Why Use Third Person Point of View
6 Tips to Help Get Started
Writing in third person point of view is an effective way to tell your story. It is a very popular writing technique that has been around for a long time. Writers have used this perspective to provide their readers with an intriguing backstory or to showcase the impact of an event. It is most widely used in fiction. In this article, I’ll share six tips. From the protagonist's needs and desires, to using dialogue, to creating suspense and tension, I hope this article can provide ways to help you write better from this point of view.
ONE | What is Third Person Point of View?
Third person point of view is the most common point of view used in literature. The third person point of view is a writing style that includes both the narrator and the character point of view. It tells the story from the perspective of a character, but the narrator tells the reader what the character is thinking. Authors use this POV in novels, short stories, and other forms of fiction.
Example of Narrator POV:
My sister always wanted to be a famous model. Her dream came true when a modeling agency discovered her when she was twelve. As she became more and more successful, our family was happy for her and proud of her. We knew she could achieve her dreams because of the support she received from us.
Example of Character POV:
"I've been running for 20 minutes, and I'm still not there."
"I'm out of breath, but I keep running."
"I can't run anymore; my feet are tired."
TWO | The Protagonist's Needs and Desires
You must define your protagonist's needs and desires. The protagonist must know what they want and need in order to work towards their goals. These can be internal or external. Internal needs and desires could be a need to achieve something great, such as winning a Nobel prize, or a need to feel special, such as being able to say they are the smartest person in their class. External needs and desires are needs that can make you feel loved, accepted, or connected to others. The protagonist must also be able to create tension in their life. This could be as simple as feeling stressed because of a deadline for a paper or presentation. It could also come as something more sinister, such as being stalked. This tension can be internal or external.
THREE | Dialogue
Many novels and plays rely on dialogue to propel the story forward. It is a powerful tool and an extremely effective method of storytelling. Dialogue has its own unique place in fiction. When used properly, it adds color to your novel and can help engage your readers more effectively. The key to writing a good dialogue is to make it crisp and clean. Here are five tips for writing dialogue in third person point of view.
Use dialogue tags to set your dialogue apart from your narrator's monologue. Dialogue tags are phrases that are used to break up, precede, or follow written dialogue to convey which character is speaking.
Ensure your dialogue does not sound labored or stiff.
Don’t make your dialogue too wordy. Don’t allow your characters to meander.
Make sure that you have characters that differ from each other.
Your characters should not be too similar to the narrator.
There are many other tips available, but if you follow these as a base, your dialogue will adhere to a third person point of view.
FOUR | Creating Suspense and Tension
Creating suspense and tension in your writing is all about making readers feel uneasy and uncertain. Use techniques like foreshadowing, withholding information, adding dramatic pauses, introducing mysterious characters, and avoiding obvious conclusions to keep readers hooked. When crafting suspenseful stories, don't be afraid to make use of red herrings, twist endings, and sudden changes in pace. Here are some tips.
Make sure the reader knows who the protagonist is
Create a sense of urgency
Show character development
Show what the protagonist is thinking
Use dialogue to show the protagonist's personality
FIVE | Why Write in Third Person POV
It is important to write in the third person point of view because it helps to make the story seem more real. The reader can imagine what the character is thinking and feeling, which makes the story more interesting. Writing in third person POV is a good way to keep the reader guessing what's going to happen next.
Writing in third person point of view, the writer tells the story as if they were telling someone else. The third person point of view is a common point of view used in books and other written material. Writer’s typically use third person point of view when the story is told by an omniscient narrator who knows all about what is going on.
SIX | Keep the Reader Engaged
As a writer, writing in a third person point of view keeps the reader engaged and the story interesting. Here are a few tips on how to do it.
Use a variety of characters with unique personalities and backgrounds. This will help the reader get more invested in the story.
Build suspense. When building suspense, it is important to keep your reader guessing what will happen next so that when the big reveal comes; they are eager to find out what happens next.
Keep readers engaged through the use of foreshadowing, which is when an author hints at what might happen in the future. Consider this example.
The sun was setting, and I was eager to get back home. The day had been long, and it seemed like I had gotten very little done. I was tired, and I wanted to just go home and relax. As I approached the last few blocks, I saw my street. It was a familiar sight, one that always brought me comfort. But tonight, as I turned the corner, I saw something that made my heart stop. It was a dark figure standing in the shadows of my porch.
Foreshadowing is a great way to keep your readers involved and curious about what will happen next. Foreshadowing will make the reader feel like they are constantly following along with the plot.
Conclusion
Third person point of view is a powerful tool you should include in your storytelling arsenal. As writers, it is important for us to take a step back and review the way we have written our stories. Take some time to experiment with the third person point of view. You’ll be glad you did.
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