Pointers for Story Lines

Dabbling in First POV

You took care  So you have a clear idea about what you will write. Now it's time to know how. 

When you start writing a story, you are faced with a common question: First POV or Third POV?

In this chapter, we'll weigh the pros and cons of the First POV and at the end of the next chapter, you'll be clear which one of the two suits your story better ( or so we hope )

What is First POV?

First POV ( Point of View) or First Person Narration is a type of narration where we tell the story from one particular character's perspective, using 'I', 'me', myself' as the pronouns used to narrate the events.

( Translation : When we get into a character's head, it becomes First POV)

Example:

"I ran through the stormy night, stalking the deserted road as water puddles splashed under my feet. The street lights lit up the wet road in a yellow glow and I could hear similar splashes of water in the wake of footsteps approaching me from behind. I ran as fast as I could, but I could see the shadow of the stranger getting closer to me by the minute. I shouted," Stop!" but the shadow kept following. My heart beat faster. This was it. He must be that fabled murderer... "

Ooh... so? What are you trying to say?

We are trying to say that getting in a character's mind can be fairly easy in first POV ( For some people)

But what matters, is not how you get into your character's mind, but which character's mind you get into. That drives the whole story.

Don't believe us? Have a look at this-

"I saw the girl running along the desolate road in the storm. I held her purse in my hand, running after her to give it back to her. I had found the purse sitting on the park bench when I saw her leaving the park and heading into the angry storm outside. I could've shouted out to her if my voice weren't silenced since birth. I followed her throughout, running along and trying to catch up, but damn... was she a fast runner.

"Stop!" I heard her scream from the street ahead. Her voice was muffled by the rain.

Great. Now she thinks I mean her harm. I waved the purse, but before she could see it, she turned and ran for her life."

See? Two perspectives. Same story.

The girl and the good-hearted-stalker-guy have different ideas about each other's intensions and that gap in thought process is what makes First POV a preferred choice to many.

This is why you should think which character you should exactly get in the mind of. It changes the entire way a story unfolds in front of a reader.

Pros:

-You get to tell a story from a very realistic set-up. Using 'I' gives the reader an 'in-the-story' vibe because they are going through the Haunted House in a rollercoaster, on contrary to the third POV where you get a bird's eye view of the Haunted House, so to say.

-First person gives a defining depth to the whole character because the reader knows exactly how your character thinks.

-If done right, it can build up a lot of mystery because the reader is only getting a narrow angle to the story and most things are being hidden from him/her. So for mystery/thrillers, first POV works very well as it doesn't reveal much about the plot.

Cons:

-The main character in the 'I' form cannot be inside the heads of the other characters. It's obvious, but first person doesn't allow the hero to see or hear anything the bad guy is doing if he's not right there to see and hear the bad guy himself. That limits the way the villain and other characters' motivations are unfolded. (In case you want the readers to know of everything that is happening in the villain's frame, first POV will give your headaches.)

-It poses a lot of limitations. The reader can only see what the character is seeing; only feel what the character is feeling. There is only one-dimensional outlook in the story. But sometimes, it can be a strength too, if your character outlook is good enough.

Common mistakes which you can avoid:

Most people who dabble in First POV for the first time, tend to use 'I said X', 'I saw X' or 'I did X' a lot, which can make the narration monotonous. Using passive voice can dilute the action in the mind of a reader. For eg. "I saw the pickup truck park itself inside the garage."  Vs "The pickup truck parked itself inside the garage."

Try not to use 'I thought X' sentences at all. The reader is reading about the character's thoughts, so mentioning that would be a waste of words.

This is a mistake people often do in First POV: In a bid to get the plot flowing, the MC is present everywhere. She overhears the sensitive conversation while passing through the room; overhears the password of the locker; suddenly decides to visit the circus and stumbles upon the stranger who is plotting her murder at the hands of the clown.

Realistic portrayals of the MC's ability to know things, is a key factor in First POV narration.

So this was it for now. If you found it useful, press that yellow star. And if you have a query, please go settle down in the comment section. It's all yours ;)

Until next time.

~Ana & Deb