Don't you love reading a story where you feel like you know the characters? When the hero beats the villain, you feel like you won. A good story establishes a connection between you and your readers by presenting them with characters they can relate to--and root for. To establish that connection, your characters need to be believable right away. The sooner your audience feels that your characters are real, the sooner and more intensely they will become engaged in your story.
One of the quickest ways to interest readers in your characters in to make the main character your story's narrator, the person telling the story. Your choice of narrator, as you may remember from previous lessons or courses, is called the story's point of view. Click each point of view below to review its basic elements and characteristics.
| First person | The events are described by a character in the story, using the pronouns I and me. This is a popular approach because it allows a reader to become close to the narrator, who is often the story's main character, or protagonist. The voice of the story becomes the voice of the character, creating a close bond between character and reader. One possible drawback of first person point-of-view, though, is that the reader only sees and knows what the main character sees and knows. |
| Second person | This point of view is much rarer because it is difficult to work with. The "you" in the story is the main character, and the narrator is telling "you" what you are doing. And of course, the reader's knowledge is limited to what "you" know. Used well, second-person point of view can create a personal connection by placing the reader directly into the story. However, it can be difficult to make the story believable since readers may question whether or not "they" would do what the main character does. |
| Third person limited | For third-person point of view, the narrator refers to the story characters as "he," "she," or "they." In a limited point of view, the narrator tells the story as though seeing the events through the main character's eyes, inside that character's head--even though the protagonist is not the narrator. This is a popular point of view for short stories because it seems to come naturally to many writers. However, it can be difficult to remember that your narrator only knows what that one character is thinking and seeing. |
| Third person omniscient | Omniscient means "all knowing." This point of view allows the narrator to enter the minds of more than one character. An omniscient point of view can be especially effective for setting up irony or plot twists. However, it can also make your story a bit harder for readers to follow since you move from one character's experience or perspective to another throughout the story. |
Think you understand what each point of view looks like? Use the flash cards below to check your understanding. Decide which point of view each passage uses, and then click the card to check your answer.
What Point of View?
You enter the room, unsure of what you will find there, and breathe a sigh of relief when it is empty. No bodies, no blood, just the faint whiff of rubbing alcohol and an eeriness you can't seem to escape
second person
What Point of View?
Beatrice circled the table slowly, giggling and flirting with the men as she attempted to make Thom notice her. She caught Lily's eye and sneered. She knew Lil could see through her plan, but she also knew her sister was too polite to say anything, the fool! Lily, watching the show, eyed Beatrice, suspicious of the girl's motives. She had seen Bea like this often, and never did like this side of the girl she had once shared secrets with. Thom, oblivious to it all, smiled at Bea--after all, she was Lily's sister and he wanted to impress her.
third person omniscient
What Point of View?
I never wanted to get involved with that group of guys, but sometimes you have to go along to get along, you know what I mean?
first person
What Point of View?
Eddie wondered what had happened to Karol to make her snarl at him as she had--did he do something wrong? He searched his mind, but couldn't think of anything he had said or done to offend her. Now, sensing her fury across the table, he wished he could read her mind as easily as he could read the menu.
third person limited
Summary
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