Point of view can make or break a story — not every story can be told from all points of view. Don’t believe us? Take the first chapter of your manuscript and try to rewrite it from a completely different point of view. You’ll quickly find out that there’s only one point of view that really suits the story’s aims.

This is because point of view is not simply a technicality — it’s an intentional craft choice that plays an important role in how your book unfolds and how your readers perceive it. POV can affect the psychic distance between your reader and the story, alter the atmosphere, and establish your literary style. Let’s take a closer look at these three contributions made by POV choices. 

Point of view determines “psychic distance”

Psychic distance, also called narrative distance, an idea developed in James Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, is all about where the narrative (and therefore the reader) stands in relation to the character. It’s important to think about how much ‘distance’ you want to cultivate between your reader and the story. It’ll impact the tone of your book, how much (and what) information is shared with the reader, and how plot development occurs. 

Some stories will invite close psychic distance, particularly if a novel grapples with emotional themes (like a coming-of-age story) — others might want to establish more ‘distance’ so that a more objective point of view can be shared with the reader in the style of a commentary.

It contributes to atmosphere

The emotional layer of narration will affect the overall tone and mood of a story. We’ve all met people that can walk into a room and immediately change its mood, right? A similar thing happens with narration — whoever recounts the story changes the atmosphere with the way they tell the story.

The pensive, somewhat morose narration of Lenù in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet, for example, contributes heavily to the contemplative and immersive atmosphere of the novels. The stories would’ve been much different if Lenù vivacious, confident friend Lila had been recounting the story of their lives together — and as a narrator, she would’ve placed emphasis on different things, too.

It signals the storytelling style

The voice chosen to narrate the story will determine how it is perceived by the reader. For first and third person especially, we are tapping into a character’s mind. It’s not just the character’s emotions and thoughts that the reader will experience: it’s also their manner of talking and thinking. What’s the range of their vocabulary, for instance? What do they ponder the most? Are they accustomed to thinking in long spiels or short sentences? 

For genres that require more expository writing or technical detail, particular points of view might not be suitable — it would arguably be strange to have a character explain absolutely everything about the world they live in, because that’s not how people would act in real life — and in that instance, a third person omniscient narrator would be more appropriate.

Hopefully this has convinced you that POV should not be chosen carelessly or randomly. Take a moment to pause and really consider your story’s voice. Close your eyes and try to hear it speak to you. Which point of view does it use?

If you’re still struggling, we’ve got a post listing some of the best book editors in the industry, so head there next. These seasoned professionals can help you resolve any and all issues relating to your writing craft. Good luck!