Viewpoint

Which viewpoint should you use?

 First Person
• The character tells the story, using the
pronoun ‘I’.
• Example: I walk into the room. I know he's
there in the darkness. I smile as I smell the
sunshine and wind in his hair.
 Six Viewpoint Structures in First
Person

• Simple – One character tells the story.

 Six Viewpoint Structures in First
Person
• Simple Unreliable Narrator – One character
tells the story but we don’t know if he is
telling the truth.
 Six Viewpoint Structures in First
Person
• Rashamon Effect – This means multiple
characters tell their version of the same
events in the story.
 Six Viewpoint Structures in First
Person
• Separate Multiple Viewpoints – This means
multiple characters tell the story using first
person perspectives.
 Six Viewpoint Structures in First
Person
• Sequential Multiple Viewpoints – This means
different characters tell the story from their
perspective in a timeline or sequence. You
may have Jane narrating events in January,
Debbie narrating events from February to
June, and Sarah in July.
 Six Viewpoint Structures in First
Person
• First Person Omniscient - The narrator is a
character in the story, but also knows the
thoughts and feelings of all the other
characters
 Second Person
• The character tells the story using the
pronoun ‘You’.

• Example: You walk into the room. You know

he's there in the darkness. You smile as you
smell the sunshine and wind in his hair.
 Second Person
• This is the least common of all viewpoints
used by authors.
 Second Person
• It is used to make the reader feel
uncomfortable.
 Second Person
• The character is often alienated or in an
altered state.
 Second Person
• The reader feels as if he or she is being
compelled to listen.
 Second Person
• Children do not like second person.
 Third Person
• The narrator tells the story using the
pronouns ‘He’ and ‘She’.

• Example: She walks into the room. She knows

he's there in the darkness. She smiles as she
smells the sunshine and wind in his hair.
 Viewpoint Structures in Third Person

• Subjective – This means the author focuses on

one character and his thoughts and feelings.
• It is similar to simple first person but the
author uses ‘he’ instead of ‘I’.
 Viewpoint Structures in Third Person
• Omniscient – This means the author gives
readers a broad view of the story.
• The thoughts and feelings of many, or all, the
characters are shown.
 Viewpoint Structures in Third Person
• Objective – This means the author observes,
and tells the story according to the actions of
the characters.
• Readers have no idea what is going on inside
the heads of the main characters.
 Viewpoint Structures in Third Person
• Tip:
– If you don't know which viewpoint to choose,
write a scene in two or three different viewpoints.
– Read the scenes out loud and you will hear which
one works best for your story.