12 Basics for Point of View Purists-and for Those Who Aren't So Pure
First posted December 2004
- Always make your characters unique, and show this while you’re in their POV.
- Give your readers three-dimensional characters by using POV to create their world of likes, dislikes, and idiosyncrasies.
- Let your characters be themselves. Don’t interfere with who they are, and help them grow so your readers can see the improvements.
- Work with your characters-not against them. If they need space, or TLC, give it to them and see where it takes your writing. If you don’t like the story shift or direction, you can always take it away from them again.
- Also, work with your characters to solve their internal and external conflicts. Use their experiences and emotions to drive them towards solving that which places them outside their comfort zone.
- Decide which POV best fits your scene and then stay in that POV to let your readers get to know your character.
- Only switch POV when you absolutely have to.
- Be sure you are specific on whose POV you’re using. If you’ve created a sudden switch, or have slipped into another POV, immediately let your readers know whose head they are in.
- If you do choose to head-hop for the first part of your book, don’t change half-way through. Remain consistent to your style of POV. And consider that omniscient might be your best option if you’re prone to hoppin’.
- Take time with your protagonists and learn to love them. If you don’t love these characters, no one else will.
- Don’t use superfluous POV, as your readers won’t care about, or necessarily believe in, a redundant character’s opinion.
- And most important, work within your character’s POV and don’t deviate from what the character would feel or think. Stay true to your character, and hopefully the character will come alive for your readers and be remembered even after the book is finished.