Point of View

Think of something dramatic that happened to you. Write it down in a way that feels natural, without giving it a lot of thought. If you don’t want to write it down, then just make some notes. Then — play with Point of View (POV)  See how many different ways you could write it. (I assume your natural choice was “I”.)

Some different ways:

• He or She (Third person)
• Deep into the mind of one character
• In the mind of one character, but more on the surface
• From the point of view of a different character in the story
• From the POVof a third character, if there was one
• All-telling — Just the facts – into nobody’s head
• All-showing
• Use an all-knowing POV
• Use a POV as if you were looking back many years later
•  In a diary
•  In a letter
•  A minor character tells the story, like Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes stories
•  Writer interacts with the reader
•  One of the characters lies about the story

Which way worked best? Which way brought the characters to life? Which way showed, instead of told?

Related articles:

• Playing with Point of View (writerswritedaily.wordpress.com)
• Lucy Liu as Watson in CBS Sherlock Holmes. Does gender matter? (whisperarctic.wordpress.com)
• Studying Omniscient POV: Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 2 (spontaneousderivation.com)
• He said. She said. I said. You said. (silverpens.wordpress.com)