Choosing the point of view (POV) for a story is one of the most critical choices a writer can make in their storytelling. 1st person POV is a popular choice. When done correctly, 1st person has the benefit of giving the reader deep insight into a character. Here are 3 tips for using 1st person POV.
1. Choose the Right Story
1st person POV is excellent for writing character-focused stories such as romance. It is also frequently used in the mystery genre so the author can better control the clues the reader is receiving. It can work in other genres too but the self-publishing author needs to remember that the reader’s knowledge is limited to what the character knows. For instance, the self-publishing writer of a science fiction novel might want to explain to the reader the inner workings of the spaceship’s circuitry but for that to work in 1st person the narrating character must have a reason to understand the circuitry themselves or have a reason another character would explain it to them. Continue reading