POV Question

I would say it depends on the genre. I read lots of fantasy and they are usually in 3rd person or omni. But they are by no means limited to those.

1st can work well if you know how to apply without the reader getting a bad case of I did this followed by and I did that syndrome...

You already know the answer.

Any story, whether it's a short or a novel, can be engaging in any POV. So, use the POV that a) works for the story, and b) works with your particular personal style (for example, I tend to write in first, present. I sometimes use other POV/tense choices, but my stories tend to naturally come to be in first, present. That's my personal style).

Write a compelling story. POV and tense should fade into the background. If readers are focusing on your POV/tense instead of the actual story, something's wrong with the story.

I have no preference so long as the PoV is engaging, and that includes omni...

Detri Redmond said:

Smish: I agree I should write a compelling story. I was just curious if readers related to any of the pov's better. Noob

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Every reader is going to have his or her own preferences. You can't please everyone.

Just write. Too often, writers get hung up on the smaller details, and never get their stories written. I'm guilty of that, myself. I get hung up on opening paragraphs, and sometimes it takes days or weeks for me to move on.

thothguard51 said:

I have no preference so long as the PoV is engaging, and that includes omni...

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Likewise.

Good advice from all. I just wanted to add that you can always go back and change the POV. I've found that several stories I started in one POV were eventually changed to another in revision. Just get the story out then tinker.

Off to go take my own advice...

I'm just speaking for myself, but I think different aged protagonists can add some interesting perspectives to the stories.

For some reason, only movies are coming to mind. I think very young girl is a particular trope, My neighbor Totoro, or whatever that was called, Spirited Away, (I think this does go beyond Miyazaki, but that's what's coming to mind)

and I think there Disney/Pixar's UP was very interestingly about a much older man, (also had a very young boy), and the other weird example that comes to mine is the really old couple in Batteries Not Included.

But if I had to guess, I'd say the majority of stories feature young adults, in their 20s and 30s. I could be wrong, but that's the impression I get.