Changing Point of View in Fiction
Write in First Person Viewpoint, Then Edit to Third Person
Mar 12, 2009
Some writers begin with the first person point of view to get into their character’s head, but then want to revise the story to a third person viewpoint. It’s not as simple as replacing I with he or she, though.
First Person Viewpoint Restriction
Writers using first person are limited strictly to the character’s own thoughts and observations. Introspection, memories, and attitude can shine through easily, but the writer is limited to not only what the character can see, but what he or she would notice and the vocabulary he or she would use.
- I walked into the stuffy room. The curtains were closed and the furniture reminded me of a haunted house, all draped in dusty, white sheets. All it needed was a ghost.
Close Third Person Viewpoint
Using a close third person POV gives almost the same results as first person. The writer is still in the character’s head, with the same limitations of vocabulary and observations. This is where switching I for she works.
- She walked into the stuffy room. The curtains were closed and the furniture reminded her of a haunted house, all draped in dusty, white sheets. All it needs is a ghost, she thought.
Limited Third Person Viewpoint
A limited third person point of view, on the other hand, keeps the story focused through one character, but allows the writer more freedom.
- She crept into the stuffy room. The heavy drapes blocked any light, and cobwebs ran from the curtain rods to the wall and ceiling. Lumps of furniture, shrouded in old white sheets, were scattered around the room. All it needs is a ghost, she thought. She threw the drapes open, not noticing the rat that scurried out of sight.
This character would have said walked, but the author can use more descriptive words such as crept. More description than the character would have noticed can be included. Her thoughts are labeled as her thoughts, and the writer can include things that the character doesn’t notice, which help to set the mood or foreshadow future events.
Editing from Third Person to First Person Viewpoint
With a draft written in third person, a writer who wants to edit to first or very close third person needs a scrutinizing eye to make a successful change.
- Carl’s body was loose, belying the steely expression on his face. He held the gun lightly, as if it were a part of him. The man cowered in front of him and Carl pretended to put the gun away, then take it out again.
If Carl and he are simply replaced with I, it doesn’t work:
- My body was loose, belying the steely expression on my face. I held the gun lightly, as if it were part of me. The man cowered in front of me and I pretended to put the gun away, then take it out again.
With first person POV, not only is Carl not going to describe his own facial expression, he would include his own feelings and description.
- I kept my body loose while I watched this sorry excuse for a man squirm in front of me. The gun felt light in my hand, comfortable as always. Such a thing of beauty—smooth, cool, powerful. I decided to tease the worm a bit, dropping my arm and then picking it up and aiming again. He whimpered, and I smiled.
Successful Point of View Changes
While stories can be revised into a new point of view by substitutions, it’s not optimal.
The best way to edit a story from first to third person, or third to first, is to do a fresh re-write, either paragraph by paragraph or scene by scene. And don’t be surprised if the new outlook creates different directions and possibly additional scenes – they can lead to a story with more depth.
