It's All About Perspective

Writing is hard - there's no getting around that. The transition from telling a story to yourself or others to writing an effective short story or novel can be tough. From word choice to plotting, every detail of the process can feel like a slog from time to time. If there's one facet of writing that always stumped me, and sometimes still does, however, it's point-of-view. Choosing the perspective from which to write a story is absolutely crucial; the right narrative perspective maximizes the impact of your story, while the wrong one can ruin it.

Narration Options; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Point-of-View

Broadly speaking, there are three different narrative perspectives that you can use when writing a story of any length: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person. Each of these perspectives has a range of benefits and limitations that bear consideration, of course, and this is what makes it so hard to choose for many people. This is why I'd recommend that you try to write a story or two in each style so that you can get an idea of how they work and what their unique features are. Each POV can be utilized in a number of ways and each version has a slightly different definition. Here's short definition of the basic form each narrative style:

1st Person Narration is the 'I' style of writing. Focussing on one character, the narrator, and generally taking place from within their person, 1st person storytelling uses I/me/we when discussinig the main character. The main benefit is the connection to that character that readers experience, the main weakness is its limited scope. (Read more about 1st person narration here)

2nd Person Narration is the 'you' style of writing. Told by a narrator who is relaying the details to the reader directly, 2nd person uses the 'you' form of address in the process of telling the story. This means it is also closest in style to oral storytelling, which many people find accessible. The main benefit of this style is the directness with which it lets you communicate with the reader. The main drawback is the stigma that 2nd person writing often has to deal with. (Read more about 2nd person narration here)

3rd Person Narration is the 'he/she' style of writing. Told as if the narrator is watching the events of the story rather than being involved in them, it uses he/she/they when discussing the character. The main benefit of this style is its versatility, while the main drawback is the slightly larger distance betwene the main characters and the reader. (Read more about 3rd person narration here)

Mixing Perspectives and Tenses: A Middle Ground

Many people will rail against the idea of mixing perspectives and tenses (especially tenses), but doing so can be both effective and powerful when it is appropriate and skillfully done. For example, mixing tenses or narrative styles can help to tell a story which takes place in different time periods, different places, or which has differing character as focal points from section to section.

For example, telling a very long story which takes place over decades might be easier if sections which have less intimate details are told in third person. By honing in on important scenes in first person, or in third person limited, and telling them in present tense you can give those scene immediacy. By contrast, sections which deal with the general passing of time can be told in third-person omniscient in the past tense, allowing the author to paint in broad strokes.

Choosing a Narrative Style

Choosing the right narrative perspective for your story is absolutely crucial if you want to ensure that you get the right effect. There are a number of factors that you should consider, these include:

• The scope of the plot
• The number of important characters
• The setting (and how important it is to your story)
• The impact you want to have on the reader
• Personal preference (no, really!)

If you want to create a story that is very intimate and creates a strong bond between the reader and your main character, for example, 1st person narration is probably the best choice. If you're writing a sprawling, complex story and you want to allow the reader to see the grand scope of your world, 3rd person may be the best perspective to take. In this case, in fact, it would be better to take a 3rd person omniscient or alternating style.

Of course, there is nothing to say that you must choose these perspectives for these situations. Breaking the mould can be incredibly powerful when its done correctly. Plus, the person who should be most happy with your story is you - if you want to write in 1st person, do so - if you would rather write in 2nd person, do that. Just make sure that you make an informed choice as this will help you to anticpate issues and work to mitigate them before they sneak up you.

If you continue to have trouble in choosing the best narrative perspective or tense in which to write, it can be helpful to write a trial scene. Choose a moment that you feel is important to your story and write it in each potential narrative style and tense. Once you have done so, read them and ask someone you trust to do the same. Ask yourself, and them, what effect the scene has on you and whether it fulfils your expectations for and vision of the story.