Point of View & Tense:

A Guide for New Writers

Find the voice your story deserves—one point of view and tense at a time.

When you’re starting out as a writer, it’s tempting to focus on plot, character arcs, or worldbuilding—and overlook one of the most foundational decisions you can make: choosing your point of view (POV) and narrative tense.

Your POV is the lens through which a story is told. It determines who the narrator is, what they know, and how close the reader feels to the story. Meanwhile, tense controls when the story is told—whether the events are happening right now (present tense) or have already happened (past tense). These two elements work hand in hand to define the voice, scope, and emotional tone of your story.

The Main POV Options

First Person ("I")

Style: Deeply personal and limited to one character’s direct experience.
Strengths: Allows for intense emotional connection, internal monologues, and unreliable narrators.
Limitations: You’re confined to one character’s perspective, which can restrict worldbuilding and external scenes.

Second Person ("You")

Style: Places the reader in the protagonist’s shoes.
Strengths: Highly immersive and confrontational, making the reader feel involved.
Limitations: Can feel unnatural or alienating over long stretches; best in short fiction or experimental work.

Third Person Limited ("He/She/They" focused on one character)

Style: External narrator, but still closely tied to a single character’s thoughts and experiences.
Strengths: Offers both closeness and narrative control; lets readers get to know a character intimately while offering more objectivity than first person.
Limitations: Can only show one character’s knowledge at a time. Scene breaks or chapters are needed to switch heads.

Third Person Omniscient

Style: A god-like narrator who knows all thoughts, feelings, and events in the world of the story.
Strengths: Ideal for expansive narratives, sweeping worldbuilding, and stories with complex themes or large casts.
Limitations: Risk of emotional distance; head-hopping can confuse readers.

First Person Plural / Fourth Person ("We")

Style: A collective voice that speaks for a group.
Strengths: Unusual, lyrical, and rich with atmosphere. Creates a strong sense of group identity or shared fate.
Limitations: Difficult to sustain and lacks personal character development.

Multiple POVs

Style: Switching between characters, either within a single POV style or a mix (e.g., alternating first person and third).
Strengths: Expands the story’s scope and builds contrast, tension, and drama. Allows for complex plotting and reveals.
Limitations: Requires careful transitions and consistent, distinctive voices. Each POV must feel justified.
Best Practice: Stick to one POV per scene or chapter. Make sure each character adds something thematically or narratively vital.

Narrative Tense Choices

Past Tense ("He ran")

Most common in modern fiction.

Pros:

Feels natural and familiar to readers.
Allows for reflection, exposition, and shifts in time.
Easiest to manage multiple timelines or flashbacks.

Cons:

Slightly more removed than present tense.
May feel slower or less immediate.

Present Tense ("He runs")

Increasingly popular in YA, literary fiction, and thrillers.

Pros:

Feels urgent, immersive, and cinematic.
Perfect for fast-paced or emotionally intense stories.
Works well with unreliable narrators.

Cons:

Restrictive for time jumps or exposition.
Not all readers or editors love it.

How to Choose the Right POV and Tense

When you’re making the decision for your story, ask:

Who can tell this story best?
How close do I want the reader to feel to my characters?
Am I revealing or withholding information?
What genre expectations am I playing into or against?
What feels most natural to write?

POV & Tense Pairing Cheat Sheet:

POV	Pairs Best With	Notes
First Person	Present or Past	Present = immersive, Past = reflective
Second Person	Present	Maintains immediacy and immersion
Third Person Limited	Past or Present	Offers control and intimacy
Third Person Omniscient	Past	Allows flexible worldbuilding

Final Thoughts

There’s no “correct” combination of POV and tense, only the one that best supports your story. Use first-person present if you want readers inside your protagonist’s skin. Try third-person past for a more flexible, subtle approach. Omniscient past lets you sprawl; second person locks the reader in.

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Write a scene in two different POVs or tenses and compare the effect. The right choice will help your story come alive.

Pick the style that fits your story’s heart—then lean into it with confidence.