Which Point of View should you try next?

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Quiz Questions

1.
How close do you want readers to be to your characters’ thoughts?
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- A.
  All the way inside, every heartbeat and doubt.
- B.
  Close, but I want narrator flexibility.
- C.
  I want an all-seeing narrator who can reveal more than characters know.
- D.
  I’d rather show only what can be seen/heard, and not spend much time inside heads.
- E.
  I want an all-seeing narrator who can reveal more than characters know.
2.
How many core perspectives do you want to juggle?
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- A.
  None internally. The camera will tell the story.
- B.
  Just one.
- C.
  Two, but alternating.
- D.
  One at a time, but I might switch between scenes/chapters.
- E.
  Many. I want the freedom to range widely to best tell the story.
3.
Which craft challenge sounds most fun?
- A.
  Managing tension via selective access to one character's feelings at a time.
- B.
  Writing dueling or conflicting interpretations of the same events.
- C.
  Conveying emotion through action, setting, and subtext.
- D.
  Capturing a singular, unmistakable voice.
- E.
  Weaving a chorus of lives with a guiding narrator.
4.
What do you want readers to know at any moment?
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- A.
  No character thoughts, just observable facts.
- B.
  Only what the protagonist knows.
- C.
  The reader should know more than the characters most of the time. Dramatic irony is my thing!
- D.
  What the character in the scene knows. Other details are layered in through other perspectives as the story evolves.
- E.
  Two sides of the same problem.
5.
Pick the metaphor that fits your narrator vibe.
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- A.
  A film camera.
- B.
  A catalogue of emails between two people.
- C.
  A diary writer.
- D.
  A close friend telling you about someone’s life.
- E.
  A wise storyteller by the fire.
6.
Your story’s scope is…
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- A.
  Relationship-centered with two different views on how the relationship is progressing.
- B.
  Character-driven with a few key players.
- C.
  Lean, high-velocity, plot-first.
- D.
  Intimate and personal.
- E.
  Expansive, multi-threaded, world-spanning.
7.
In a high-stakes scene, you instinctively…
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- A.
  Wonder how the other lead reads the moment.
- B.
  Dive into the protagonist’s thoughts and sensations.
- C.
  Zoom out to frame the stakes for everyone.
- D.
  Choose the best single POV and stay tight.
- E.
  Strip the scene to dialogue, action, and telling details.
8.
Your biggest POV fear is…
- A.
  Losing the character’s voice.
- B.
  Blurring two narrators into one.
- C.
  Accidental head-hopping.
- D.
  Sounding like I’m cheating by dipping into heads inconsistently.
- E.
  Feeling too distant from emotion.

Quiz Outcomes

1.
First Person - Dual POV
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Two hearts, two lenses, one story.You love contrast and chemistry. Dual first-person gives alternating, distinct voices that heighten tension and deepen relationships. This is ideal for romance and character-driven stories with two leads.Strengths: Built-in tension, intimacy from two angles.Watch-outs: Voices must be unmistakably different.Starter Prompt: Swap POV mid-scene and reveal what the other character misunderstood.Pro Tips:Label chapters by name or icon.Give each narrator signature diction.
2.
First Person - Single POV
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Deep, intimate, voice-driven.You thrive on closeness. First person (single) immerses readers in one character’s voice and inner life. This POV is perfect for emotional arcs, character transformation, and strong voice.Strengths: Intensity, authenticity, immediacy.Watch-outs: Limited scope; unreliable narration needs care.Starter Prompt: Write a moment your protagonist is keeping a secret and almost slips.Pro Tips:Let word choice mirror mood.Use sensory details to anchor each beat.
3.
Third Person Limited (Single or Multiple)
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Close camera with a flexible zoom.You want intimacy with the option to pull back. Third person limited keeps us close to one character at a time while preserving narrative control. This POV works great for mysteries, romantic suspense, and character-led plots.Strengths: Balance of depth and control; adaptable tone.Watch-outs: Head-hopping confuses; switch only at clear breaks.Starter Prompt: In a tense moment, describe what your POV character notices vs. what they miss.Pro Tips:Filter descriptions through each character’s biases.Use scene breaks for POV shifts.
4.
Third Person Omniscient
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The grand storyteller.You love scope and orchestration. Omniscient lets a wise, consistent narrator guide readers across characters and time — ideal for epics, ensembles, and layered irony.Strengths: Big-picture clarity; dramatic irony; authorial voice.Watch-outs: Maintain a consistent narrator presence; avoid random head dips.Starter Prompt: Write a paragraph where the narrator foreshadows a truth no character sees yet.Pro Tips:Keep a distinct narrator tone.Use summary and zoom-ins intentionally.
5.
Objective / Cinematic POV
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Show-don’t-tell to the max.You prefer subtext and inference. Objective POV shows actions, dialogue, and sensory facts without inner monologue. This is perfect for lean thrillers and stories that invite readers to read between the lines.Strengths: Pace, tension, interpretive engagement.Watch-outs: Emotional distance if every scene is bare; sprinkle telling details.Starter Prompt: Portray a breakup without any internal thoughts — only what’s said/done.Pro Tips:Let setting do emotional work.Use beats and gestures as signals.