Lesson Four: Point of View and Tense

What is point of view? A story can be told from different perspectives. Sometimes the main character or hero of the story is relating it in his own words (first person). The author himself can tell the story, standing above the action and able to see everything at once (third person omniscient). The author can tell the story to the reader, using ‘you/your’ (second person). Or the author can tell the story as if he is peeking over the shoulder of his hero (this person limited).

Which point of view is best? Generally it is easiest to tell a story, especially a long story or novel, in third person limited. The author will say, “Mark said this and Suzie did that,” but he will reveal only the thoughts and reactions of one character at a time. This type of storytelling puts the reader in the mind and feelings of the character without the limitations of first person ‘I-me’ style. This technique also allows the author to enter the mind of more than one character during the course of the tale (but never in the same paragraph and rarely in the same chapter).

Can I change point of view in the same book? It can be done, but it is rarely a good idea. If you must change the point of view, do it at a major break in the book. Especially in your first book, you should stick to one point of view for the sake of simplicity.
What is tense? Tense describes what time frame you are telling the story from – past, present or future. By far, most stories are told in past tense (they said, they did, she spoke, etc.). Present tense can work in short stories, but it tends to be difficult to maintain. Future tense is nearly impossible, as stories are related after the fact, not before.

How does point of view and tense affect my story? Point of view can make a story seem very intimate if it is told in first person, or very broad and large if told in third person. Past tense gives the reader a comfortable viewing distance from the story, or the feeling of urgency in present tense. Use of these two tools will help set the tone of your story before the reader has even finished the first sentence.

The Bottom Line: It is safest to use third person limited, past tense when writing a story of any decent length. Only stray from this style when it is absolutely necessary to your plot to do so.