Choosing the right point of view (POV) and tense is crucial in novel writing as it significantly impacts how readers experience and connect with your story. The POV determines how closely readers can connect with your characters, and the tense affects the reader’s sense of immediacy. These elements, along with genre and scope of the project, should be determined before crafting the narrative, as they are extremely hard to change along the way.
POV: First Person vs. Third Person
First Person POV
These days, first person narrators are more popular than the old-school omniscient point of view. Readers are no longer observant of the story, we are participants. We want to get involved and give our opinions. That’s why first person is the popular choice for YA: teenagers enjoy first person because they can more easily put themself in the character’s shoes; for the same reason, it can sound amateurish. First person is better at character exploration, adding distinct voice and reflection, and allowing for more interesting info dumps. However, it’s hard to create an epic tale in first person, and the narrator must survive at the end of the story.
In subjective first person, the story is told by the main character who takes an active role in the story. This creates an intimate view for the readers and allows them to get inside the mind of unlikable or unreliable protagonists, like a murderer, a liar, or an antihero.
In objective first person, the narrator isn’t the main character, but an observer. This approach works well when the main character is evasive and best described through the eyes of a secondary character.
Third Person POV
Third person omniscient goes deeper into the character’s mind than first person by exploring different facets of their personality that the character himself may not fully understand or choose to share. The narrator can step outside the main character’s thoughts to describe the mysterious atmosphere or magic of the place. This POV is ideal for setting a scene and immersing the reader in the story, allowing you to “zoom in and out” and provide information that the character doesn’t know.
Third person limited keeps the character’s distinctive voice while narrowing the scope of the narrator’s knowledge and perspective. In this case, the narrator is confined to one character’s thoughts, feelings, and perceptions at a time, revealing only what that character knows, sees, and experiences. This creates a closer connection between the reader and the focal character. When using multiple points of view, different characters’ limited perspectives ensure that readers experience all the major scenes of the story.
When to Use First or Third Person
Use first person or third person limited if you want a surprise ending—one that neither the character nor the reader sees coming. Readers are living the story alongside the main character, seeing no more than he does and knowing no more than he knows.
Use third person limited for conveying the stream of consciousness that passes through a character’s mind as they perform actions. First person can make the characters appear more introspective and self-aware than they actually are, as it assumes the characters understand their own thoughts better than the author does.
Tense: Past vs. Present
Past tense is the natural choice for storytelling; it flows effortlessly and evokes the impression of excavating buried treasures and uncovering historical records. Choose this tense if you want readers to be absorbed in your story and not distracted by your writing style.
In contrast, present tense creates a narrative that directly unfolds in front of readers’ eyes. It feels urgent and focuses on action rather than reflection. All screenplays are written in present tense, and today’s novels mimic the storytelling style of movies by using first person, present tense.
If you prefer present tense, do it. If you don’t have a preference, stick with past tense, first person or third person limited.