POV part three; second person
writing tips
For the last installment of my POV posts, which is going to be shorter than the other two, I’m going to be discussing the second-person point of view.
So, let’s get to it!
So, What is Second-Person?
I’m sure many of you probably haven’t heard of this one because it isn’t used much in full-length novels but more so in short stories and flash fiction, which aren’t always publicly known.
It is the you/your/yours point of view.
While there is technically a narrator for this POV, it offers the unique ability to place the reader as the protagonist by saying you instead of he/she or I. In a strange sense, you are simultaneously the reader, the main character, and the narrator.
I find the concept cool, considering so many of us dream of being in the worlds of our favorite characters, after all. I give applause to whoever invented it.
Due to its nature, there is only one version of second-person, unlike with third-person, which has limited, multiple, and more. You can’t really have multiple POVs when the style is you.
That would be mind-bending, if even possible.
You want to place your audience with your characters in all fiction and specific non-fiction stories, such as biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, and everything in between.
With second-person, you will be able to better express what you’re conveying, and your audience can connect on a deeper level with the emotions and sensations the characters are experiencing.
My Experience With Second-Person
I once read a flash fiction piece online one day during my creative writing class, as we were supposed to read flash fiction pieces on a website for a certain amount of time.
It was written in second-person, and it took me a few minutes to realize it.
The story itself was interesting. I don’t remember exactly what the story was about exactly other than it was sci-fi and possibly metaphysical, but the fact that I didn’t catch the POV type until around halfway through shocked me and stayed with me years later.
I had written a short fiction story in second-person a couple of years ago, The Thrift Shop Find. It was interesting to write a story in this way. But it also felt so natural for that piece.
What to be Mindful of When Writing in Second-Person
However, if you are not careful and choose to draft multiple stories in this POV, like the common issue with first-person, it might all sound like the same character, even if it isn’t, due to the you aspect.
You might need to watch out for slipping back into the I/she/he lingo if that’s what you’re accustomed to. It may not be an issue for you, but just in case.
Plus, you’ll have to watch what tense you’re using. I read over a piece I did a few years ago as I plan on publishing it onto this platform and found I switched from future to present tense a few times. Either one, I think, is all right, depending on the situation, but stick with one.
Now, I don’t have advice to avoid the first problem like I did with the other two points of view, or for anything else, my experience with reading and writing in this POV is sparse at best, although I have read a couple on Vocal recently.
So, I encourage you to go looking for answers to questions. I’m sure you have at least one.
I must say that second-person often tends to be associated with certain writers, so if you want to try second-person, do your best to make it your own.
To End Things
Well, whichever point of view type you decide to use, whether first, third, second, or a mixture of third and first, which happens more than you’d think, make sure it’s what you want to do and write!
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About the Creator
Amethyst Champagne
I create anything from fiction to personal stories, poetry, and more. I'm also on Substack, Ko-fi, and Gumroad!
My Twitter(X) handle is @AmethystC99.
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