Point of View by Nancy L. Eady

In writing, “point of view” (POV) describes both the manner in which a story is told and the choice of voice for telling the story. For example, first person POV involves the protagonist telling the story either in past or present tense. If a writer wants to tell the story in first person POV from different perspectives, they can choose to have more than one narrator. The effect of POV on the story is profound; it affects what information is available to the character and thus the reader and it affects the frame of reference in which the story is taught. For example, no one thinks of themself as a villain; we all believe we are the heroes of our own story. So, the tale of Snow White from the perspective of the wicked queen is very different from the tale the woodcutter or the prince or Snow White herself would tell. 

Oddly enough, I have found a way to illustrate the effect of POV through pictures.

This picture is both striking and unusual. I didn’t notice this pattern when I bought the object that contains it. 

Backing out, you can now see that the first picture is part of a flower. 

Now you can see that the purple flower is one of several in a flower arrangement on a wooden table. 

And because I don’t want to be accused of false advertising vis-à-vis the true state of my house and my housekeeping, you can now see that the flower arrangement looks rather ordinary sitting on a cluttered kitchen table. 

You can see the same process in reverse with my calla lily bush.

Here, you see my calla lily bush in its place along the side of the house, droopy front blooms and all, coupled with the irises, who are drying out due to the time of year.

This close up of the top three blooms makes the bush look better.

This picture of just one of the younger calla lily blooms gives the impression of an even fuller, lusher bush than is really there.

And in this close up of two of the older blooms in the late afternoon, the afternoon sun makes them luminous and magical. 

As you can see, the POV in each of these pictures tells a very different story. In what ways have you used POV in your storytelling to delight and surprise the reader?