Helping Authors Master Point of View: An Editor’s Perspective

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Point of view is more than just a technical choice—it’s the lens through which your readers experience your story. As an editor, I often see manuscripts falter not because of weak plots or characters, but because of inconsistent or unclear POV. The narrator’s perspective shapes everything—what the reader knows, how they feel, and how deeply they connect with your characters.

Let’s get started by identifying the three most common options for POV. Then, we will help you find the right POV for your story.

Grab yourself a cup of coffee and let’s get started.

Distinguishing  and Understanding POV

• First Person: This POV uses words like “I, me, and we” and is the most intimate option, letting readers see the story through the character’s eyes. With this POV, you’re limited to sharing with readers what this character knows, sees, hears, feels, etc. It’s close and personal, but you must be careful not to include aspects of the story that the POV character couldn’t know.

Ex: I clenched my fist as the needle slid into my arm. I was so tired of doctor’s appointments.

• Third Person Limited: Third-person POV uses words like “he, she, and they” and offers a few variations, which we’ll look at more in-depth below.

Similar to first person, and regardless of which variation of third person limited you use, readers should only see what the POV character can see, hear, and know. It is common to see dual POV in the third person. This means the POV character can be different in each scene or chapter.

An important note to consider when using more than one POV is that each character’s POV needs to remain consistent in tone and voice throughout the book. If you have a character who speaks in short, choppy sentences, their thoughts shouldn’t be written in long, poetic phrases. You will also need to consider how each character’s POV is shaped by their worldview, experiences, and relationships.
With third person limited, you can use two variations: shallow or deep.

• Limited Shallow: Limited shallow is what has most commonly been known as third person limited.

Ex: Beth clenched her fist as the needle slid into her arm. I am so tired of doctor’s visits, she thought.

• Limited Deep: Limited deep is a variation of third person limited that is becoming increasingly popular. It is still restricted to one perspective at a time, but it allows authors to build a deeper connection between readers and characters.

 
Ex: Beth clenched her fist as the needle slid into her arm. Lord, I’m so tired of these appointments.

• Third Person Omniscient: With third person omniscient, the narrator knows everything about everyone. However, this can easily slip into “head-hopping” if not handled with care, so this POV takes some experience to master.

In third person omniscient, the narrator’s voice will remain the same regardless of which character’s perspective is being shared. There will also be no change in the setting description or worldview. This is different from third person limited, where readers will hear each character’s voice and tone when the POV changes.

Ex: Beth clenched her fist as the needle slid into her arm. I am so tired of these appointments, she thought.
Tammi smiled a small, sad smile. She had seen the spark die out in Beth’s eyes over these last six months.

Consistency Is Key to Great POV
The most common mistake I see with POV is “head-hopping”—jumping between characters’ thoughts within a scene. Head-hopping disorients readers, pulling them out of the story and weakening their emotional connection with each character. If you’re writing from Beth’s perspective, you can only share what Beth can hear, feel, smell, or see. You can only share Beth’s thoughts and Beth’s past.

When you are writing or self-editing for POV, make sure you stick to one character’s perspective per scene (ideally per chapter), and make any shifts clear with scene breaks or chapter changes.

Which POV Is Right for Your Book?
As a rule of thumb, the first character mentioned in any scene should be the POV character. You also want to ensure the POV comes from the character doing the action. This creates an immersive experience for your reader. One in which they can connect more deeply with the character. As you consider your POV choice, ask yourself:
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• Whose story is this?
• Who has the most at stake in each scene?
• What do I want the reader to know—or not know?
• Does the POV character assume motivations, thoughts, or feelings about another character?
• Who is doing the action in the scene?
• Is the POV character an observer or a participant?

Genre is also an important component when choosing your POV. First-time authors, especially, will benefit from using a traditional POV for their genre—one that their readers will be familiar with and accept. For example, most memoirs are done in first person, middle-grade fantasy books are often best in limited third, while romance is typically from third person limited with dual point of view.

Knowing your genre will help you determine the best POV option for you.

Conclusion: Making the Most of POV’s Power
POV isn’t just a technical choice. It’s a powerful tool in your writing arsenal. Take the time to consider which POV makes the most sense for your story. What is the most common POV for your genre? And which POV are you most comfortable writing?
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When you master the POV in your story, it allows you to build suspense, create surprising twists, develop tension, and deepen emotional resonance. It builds a compelling story that allows your readers to step into your story world, and it allows you to connect more effectively with your readers.
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