First Person POV

When I originally started writing stories, I did POV exactly how I read it. This ended up being first person all the time due to only reading Percy Jackson.

First person can be fun, and it is easy to write, especially for beginners. Lots of children's books use it.

An example: "I turned and looked over my shoulder, Charlie was doing her best to catch up."

Works great for younger audiences.

I have a few big problems with it.

1. I tend to slip into present tense.

"I turn and see Charlie run to catch up." Rather than "I turned and saw Charlie running to catch up"

The problem is I need to be consistent. First person makes that hard.

2. It's too young sounding for me

3. After reading so many third person stories, I can't go back.

4. It really makes it hard to do anything I'm not actively visually describing.

This is the biggest kicker to me. I don't feel like I can time jump and describe how a conversation or action went. ESPECIALLY in present tense.

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Third Person POV

This is my favorite. There are a few different types, so I'll explain them a bit.

1. Third Omniscient

Usually past tense, but not from any one narrator.

"Jack turned, confused and tense. Charlie laughed in her head as she pointed out the hole in his pants."

From an Omniscient POV

2. Third Limited

The one I personally use.

It's kind of Omniscient in a way. You describe the surroundings and expressions through the lens of a particular character, and their thoughts are shown, and only their thoughts.

"They can't be serious, can they? Hunter asked, studying the faces of those opposite him. "You can't just stage an intervention on my jerky eating."

A noise sounded from the other room, causing everyone to bolt upright."

You're in the POV of one character.

3. Third Objective

Also known as dramatic.

I am MUCH less familiar with it. The gist is this.

The narrator relays everything one could see looking in, but NO inner thoughts. Think a TV show, or like a camera looking onto the scene.

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Second Person POV

Also less familiar with this one. Common in TTRPG or other role-playing settings.

"You look in the mirror, disgusted at what you have become."

If I did it, it'd have to be a story shown in excerpts inside a story about someone insane.

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How I use POV

I use third limited in every story I write now. It allows me to describe everything in the ways I am comfortable with, and works for more mature audiences. At least in my opinion.

I often have multiple POVs running in a book, switching every chapter, or sometimes within a chapter.

When I switch I often add a line across the page, then in the next sentence, I make it clear who the new POV is.

EXAMPLE

Yada yada old POV

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New POV Jack thought

Or

"What the hell is a new POV?" Jack yelled.

One of the keys is to keep your characters distinct. They all think differently, have different tendencies or sayings.

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In Summary

POV comes down to distance and voice. First person puts you closest to a character but can feel limiting and young. Third person gives you more flexibility. Third limited keeps you grounded in one character's head, omniscient lets you roam freely, and objective/dramatic strips everything back to pure action. Like a camera. Second person is a niche tool, best used only when it makes sense.

For most stories, I feel third limited makes the most sense.