Point of View

It’s All About the Narrator

Okay, I know we’re all still reeling and we may be for a while. But the world needs your books, and I’m here to help you make them. So…

Point of view. Single? Or, multiple? Whose is best? How do you decide?

Let’s look at one twist that didn’t work for me.

Recently I finished a romantasy that is on the upper YA/adult bestseller lists. I’m going to admit that I give a book (especially one like that) 30 pages and if I’m still not invested, I give up.

I have a lot of issues with this one, but I didn’t give up on it. It had me hooked despite its many flaws (i.e., way too much time spent describing the setting, too many dialogue exchanges that went in circles).

But there was great tension, an interesting main character, a gripping story line, and a holy cow romance (that’s the PG way to describe it.)

Until the last chapter.

Almost the entire 500 pages are in the point of view (POV) of that single female main character, close first person, and in present tense. The narrative style is tight, personal, immediate and the character is likable, so I stuck with her.

Until………the last chapter.

Just, Why?

Back in the day when I read TWILIGHT I’ll admit I was furious at the ending of the book. In the ultimate showdown when Bella’s life is threatened, she fades into the background (she’s actually unconscious) as Edward takes out the antagonist. My response was, what the…? How do you take a female main character and reduce her to a stick figure saved by the guy?

Lo………..this new bestseller does something similar. The last chapter is in the POV of the love interest.

And my first question is, WHY? My second is, does it serve the story?

Always Do What Serves the Story

You may disagree with me on this, and I’d love a discussion, but in my opinion this change in POV does not serve the story - or the reader. I had attached for 400 plus pages to the main character, even to the point of sticking with the story despite its many flaws.

And then she suffers an injury (she’s semi-conscious) and may die and…then the narrative for the final chapter is in the love interest’s POV. And it isn’t strong writing, either.

Now I won’t spoil it for you except to say, this serves the narrative no purpose at all. And in fact because the male love interest is cooler and more interesting as seen from her POV, I found it as irritating as heck.

So, no. I would say, don’t do this unless you are absolutely sure it serves the story and isn’t just because you, the author want to show off your authorly-ness. Because that’s all it did for me. It wasn’t about the character, it wasn’t well drawn, it served no purpose at all.

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As always, write those books. I promise you, the world needs them!

PS….like lots of you, I’ve left the dead blue bird and joined the blue butterfly. Find me for social stuff on Bluesky here.