In an article for Writer’s Digest, Kerri Schlottman explains the difference between perspective and point of view, and how these tools complement each other. “While point of view is the type of narrator used to tell a story, perspective is that narrator’s inner thoughts and orientation to the world,” she explains. “When used to its fullest potential, perspective enhances point of view and deepens engagement with the narration. Well-told stories seamlessly harmonize these two elements.”
When choosing POV, writers should consider the type of story they want to tell and who the story is for. “Understanding the ear of the story helps writers define who the story’s implied reader is, what that reader already knows, and what they need to know,” Schlottman writes. For example, in the rules of first person, a reader will know only what the narrator knows, and will learn new information in real time. Third person allows the writer – the narrator – to comment on matters the characters may not know themselves or discuss the past or the future.
Schlottman notes additional considerations. “For example, in a third person point of view, writers must also decide if the narrator is omniscient (knows what each character is thinking) or limited (knows what only one character is thinking),” she says. “While first-person point of view generally follows one narrator, first-person plural may also be used to give a collective voice to the narrator. This may expand what the narrator knows but can also be a tricky technique to deploy well.”
In contrast, perspective is how the writer engages with the reader by defining the focal character of the story – usually your protagonist but sometimes an observer – and how this character behaves and interacts with others. “A fun example of the unique use of point of view and perspective is Annie Hartnett’s novel Unlikely Animals,” Schlottman notes. “Hartnett uses a first-person plural point of view by giving a collective voice to deceased community members buried in the local graveyard. Hartnett’s collective ‘we’ has a shared perspective, and this chorus of voices is able to tell the reader things about the characters that the characters don’t yet know.”
