MASTERING POINT OF VIEW IN FICTION USING AI [Post 7-A]

Use AI to Find Your Story’s Perfect Viewpoint

Dec 24, 2024

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Have you ever read a story that felt distant when it should have been intimate or confusing when it should have been clear? The culprit often chooses the wrong point of view (POV). Whether you’re writing a deeply personal journey or an epic with multiple storylines, your choice of POV shapes how readers experience every moment of your story.

But picking the correct viewpoint isn’t just about choosing between “I” and “he/she.” It’s about finding the perspective that lets your story shine brightest. Should your romance be told from both lovers’ viewpoints? Should your mystery reveal the killer’s thoughts or keep them hidden? Should your protagonist share their inner monologue or let readers piece together their motives?

That’s where AI comes in as your POV exploration partner. Today, I’ll show you how to use Claude AI to test different viewpoints, discover which perspective serves your story best, and ensure your chosen POV stays consistent and compelling throughout your book.

Are you ready to find the perfect lens for your story? Let’s explore the power of perspective.

Understanding Point of View: The Basics

At its heart, POV is about who’s telling your story and how close readers get to the action. It’s also about getting behind the scenes and into the thoughts behind the action. Think of it like choosing a camera angle in a film—each perspective shows your story differently. You might zoom in close to one character’s thoughts, pan out to watch multiple characters, or pull back for a wider view of events.

The key principle every writer needs to understand is that POV isn’t just about grammar, it’s about emotional distance.

· First person (“I”) puts readers directly in your character’s head.

· Third person limited (“he/she”) creates a bit more distance while still following one character closely.

· Third person omniscient pulls back to show multiple characters’ thoughts. Each choice changes how readers experience your story.

A problem writers face with POV is maintaining consistency while showing everything readers need to know. If you’re writing in first person, how do you reveal what other characters are thinking? If you’re writing in third person limited, how do you share important events your viewpoint character doesn’t witness? This is where AI can help you explore creative solutions while keeping your chosen POV strong and steady.

Let me show you how Claude AI can help you find and maintain the right perspective for your story.

AI in Action: A Simple POV Example

Here is how Claude AI can help us test different viewpoints for a story.

MY PROMPT:

Claude, show me this same dramatic scene written in three different POVs: A teenage girl discovers her best friend has been secretly dating her brother.

CLAUDE’S RESPONSE:

First Person:

I dropped my phone, texts from Rachel still glowing on the screen. This couldn’t be right. The pictures had to be fake—my best friend and my brother kissing behind the gym. But there was no mistaking Rachel’s bright blue hair, or Jake’s stupid letterman jacket. The jacket I’d borrowed just yesterday, not knowing it probably still smelled like her perfume.

Third Person Limited:

Emma dropped her phone, texts from Rachel still glowing on the screen. Her hands shook as she stared at the images—her best friend and her brother kissing behind the gym. There was no mistaking Rachel’s bright blue hair, or Jake’s letterman jacket. The same jacket Emma had borrowed yesterday, not knowing it probably still smelled like her friend’s perfume.

Third Person Omniscient:

Emma dropped her phone while, across town, Rachel and Jake held hands under a movie theater seat. Neither of them knew about the pictures circulating through school. Neither guessed that their secret was already unraveling. Emma stared at her screen, her brother’s letterman jacket hanging on her chair, still carrying traces of Rachel’s perfume that Emma had yet to recognize.

FOLLOW-UP PROMPT:

Claude, show me how each POV choice affects what information we can reveal in the next scene.

CLAUDE’S RESPONSE:

First Person limits us to Emma’s knowledge but shows deep emotion

Third Person Limited allows subtle observations while staying with Emma

Third Person Omniscient can show all characters’ reactions but risks emotional distance

This example shows how POV choice shapes not just how we tell our story but what parts of it we can tell. Now, let’s explore how to apply this to your own story.

How to Use These Prompts in Your Fiction Writing

A. AI Implementation

Try these prompts with Claude AI:

“Show my opening scene from three different POVs: [describe the scene]”

“What information would be lost or gained by switching from [current POV] to [new POV]?”

“How could I reveal [important detail] while staying in [chosen POV]?”

“Test the emotional impact of this scene in first person vs. third person.”

B. Action Items

1. Choose one scene to test:

· Your opening scene

· A crucial emotional moment

· A scene with multiple characters

· A revelation or discovery

2. Current Status:

1. Note your current POV

2. List what’s working

3. Identify what’s challenging

4. Mark information that’s hard to share

3. Areas for Improvement:

· Emotional connection

· Information sharing

· Character insights

· Scene clarity

C. Success Markers

You’ll know you’ve found the right POV when:

Your story flows naturally

· The character’s emotions feel authentic

· Important information fits smoothly

· Readers stay engaged

· The perspective stays consistent

Implementation Tip: Start by testing your opening scene in different POVs. The right perspective often becomes clear when you see how it handles your story’s first moments.

Remember, there’s no “perfect” POV—only the one that serves your story best. Keep testing until you find the perspective that makes your story shine.

Think of choosing POV like picking the best seat in a movie theater. You could sit up close and catch every detail of the main character’s face (first person), find a middle seat that lets you see the whole screen clearly (third person limited), or grab a spot in the back where you can watch everyone at once (omniscient). Each choice changes how you experience the story.

Start by taking your opening scene. Maybe it’s that moment when your character finds something they weren’t supposed to see or meets someone who’ll change their life. Try writing it three different ways. One version gets right into their head, another watches from nearby, and a third pulls back to see everything happening. Soon, you’ll feel which perspective lets your story come alive.

Conclusion

Point of view might seem like a simple choice between “I” and “he/she,” but it’s really about finding the perfect lens through which to tell your story. Today, we’ve discussed using AI to test different perspectives, explore their strengths and limitations, and choose the viewpoint that best serves your story.

The right POV isn’t about rules, it’s about the emotional connection you want readers to have with your characters. Whether you choose the intimate immediacy of first person, the flexible focus of third person limited, or the broader scope of omniscient, let your story’s needs guide your choice.

Coming Up Next

In Thursday’s paid post, we’ll dive deeper into advanced POV techniques. You’ll discover how to handle multiple viewpoints, master deep POV for maximum emotional impact, and create unique narrative voices for different characters. Plus, you’ll get specialized prompts for maintaining POV consistency throughout your story.

Next Tuesday, we’ll explore Story Outlining—how to create a solid structure that keeps your story on track from the first page to the last. We’ll map your story’s journey with the help of Claude AI.

Are you ready to find the perfect perspective for your story?

Here’s what you can do right now:

1. If you haven’t done so, sign up for Claude AI 3.5 Sonnet Pro at Anthropic’s website. You want the option that says “Meet Claude 3.5 Sonnet.”

2. Subscribe to this newsletter if you haven’t already: Don’t miss out on future tips and tricks for using AI to write better and faster. Hit the subscribe button below to get The Writer’s AI Companion delivered straight to your inbox.

3. Share your thoughts: What’s your most significant (or current) writing challenge? Comment below and tell me what AI writing tips you’d like to see in future newsletters.

4. Spread the word: Do you know a fellow writer who could use a brainstorming partner? Please share this newsletter with them, and let’s grow our AI writing community together.

Until next time, stay creative,

-Elaine

P.S. Feel free to email me at Elaine@TheWrittenLink.com. Please put “Companion” in the subject line.