How to Write in 3rd Person Limited POV

3rd person limited is one of the most popular point of view choices in contemporary fiction, and for good reason: it's versatile without being flashy, gives you a lot of control over the story, and can work in a wide array of styles and stories. Today we're looking at the qualities of 3rd person limited, the ways it can help your story, as well as the common pitfalls to be aware of.

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - What is 3rd person limited?
1:11 - Qualities and benefits of 3rd person limited
5:38 - Common pitfalls of 3rd person limited

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[transformationgeneration]

Your point on filters was very helpful. I'm editing with it in mind now. It is really helping to trim the story of unnecessary words.

[RolandDenzel]

I chose 3rd person limited because I needed two character POVs and found it awkward in 1st. Not sure if that's a good enough reason, but I haven't seen multiple POVs in 1st done well. Except for romance, of course. I'm writing urban fantasy, so I'm still second guessing myself 🙄

[taurusstarchild]

Nice if you to bring up limited. Understanding main character is key, even more so with multiple main characters. I always use limited with my story when I shift setting to the antagonist. Always gives the book a movie feel. One of my faves is "Rendezvous with Rama" by Arthur Clarke.

[johnhaggerty]

Some characters do not make for good first person narrators: that is a useful way of looking at the writer's choice of form.
In my 17th year I read Mailer's *The Armies of the Night* and was staggered by his chutzpah, turning himself into a 3rd Person narrator and participant in a demo against the Vietnam War. It was a ruthless demolition job on himself.
Mailer's more sympathetic contemporary Irwin Shaw used 3rd Person Limited in many short stories and in his Cold War novel *The Troubled Air*.
Perhaps my favourite 3rd Person is Dr. Dick Diver in *Tender is the Night* because Fitzgerald through Diver is looking into a future in which he would no longer have any real role or meaning. In ending with Diver fading into insignificance, Fitzgerald was saying farewell to his hopes of a fulfilled life.

[JoleCannon]

This is what I need. I'm writing in it, but I'm not sure how good I am. My first chapter was edited by an amazing editor, and she often said "remember, he wouldn't see or know this." which helped me. When I do edits I can say, "Would he see this?" And improve my craft. :)

[dmdorey]

Always helpful and informative. I wonder why you almost never see Third Person Objective? I guess it isn't very common but an interesting way to write. As always, thanks for what you do.

[typingcat]

My novel will start with "I literally died. I am writing this inside of my grave."

[BlueLotus-Eater]

Excellent job, Shaelin. Explained beautifully, as usual. 👌

[megan]

crier's war is in third person limited i believe, and it's very excellent.

[SocialTrry]

You are so underrated ❤😊. This is pure gold!!

[CassieCarlyleMurrin]

In third person limited, can you use italics to express thoughts from the perspective character? I’ve heard contradicting rules and wonder if it’s perspective that dictates this solution.

[u_t_d_s_h-_a]

Works best in romance novels---3rd person.
Can't quite figure out any differences between limited and extended 3rd person.

[etinarcadiaego]

I use third person limited present tense.

[paillette]

Lots of good ideas here, thank you! Just one bit of grammar, however-- it's "points of view", not "point of views". Otherwise really good and constructive advice!

[cyantile]

could you perhaps consider doing a video on how to novelize a film in the future?

[terryscarborough]

I have a character living in a castle and she is the only witness to certain events that the reader must be aware of. So I had to do a chapter from this person's POV.

[MrRosebeing]

"I've heard how to do this before, " he said, ending the video. Not difficult, but good for short stories. Personally, I prefer omniscient because I am an absolute writing god, naturally.

[christiancountryboyilovejesus]

Third person limited is hard for me to watch. I kinda default to first person. But I think third person limited would be better. God bless 🙏 🙏 🙏

[nikkinewbie]

POV might just get its very own dedicated edit/ review. 😂😂😂. As a beginner, I can see it being way too easy to forget the rule about head-hopping (presumably she means within the same scene) but what about within the same chapter?

When writing in third person limited, is there an exception for the romance genre where you probably by definition have two main characters’ POV’s?

[TheSimpleRomantic]

What kind of third person POV is Harry Potter ? The limited part confuses me
I write first person POV so my people can be guaranteed not to die