Who tells your story changes everything. The point of view (POV) shapes your reader’s experience, from emotional depth to narrative tone. If you’re drafting a novel, exploring a new character, or warming up your creative muscles, experimenting with POV can open up fresh storytelling possibilities.
In this craft-focused prompt post, we’ll explore Point of View Exploration—designed to help fiction writers, memoirists, and content creators expand their narrative range.
Why Focus on POV?
The narrator’s perspective controls how the story unfolds for your reader. First-person creates intimacy. Third-person can offer either tight focus or a sweeping, multi-character view. Second-person pulls the reader directly into the story, often creating urgency or introspection. Choosing and practicing different points of view helps you sharpen your voice and build emotional impact.
What is POV in Writing?
Point of View in writing refers to the perspective from which a story is told. Common types include first person, second person, and third person (limited or omniscient). Each brings different strengths to your storytelling.
(Need a refresher? Read our Understanding Point of View in Fiction: A Beginner’s Guide.)
10 Writing Prompts to Practice Point of View
Use these prompts to explore how different narrative perspectives shift the emotional tone, structure, or focus of a scene. Try rewriting the same prompt from more than one POV for added insight.
The Secret Letter
You find a letter hidden inside a wall during renovations.
- First Person: The handwriting looks eerily familiar.
- Third Person Limited: Focus on one character’s internal reaction.
- Omniscient: Let readers know what’s in the letter before the character opens it.
The Betrayal at Dinner
A long-hidden secret comes to light during a meal.
- First, tell it from the betrayer’s POV.
- Then, rewrite from the betrayed party’s perspective.
A Kid on the Run
A child sneaks out of school for the first time.
- Second Person Challenge: “You look back at the fence, heart pounding…”
Unreliable Narrator
Write a scene where the narrator insists they did nothing wrong—but details hint otherwise.
- Let the reader draw their own conclusions.
Animal’s POV
A pet watches its owners argue in the kitchen.
- Explore emotion and observation without using human logic or language.
The Job Interview
Two people. One meeting.
- POV 1: The applicant is nervous and desperate.
- POV 2: The interviewer is distracted and uninterested.
- Switch halfway through.
The Last Day on Earth
An asteroid is set to hit Earth tomorrow.
- First Person: Capture raw emotion and urgency.
- Omniscient: Offer a broader view of multiple lives intersecting.
The Observer
A stranger sits on a bench watching people pass.
Omniscient: Contrast with the truth about each passerby.
Third Person Limited: Focus on their thoughts and assumptions.
The Monster Under the Bed
Tell the same bedtime scene from two perspectives:
- A frightened child.
- The so-called “monster.”
The Accidental Text
Someone sends a revealing message to the wrong contact.
- First Person: Embarrassed sender.
- Third Person: Recipient’s confused (or curious) reaction.
One Scene, Three Ways
Pick one prompt and write it in:
- Omniscient
Notice how the emotional weight, pacing, and perspective shift. - First Person
- Third Person Limited
Writers, Your Turn!
Which prompt grabbed your attention? Did a new POV spark an idea for your current project? Share your favourite snippet in the comments or tag me on Instagram @AuthorServicesBySarah to show off your creative take.
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