The Points of View Used in Storytelling

The following post was written in response to a question I received on an earlier post:

There are specific points of view that a writer must think about before she creates a short story or novel. This is the voice through which the story will be told. In a short story, the point of view cannot be changed. The points of view include the following:

First person point of view is I singular or We plural. When first person is used, the I singular is used. For example, I went to the store and ran into a dear friend that I had known ten years ago.

First person present tense is immediate. The action appears to be happening right now. For example. . .

 I am standing before the meat counter in the neighborhood Vons. Oh my goodness, who is that? Is it? Is it really? Yes, it’s John. I feel my heart beating double time…..

Dear Reader, you get the picture. 

Second Person Point of View is You. This point of view is seldom used. The you must be used consistently throughout the story. A strong novel written in the ‘80s was Bright Lights, Big City. The entire book was told through this point of view:

For example. . .

You are standing before the meat counter in the neighborhood Vons when you turn and notice a familiar face. You immediately know it is John, an old friend from ten years ago.

Third Person is the he or she or they view. And again the point of view must be consistent throughout the story. For example. . .

She is standing before the meat counter in the neighborhood Vons when she turns and notices a familiar face. She immediately knows that face: it’s John, an old friend from ten years ago.

There is also the dramatic point of view. In this point of view no mind can be intruded upon so no thoughts can be given. All that is seen is as if the camera is showing all that is going on. Hence, the dramatic point of view. For example. . .

She is standing before the meat counter in the neighborhood Vons when a man dressed in a black suit approaches her. She turns to look at him and smiles.

And then there is the stream of consciousness point of view. The sentences are rarely written in complete sentences. The sentences are similar to what takes place in our minds when we’re thinking. I remember reading something some time ago in which the critic said we never think in complete sentences. For example. . .

Where’s the butcher? Over there. Yes, I see  him. Cluk, cluk…who’s that? What? Who’s that? John? Oh my.

Check out Ulysses by James Joyce to get a real feeling for this point of view.