Writing in 1st and 3rd POV
First, let me give a brief rundown of what we're about to discuss:
POV: Point of View
1st person POV: Narrative told from the character's point of view. I, me, mine, myself, and we, us, our.
Example: I couldn't believe my eyes.
3rd person POV: The narrative is told about the main character but outside their POV. She, her, he, his, they, etc.
Example: She couldn't believe her eyes.
If a book switches 3rd person POV between two characters, usually they will begin that chapter with that person's viewpoint. You can write in close 3rd. That might include an inner monologue or direct thoughts written in 1st person (italics), as well as add emotions or thoughts into the writing.
So you might say: She couldn't believe her eyes. The beauty! It's been so long since I've seen the stars. She clutched her heart, her eyes blurring with tears when a memory flashed in her mind of the last day she saw her father. It was a night just like this, under the same moon.
A less immersive way would simply be describing what the sky looks like without the emotion or inner thoughts.
There is also omniscient POV, but we won't be discussing that.
Past tense: In narrative, describing things as if they already happened.
Example: She walked into the room and searched for her friends.
Present tense: In narrative, describing things as if they are currently happening.
Example: She walks into the room and searches for her friends.
Prior to the self-publishing boom in the 2010s, there was typically a standard style for different genres in tradpub. Not a rule, but if you picked up a paranormal romance, it was probably written solely in third person. Urban fantasies were mostly first person YA 1st person present, and then New Adult hit the scene with POV switches from 1st to 1st person. The reason for this likely might've been making it easy for a reader to try new authors in the same genre without a jarring POV or tense switch-up. It could also be influence. If an author spends a lot of time reading third person, writing it often comes naturally.
Stylistically, it moved all over the place as indie authors switched genres and kept the style they preferred, or mirrored the style of a trending book. It was often a topic of discussion in private author groups. Sometimes it changes because of a few hit books. Popular books can set a trend in not only writing style but trope, cover, and titling schemes.
When I began writing, paranormal romance in 1st person was uncommon. I don't think a single tradpubbed book on my shelf was 1st person. I even had one that did close 3rd person shifts within the same paragraph! I tried writing Seven Years in 3rd, but writing it primarily in 1st person felt more natural and immersive. I kept the love interest in close 3rd person, which always made it easy to know whose POV you were in without any special chapter names.
My urban fantasies are written in the the standard 1st person, because we're following a single protagonist throughout the series and it draws the reader deeper into her perspective. But writing solely in 1st would limit me. If she fell unconscious, how could I write what was happening during that time? How could I increase the tension if we can only experience what she experiences?
So I added 3rd POV for secondary characters, though I was carefully not to do it unnecessarily. It not only increased tension, but it allows readers to form a connection with another character, learn secrets, and experience the story outside of the protagonist's interactions. Think of a TV show. Not every scene has the lead character. Often it switches up.
I was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's "bomb theory." If two people are talking, and a bomb beneath the desk goes off, then the reader/viewer is surprised. Yet there's nothing special about the scene otherwise, or the conversation. But if the reader is privy to the bomb's placement and the characters are not, it adds suspense and tension. Adding 3rd person to a story that's primarily written in 1st gives me the ability to do fun things like that. Because urban fantasy doesn't require romance, I can do this with villains or friends or anyone where I felt like it would benefit the story.
Another example might be learning secrets. Let's say the hero is partnered with someone in their job. They trust them because they have to, but also because they like them. Then the book switches to third, and we're along for the ride when that partner goes out and has a private discussion with a known enemy. He is actually plotting against the protagonist and wants to frame him - maybe even kill him. So when the next action scene comes up, and they're in a burning building saving people, you are on the edge of your seat. You don't know if the partner will use that opportunity to murder the hero and toss him into the fire to erase evidence, or maybe frame him for the event and have the police waiting outside. So you can either surprise the reader or have them in on the secret that the protagonist is not aware of.
As I'm writing this, it's 2025 and there seems to be no rule. I've spent years watching trends change and writing styles change with them. We all have preferences. Sometimes that depends on how the majority of the books we read are written, and other times it might depend on how well the author is able to execute the story. I've done this, and I definitely know authors who have written a book in one POV and then had to rewrite it in another because it just wasn't working.
My goal is to remain consistent and keep the reader immersed. Often it's boils down to whichever style a writer's voice is stronger in. So if you pick up my urban fantasies (Mageri, Crossbreed), you'll see they are primarily written in 1st person because they follow the same protagonist through many books. I pepper in 3rd person as needed. If you pick up my paranormal romances, the primary character is 1st person and the love interest is 3rd. I can't see myself writing any book solely in 3rd. I tried, and I hated it.
At the end of the day, it's all about the story. The only rule is to harness that voice and immerse your readers. Take the time to read a few chapters before tossing a book aside because of the POV or tense. It doesn't take long for your brain to adjust, and it might be a fantastic story!
Happy reading
