. Forcing her eyes away from the cosmic scene above, she dropped her pants-clad knees into the wet dirt below and covered her face with her hands.
I looked at it! I saw the eclipse! Am I going to go blind now?’
As you can see this passage is in third person POV. The first half of AR is told in it. But I am writing the second part in first person and past tense too. It seems like the best POV for the story. Time will tell if I picked the right one. Thanks for coming by. Comment if you have anything to add to the subject.
True Light Books 