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I usually write in a close third POV, but there's a whole world of other options out there for me, if only I knew when to use them. Any suggestions?
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When to use distant third POV
- Thread starter TellMeAStory
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Your point of view should fit the tone you want to convey.
Close point of view is great for empathizing and strongly connecting to a character. That's why it gets used so often in YA, where readers want a character to live the story through.
A more remote third would be good for not prejudicing the reader to any particular character. That might be good for a locked room mystery, giving the reader a chance to figure out the puzzle without knowing too much about the inner workings of any one character, since the POV character could still be a suspect.
First person, especially with present tense, gives immediacy to the story. First person past tense removes some tension, we're hearing the story being told, by the person who was there, so they won't die, at least.
Second person is rarely used but was used to astonishing affect in Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir.
If you find that close third person works well for your stories, great, no need to change it. I would recommend experimenting with other styles in short pieces just for the educational value, but you don't have to fix what isn't broken.
On the other hand if you find yourself wishing for more immediacy then maybe it's time to switch to first person. If you feel like you're being constrained in the story you're telling by being too much in a character's thoughts, then a more remote third person, or even omniscient third might do the trick.
Close point of view is great for empathizing and strongly connecting to a character. That's why it gets used so often in YA, where readers want a character to live the story through.
A more remote third would be good for not prejudicing the reader to any particular character. That might be good for a locked room mystery, giving the reader a chance to figure out the puzzle without knowing too much about the inner workings of any one character, since the POV character could still be a suspect.
First person, especially with present tense, gives immediacy to the story. First person past tense removes some tension, we're hearing the story being told, by the person who was there, so they won't die, at least.
Second person is rarely used but was used to astonishing affect in Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir.
If you find that close third person works well for your stories, great, no need to change it. I would recommend experimenting with other styles in short pieces just for the educational value, but you don't have to fix what isn't broken.
On the other hand if you find yourself wishing for more immediacy then maybe it's time to switch to first person. If you feel like you're being constrained in the story you're telling by being too much in a character's thoughts, then a more remote third person, or even omniscient third might do the trick.
In his short stories, Hemingway uses distant third to give the reader a "fly on the wall" perspective. He manages to make it incredibly intimate. I wouldn't use it all the time, but it's good to practice.