Let’s get real: your novel could be brilliant, your plot a work of genius, but if your point of view (POV) is off, readers will zone out faster than you can say “head-hopping.”
You’ve probably asked yourself: “Should I write in first person or third person?” Maybe you’ve switched POV mid-draft and felt like a literary circus performer juggling too many heads. Or maybe you’ve stuck to one POV because everyone says it’s “safe,” only to realize your story feels flat.
Here’s the truth: POV isn’t just grammar. It’s the lens your readers experience your story through. Pick the wrong one, and even the most gripping story can fall flat. Pick the right one… and readers will obsess over your characters, devour your pages, and maybe even buy the books you link to (wink).
This post will break down first person vs third person, reveal the common mistakes that kill stories, and give you the actionable tips that make your POV choices shine. Plus, I’ve included further reading for writers (perfect for affiliate links!) so you can master your craft.
First Person: When Readers Become Your Character
Writing in first person means the story is told through “I” or “we.” Readers live inside your character’s head, experiencing everything they do, think, and feel. This POV is intimate, immediate, and addictive — but it comes with limits.
Why First Person Works
- Immersion: Readers feel like they are your character. Every panic attack, awkward encounter, or triumphant moment is felt firsthand.
- Voice-driven stories: Strong narrative voices shine here. A sarcastic, witty, or unreliable narrator can carry a story by themselves.
- Suspense: Limited knowledge makes mystery easier to manage — readers only know what your narrator knows.
Famous First Person Examples
- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger – Holden Caulfield’s voice is unforgettable, unreliable, and utterly human.
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – Katniss’s personal perspective pulls readers directly into danger and emotion.
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – Hazel’s voice makes heartbreak intimate and raw.
Pro Tips for First Person
- Make your narrator’s voice distinctive — quirks, humor, or opinionated thoughts help them leap off the page.
- Embrace unreliable narration to add intrigue and suspense. Readers love piecing together the truth themselves.
- Only reveal what your narrator knows. Don’t sneak in info they couldn’t logically have.
👉 Further reading: [Point of View: How to Write First Person Narrative by Orson Scott Card]
Third Person: The Swiss Army Knife of Storytelling
Third person uses “he,” “she,” or “they.” You can go limited (stick to one character’s perspective) or omniscient (know everything about every character). This POV is versatile, flexible, and perfect for complex plots — but without care, it can feel distant or dry.
Why Third Person Works
- Multiple viewpoints: Great for large casts or epic sagas.
- Worldbuilding: You can reveal more of your story world without bending reality.
- Flexibility: Switch between character perspectives (if done correctly) to show different sides of events.
Famous Third Person Examples
- Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling – Third person limited, mostly from Harry’s perspective, keeps us close but allows necessary side-glances at the magical world.
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – Omniscient narration allows Austen to explore multiple character thoughts, society, and irony.
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – Third person limited through Nick Carraway balances intimacy with objectivity.
Pro Tips for Third Person
- Use limited POV for intimacy, omniscient for epic scope — but avoid info-dumping.
- Avoid head-hopping in the same scene; it confuses readers.
- Distinguish voices clearly when juggling multiple characters.
👉 Further reading: [Narrative Voice and Point of View by Jane Fryer]
👉 Further reading: [Third Person Limited vs Omniscient by K.M. Weiland]
Choosing First Person: When Your Story Needs Heart
First person is best when the narrator’s experience is central. If the drama is in how your protagonist perceives events, first person is your go-to.
📚 Examples:
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – Alternating first person creates mystery and tension.
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky – Charlie’s voice carries the emotional weight.
Tip: First person shines in diary-style, personal journey, or voice-driven stories.
👉 Further reading: [First Person Narrative Techniques by Lisa Cron]
Choosing Third Person: When Scope Matters
Third person is ideal when your story has:
- Multiple main characters
- Large, complex worlds
- Plot threads that need perspective shifts
📚 Examples:
- Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin – Multiple third person perspectives expand scope while keeping character depth.
- Les Misérables by Victor Hugo – Omniscient narration allows deep insight into characters and society.
Tip: Third person works when you want both intimacy and perspective, but you need to carefully manage viewpoint changes.
👉 Further reading: [Third Person POV by James Scott Bell]
Reliability: Who Can the Reader Trust?
- First person: Narrators are naturally unreliable — bias, lies, blind spots.
- Third person omniscient: More objective, but can still have limitations or selective knowledge.
📚 Examples:
- Fight Club (first person) – Narrator’s perception is flawed; truth emerges slowly.
- Middlemarch (third person) – Omniscient narrator provides a reliable overview.
Tip: Use unreliable narration for tension, surprise, and character depth — just don’t overdo it.
👉 Further reading: [Unreliable Narrators by Elizabeth George]
Mixing POVs: Dangerous But Powerful
Switching between first and third person can elevate storytelling if done carefully.
📚 Examples:
- The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver – Multiple first person narrators highlight different perspectives.
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern – Third person shifts build intrigue and suspense.
Tip: Clearly signal shifts and give each voice a unique style.
👉 Further reading: [Multiple Perspectives by Nancy Kress]
POV and Reader Engagement
- First person: Strong empathy; readers experience thoughts and emotions directly.
- Third person: Wider perspective; readers see multiple sides of a story or world.
📚 Examples:
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (first person) – limited but immersive.
- War and Peace (third person omniscient) – expansive, showing multiple character perspectives.
Tip: Match POV to your story’s emotional tone and complexity.
👉 Further reading: [Point of View by Orson Scott Card]
Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
First person pitfalls:
- Monotonous narrator voice
- Info-dumping inner thoughts
- Over-explaining events outside the narrator’s experience
Third person pitfalls:
- Head-hopping confusion
- Losing intimacy with too much distance
- Omniscient narration that feels preachy
Tip: Experiment, revise, and test scenes in both POVs to see what works.
Conclusion: Pick Wisely and Write Boldly
POV isn’t just a stylistic choice — it’s the lens through which your readers live your story. Pick wisely:
- First person = intimacy, voice, bias, emotional punch
- Third person = perspective, scope, multiple viewpoints
Combine these insights with the further reading resources I’ve included, experiment boldly, and watch your story transform from “meh” to unforgettable.
Further Reading
- [Point of View: How to Write First Person Narrative by Orson Scott Card]
- [First Person Narrative Techniques by Lisa Cron]
- [Third Person Limited vs Omniscient by K.M. Weiland]
- [Unreliable Narrators by Elizabeth George]
- [Multiple Perspectives by Nancy Kress]
- [Point of View by Orson Scott Card]
- [Third Person POV by James Scott Bell]
- [The Writer’s Guide to Point of View by Nancy Kress]
- [Point of View and Perspective by Peter Selgin]
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