Understanding Point of View: More Than Just First or Third Person, with Anne Hawley

In this episode of Write Anyway, developmental editors Anne Hawley and Rachelle Ramirez dive deep into the often misunderstood concept of point of view (POV) in storytelling.

Key topics covered:

• Why POV is more than just choosing between first and third person
• How time, distance, and narrative purpose influence POV choices
• The relationship between genre and POV selection
• Common challenges with first-person present tense
• The concept of narrative distance and its impact on storytelling
• Using POV to create irony and humor (featuring examples from True Grit and Huckleberry Finn)
• The importance of understanding who your narrator is speaking to and why

Featured book examples:

• True Grit by Charles Portis
• The Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart
• The Hunger Games
• Jane Eyre
• The Great Gatsby

Practical takeaway: Study the POV choices in your favorite books to better understand how successful authors handle narrative perspective.

Connect with Anne:

Find her novel Restraint on Amazon

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