Ep 276: Who’s Telling the Story? Point of View

Definitions:

First Person POV: The narrator is the character telling the story directly using “I” or “we.”
Example: “I kissed him like it was the last chance I’d ever have.”
Common in: Contemporary, dark, and spicy romance; dual POV is standard now (his & hers alternating).
Third Person Limited/Deep POV: The story is told from “he/she/they,” but the reader only sees thoughts and emotions from one character at a time — immersive and emotional, but not in their direct voice.
Example: “Her heart raced as she looked at him, wondering if this would be the moment he finally kissed her.”
Third Person Omniscient: The “god view” narrator knows everything — all characters’ thoughts, history, and motivations. Rare in modern romance because it feels more distant.
Head Hopping: When the POV jumps between characters mid-scene or even mid-paragraph without clear transition. It breaks reader immersion and is generally discouraged in modern craft, though older romances (especially 80s/90s) used it often.