I just found out that another member of my family is writing, and I’m very excited for her.  She’s just starting out, so she is filled with questions – some that feel a bit like roadblocks.  We talked about point of view because that was one of the things she struggles with.  I assured her that all writers do, especially when we’re writing something as complex as a novel.

It’s very important to be consistent in your point of view.  Make sure the one you choose, whether it’s first person (I) or third person (he/she) or whatever, works best for the story.  I wrote a short story from a young woman’s point of view (first person) and found it very limiting.  There were things that couldn’t be described because she couldn’t have seen them.  So, I rewrote it in third person, and it seemed to work better.

Another writing buddy of mine wrote her most recent book in both first and third person. The main character is always in first for the whole chapter.  The remaining characters are written in third for the remaining chapters. It seemed to work fine for the story, and it didn’t confuse me as a reader at all.

The main thing about point of view is consistency.  Be sure you don’t jump around within the scene or chapter, or it will cause confusion.  Make sure what your character is experiencing or feeling is possible. Reading your work aloud can help you identify slips in POV.  Whatever you do, keep writing!  There are many stories to be told, and we have an obligation to get them told (besides, it’s fun). Write on, my friends.