Whose Point Of View Is It?

Among my most memorable blunders was my mishandling of Point Of View—a misstep that a discerning editor highlighted in a rejection letter more insightful than many acceptances.

In my newbie attempts to educate my readers on what EVERYONE was thinking, I had no less than 3 POVs in one short story. The end result was a good story sent to the editor’s recycle bin instead of being included in the intended anthology.

I like to think I’ve come a long way since those early missteps. Now, when I encounter this same issue in the work of fellow writers, it leaps off the page—unmistakable and jarring. Why? It muddies the narrative waters, leaving readers adrift in confusion.

Just as you settle comfortably into the mental world of the protagonist, the narrative abruptly veers into another character’s psyche—and then yet another. Astonishingly, even published books sometimes fall prey to this disorienting practice.

Sometimes I try to ignore it and muddle through; other times, my brain goes on tilt, and the book/story gets tossed aside.

A fundamental rule of thumb is to maintain a single POV per short story or chapter. Simply put, the supporting cast isn’t hired for their inner monologues—their role is to interact with, challenge, or propel your main character forward.

In novels, the natural pause at the end of a chapter graciously allows for a smooth transition to another POV, should the story demand it.

If you really must switch POV in a short story, alert your readers’ minds that something is about to change by separating the paragraphs with ***. Limit the use of this little trick, though; you don’t want to follow every other paragraph with asterisks.

If you ever find yourself uncertain about whose voice is steering the narrative, slip into the metaphorical shoes of your main character. Imagine you are ‘Bob.’ Would Bob truly have access to the inner machinations of Tom’s mind? Unless Bob possesses supernatural insight, his knowledge is limited strictly to how Tom’s words and actions ripple through his own world.

Once you achieve a kind of creative symbiosis with your protagonist, maintaining a consistent POV becomes second nature. Your narrative will flow with newfound clarity, readers will remain fully immersed, and editors will have one less reason to send your hard work to the slush pile.