POINT OF VIEW
Remember learning about pronouns in school? Here is a refresher:
Singular Plural First Person I N/A Second Person You You Third Person He/She They
There are three basic point of views:
- First Person POV: When the storyteller is one of the main characters. Storyteller uses first person pronouns when refering to herself.
- Example: I made lemonade while Nancy baked cookies. She let me taste the dough. Then, we sat out on the porch to enjoyed the first day of summer.
- Note: *The first person POV can not be "all knowing"
Example: I made lemonade while Nancy baked cookies. Damn, Nancy thought, I should have gotten more chocolate chips. Then, I asked to lick the spoon.
See what's wrong? Nancy didn't say anything, so how can the storyteller know what she was thinking? Unless the storyteller is psychic, she can not know what any of the other characters are thinking or doing if she not been told. - Note: *The first person POV can not be "all knowing"
- Second Person POV: When the storyteller is talking to the person performing the action. Uses second person pronouns.
- Example: You made lemonade while Nancy baked cookies. Nancy let you taste the dough. Then, you both sat out on the porch and enjoyed the first day of summer.
- Note: The second person POV is not used very often because it can be awkward. When it is used, it's mostly for short pieces. Like the first person pov, it can not be all knowing.
- Third Person POV: When the storyteller is talking about the person/people performing the action. Uses third person pronouns.
- Example: Teri made lemonade while Nancy baked cookies. Nancy let her taste the dough. Then, they sat out on the porch and enjoyed the first day of summer.
- Note: The third person POV is the one most often used. The voice can be "all knowing," but it does not have to be. The storyteller is usually focused on one of the characters in the story. Imagine that the storyteller is a camera on a character's shoulder that records everything she does and her thoughts.
Teri made lemonade while Nance baked cookies. She let Teri taste the dough. Then, they sat out on the porch and enjoyed the sun. - Note: The third person POV is the one most often used. The voice can be "all knowing," but it does not have to be. The storyteller is usually focused on one of the characters in the story. Imagine that the storyteller is a camera on a character's shoulder that records everything she does and her thoughts.
