Write Stories from Different Points of View

Point of view (POV) is the perspective from which a story is told. Every story has a narrator — the "voice" telling the story — and that narrator's perspective shapes how the reader experiences the events. Changing the point of view can completely change how a story feels.

1st Person Point of View

• The narrator IS the main character.
• Uses pronouns: I, me, my, mine, we, us.
• Readers know the narrator's inner thoughts and feelings directly.
• Example: "I opened the door and my heart began to race."

2nd Person Point of View

• The narrator speaks directly to the reader.
• Uses pronouns: you, your, yours.
• Unusual in fiction but common in instructions, guides, and "choose your adventure" stories.
• Example: "You open the door and your heart begins to race."

3rd Person Point of View

• The narrator is outside the story, observing.
• Uses pronouns: he, she, they, it, him, her.
• 3rd person limited: follows one character's perspective.
• 3rd person omniscient: knows the thoughts of all characters.
• Example: "She opened the door and her heart began to race."

How Changing POV Changes the Story

• 1st person feels personal and intimate — the reader connects closely with the narrator.
• 3rd person feels more like watching events from the outside.
• 2nd person pulls the reader directly into the story.