5 Tips to Mastering First-Person Point of View

You’ve told stories in the first person, using I, me, and my, since you were a child. It’s the simplest way to relay an experience.

But simple doesn’t mean easy.

In this video, Jerry Jenkins shares his tips for writing in first person point of view.

[00:29] What is Point of View?
[01:01] The cardinal rule of Point of View
[02:27] Why Use the First-Person Point of View?
[03:40] 5 Tips for Writing in First Person
[03:50] 1. Avoid head-hopping
[04:30] 2. Craft a strong voice
[05:03] 3. Don’t switch tenses
[05:25] 4. Show, don’t tell
[06:14] 5. Allow other characters to shine

[Blessom]

"Hi, Jerry Jenkins here talking about all things writing." - the goat writer 🐐

[Durandahll]

Jerry’s Guild member here—I would really love a third-person video to complement this one!

After writing eighteen novels in first-person, I am finally giving third a try and the disconnect between the two has been a slight thorn in my side.

[Ramenko]

Hey, Jerry. I recent discovered you about 2 weeks ago. I've written a short story totaling 20k words using tips that you provided in your Show, Don't Tell video. It was such an enormous infuence on my writing. I believe this story is one of my best, thanks in part to your influence. Keep going strong, Jerry. Jesus Christ loves you! Amen! Praise God!!! I'll be converting the story into a video production with visuals, music, sound design, and voice acting. If you ever are curious, I'll hopefully have the story uploaded on my channel by early next year. Keep well, friend.

[Xyoss]

I really like how Jerry is giving good tips in his videos, pro tips even, but at the same time keeping it very simple for beginners or even non natives so everyone understand his language, and the examples just makes it all better and clarifies any confusion. Really great channel!

[SkyEchoPencilAcademy]

Thank you so much, Jerry ❤. I struggle to express my appreciation of you making the sole choice to share and ‘Pay It Forward’, as you say, with the writing help you share with us hear.

For me, my life and death is dependent upon my finding a way to communicate my thoughts. I am deeply grateful to have recently found you.

Thank you! You are truly a service to Humanity.

P.S. I must confess that I have not read any of your books. With this education. Your new fan start here and now! I will find you. You have written over 120 books to have your final destination be here?

You are truly a man of love and genius creativity!

Thank you, Jerry!
Thank you!

[PureMagma]

I've been binge watching (and rewatching) your other videos today and you kindly drop a new video amidst my inspirational rampage?!!? 🔥🏆

🥳🎉 YAY!!! 🎉🥳

[fruitfulvine]

I love how you show so many examples of good and bad execution. Super helpful!

[DaMusicluvT]

I’ve seen numerous videos on how to write books, but I gravitated towards your channel and website. I am more eager to continue writing my narrative memoir with every advice you have. I appreciate your videos and blogs.

[matthewchristophermyers]

I want to Thank you for giving yourself away to help others. I believe writing to be my purpose and the gift was evident at the age of four. I've written several novels over the years, but I didn't graduate high school. I never took classes. I learned grammar on my own. I've red hundreds of novels and write every day. I am in my fifties and have the 'Invisible Knowing' that it's time. A lot of folks have told me I'm great. I believe I am good enough to manifest my publishing dreams. And I am terrified!
Your insight minimalizes that fear. You've inspired me to do well and be better than what I thought I was. Joining the Guild doesn't guarantee publication, I get that, but I want to be my personal best if I am to serve the reader well.
I'm saving to join the Guild in January. It's such a pleasure to learn from you. You've Blessed my life and I am very grateful. Thank you for your time.


Matthew Myers from Maryville, TN

[renaodonnell]

Thank you for sharing these videos. I’ll be visiting your blog. I found your channel a few hours ago, and much like your books, I haven’t been able to put it down. I’ve got a series outlined with general plot points and I’m ready to go. I feel excited for the process. I’m a pantser as well, so I’m excited to get to know my characters. I think the POV of your videos is genius too. It’s like sitting across a desk picking the brain of a mentor.

[WanjiruWaithaka]

Great advice Jerry. I only write in the first person when ghost writing an autobiography and these tips will really help my current project.

[GoonFaceMaster]

Hello mr jenkins, i would just like to thank you for sharing your wisdom with the world, i only discovered you earlier today and already i feel more confident in my writing ability, to become an author is my destiny, and your words of wisdom have inspired me today, so thankyou again, you are an absolute legend sir :)

[barbielockett]

Thank You Jerry.I am writing my first book..I always wrote everything down..and I am trying by your lesions.. Love n Hugs Barbie

[johnparnham]

Hi Jerry. This is the subject for this month for the Ultimate Novel Writing Course which I'm on at this moment. I have written in the first person for the first time. Your contribution in this video is very helpful.

[JoleneMarie]

Thank you so much for these lessons. I’ve written short stories, mostly fanfiction, for years. Even though fanfiction is considered a poor cousin to original works, it’s brought me a lot of joy. I hope to take that joy, guided by your solid advice, and begin work on an original piece. God bless you and Happy New Year!

[patriciagray]

Just found you. Really am fizzling with my writing. This vid helps

[zachemory]

Hello, Jerry. I must admit I haven't read any of your books, but I will definitely begin. Which one is your personal favorite? I'll begin with that.

Thanks so much for this channel. It is helping me so much with my own novel, especially your videos about dialogue. You are a godsend.

[MDK-qcli]

Thank you very much for all this wonderful advice. continue like this.

[desertgecko]

Thanks, Jerry. I'd sure like to see you making more YouTube videos.

I'd never considered how cool it could be to write in a "compromise" POV where the first-person narrator is not the story's protagonist. I think I'll try a longer short story that way just for grins & giggles, or to see if I like it. In a way, it's the best of both the first-person POV and the third-person POV, as it allows us to switch to the protagonist's head for true first and to go back to the narrator for a pseudo-third-person POV. Intriguing. Thanks, Jerry.

I once read, in a Facebook discussion group, about published books switching between third person and first -- substantially, beyond the famous Moby Dick opener of _Call me Ishmael._ I dismissed it as folly and too difficult to be worth the trouble, but now I think I see how it can be done.

[timflatus]

Thank you Jerry, that's really succinct. I have an idea that you should have a reason for choosing a particular perspective - even head-hopping can work if you have a reason for wanting to disorient your readers, but be aware that you might need to be Thomas Pynchon or James Joyce to get away with it. The aspect I'm having the most difficulty with is tense - the story I'm writing is kind of historical but based on "diary entries", putting all into a historical past tense reads a little oddly and I still have to be clear whether the text is something she's written or something she's relaying directly to the reader. Like your first novel the main character is not the narrator, this leaves me unsure as to who the protagonist is, I think it might be both of them in this case. Regardless, I'm now confident that first person is the right PoV for this.