First Person Point of View
You can't get closer than first person POV. First person is written using "I" or "me" statements, all of these from the person telling the story. An example of first person point of view is:
I knew it wouldn't work out as soon as those words came out of his mouth.
Notice the use of "I" and the inner thoughts of the primary character. This defines first person POV. The benefit of this point of view is that it keeps things simple. You never have to worry about point of view because you're not jumping around at all. The drawback? You never get to learn anything the primary character doesn't know. This is a good point of view to use if you never need any additional information. If, however, you must introduce informatino the lead character doesn't know this is not a good choice. Unless you want to play with the idea of the interlude, but that's a different story entirely.
Third Person Limited Point of View
First person is very close. You're in the head of the primary character. If you want to stay in the head of the character, but have a little space between the reader and the story, you might want to try third person limited POV. The same sentence you read above can quickly and easily be changed to third person limited point of view like so:
She knew it wouldn't work out as soon as those words came out of his mouth.
You still only get to see the world through your primary character's eyes, but you get some distance. The same rules and limitations exist as with first person POV, but you do get some distance. This is a popular and time-honored POV, but you still don't get to know anything your lead character doesn't get to know. You can use chapters to move between two characters, but this becomes third person multiple point of view. It works just like third person limited but with more than one character. Be careful with this, as you might be accused of head hopping.
Third Person Omniscient Point of View
Are you writing a complex story involving multiple characters doing things that the reader must know? Then third person omniscient POV may be the way to go. This allows you to float around the story, kind of like a god, and be exactly where you need to be. You can be in the head of Character #1, Character #2, or Character #32. You can show any important scene through the eyes of whoever would best convey the information. An example:
She knew it wouldn't work out as soon as those words came out of his mouth. Unaware of her thoughts, he kept talking anyway.
Here you learn that she knew it wouldn't work and that he didn't know that she knew it. You're learning two separate things, and these things are not known by a single character. This is third person point omniscient point of view.
There are many benefits to this POV. You can get information across in less time because you don't have to wait for your lead character to learn it. You can reveal the inner thoughts and feelings of anyone you like. You can show whatever you like and you have great flexibility.
But this POV comes with its own drawbacks. You're no longer sitting directly beside a single character, which can prevent emotional attachment unless you're very good at third person omniscient. Getting your readers emotionally involved with the characters you create is what keeps readers coming back for more, and third person omniscient point of view can get in the way. This POV takes practice to master, at least if you want to do it well.
Second Person Point of View
You may have noticed that I went from first person to third person without stopping to talk about second person POV. I skipped it because it's almost never used in fiction writing. An example of second person is:
You knew it wouldn't work out as soon as those words came out of his mouth.
Look at that sentence for a moment. Now pick your favorite paragraph from your favorite book and rewrite it using "you" and see what happens. Imagine writing an novel this way. It's not all that natural and it's rarely done. When it is done, it's often done poorly.
The benefit of this POV is also it's biggest drawback: you're taking the reader and actually plopping them inside the story. Not only that, but you're telling the reader what they're doing. Most readers will react poorly to this. They don't want to be told that they just ran out the door and jumped in the car, not when they're sitting in the living room reading a book. What works well for recipes and non-fiction articles doesn't work all that well in a fiction setting.
You can try it, but don't expect to find many readers.
Which Point of View is Best?
I get asked this question a lot, especially when I'm talking to aspiring writers. The question is complicated and involves several variables. The answer is simple. Use the point of view that best suits your story. If the story needs to be told through the eyes of Character #1, then do so. Never try to force a certain point of view on your story. Let the story dictate the point of view.
