Writing is a beautiful way to share your thoughts and experiences with the world. When we think about how our words can help another person make healthy choices, find success, or experience a unique perspective, we may get this warm fuzzy feeling throughout our bodies.

But then the reality of sitting down to write those words can knock the warm fuzzies away, and we may be left with a feeling that resembles fear more than anything else. Trust me, it can happen to all of us—whether we are seasoned or novice writers.

One of those fears may revolve around grammar. Well, fear no more. We are here to help you with common grammar errors through a series of blog posts so you can have one less fear or obstacle in your way of finishing that book! 

Before we get started, however, please don’t let the fear of grammar errors stop you from writing. 

Just write. Use your unique voice without worrying about grammar. Work on the big picture first by asking yourself the following questions:

➡️ What is the point of your book? 

➡️ Who are your readers? 

➡️ How are you making their lives easier? 

Once you have answered the above, then focus on taking your readers on a journey that will move them. It’s not easy, and you will have to edit along the way, but those are big-picture, macro edits. The type of editing that keeps your book focused. 

Then, after you get the story right, take a step back and look at the microelements—the grammatical errors. Common errors include verb tense, subject/verb agreement, fragments, run-on sentences,  comma splices, and misplaced modifiers.

What is the “Point-of-View”?

The one common error that needs to be addressed before you start writing is the point-of-view (“POV”). If you are asking, what is that? Or, if you have no idea when to use 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Person POV…don’t worry. You are not alone.

Let’s start with a short grammar lesson on pronouns.

1st Person will use the pronouns: I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, and ours

2nd Person will use the pronouns: you, your, and yours

3rd Person will use the pronouns: he/him/his, she/her/hers, it/its, and they/them/their/theirs

You may be recalling this lesson from an English class. Maybe your teachers drilled you on pronoun usage, but did they tell you the important part these pronouns play in writing? As a nonfiction writer, you will use all three at various times. But the structure of your book will depend heavily on the POV you use.

Examples of POV for Book Type:

Memoir:

If you are writing a memoir, you are using mostly 1st and 3rd Person pronouns. For example, let’s look at Viola Davis’s Finding Me.

A short time after we moved in, I remember Mayor Bessette came to the apartment and made a big speech in our living room, saying he was giving us the apartment for free. We didn’t have to pay any rent. That was because the building was condemned. (Davis, 2022, HarperCollins)

Even though Viola Davis uses both 1st and 3rd Person pronouns, she is writing from 1st Person POV. She is telling her story from her perspective. Notice in the next excerpt, she also uses 2nd Person pronouns with 1st and 3rd.

Every day after school she stayed, and he would sit right there with her. Dianne told us, “Because I’m the oldest, everything that I learn, I’ll teach you guys when I get home so you’ll be ahead.” (Davis, 2022, HarperCollins)

If you write your memoir, you will have to do the same thing. You will use 1st Person POV to tell your story. The only time you will use 2nd Person pronouns is when you share something a person said in quotations.

Self-Help:

If you’ve noticed, this post is a type of self-help article. It’s giving instructions to you, the reader. So, this is written from a 2nd Person POV. Most of the pronouns are 2nd Person and 1st Person plural pronouns. This is because we want to focus on you and the steps you need to take to become a better writer, not on the writer of this post. 

Most how-to books are written this way: cookbooks, health and wellness, and parenting are a few examples. In this excerpt from the food blog, On My Kid’s Plate, you can see how it is geared toward a conversation with the reader: 

Main meals can be found here, whether you‘re looking for a quick easy chicken dinner or a slow cooker dinner that’s ready when you are. You‘ll find some of my favorite dinners with chicken, turkey, ground beef, and more here. You‘ll also find pasta, soups, casseroles and salads here. Try out the pork loin in the crockpot, the crispy baked chicken thighs or the homemade pizza dough for dinner. They are all top reader favorites!

Again, you will use 1st and 3rd Person pronouns to write self-help books, but it will be written from 2nd Person POV. The main goal is to make your readers feel like they are there with you, and that you are speaking directly to them about the process.

Biography:

If you are writing someone else’s biography, you will use a 3rd Person POV. It will consist of mainly 3rd Person pronouns, and 1st and 2nd Person pronouns will only occur in quoted material as seen in this excerpt from The Watchmaker’s Daughter: The True Story of World War II Heroine Corrie ten Boom by Larry Loftis.

As Corrie stood before his desk she saw a number of papers—her papers. These were her notes for various underground activities—including ration cards—which contained the names and addresses of friends, Jews, and Resistance workers. The Gestapo had found them during a search of the Beje and apparently had just given them to the prison.

“Can you explain these pages?” Rahms asked.

Corrie’s heart pounded. (Loftis, 2023, HarperCollins)

When you are writing someone else’s story, you will need to take yourself completely out of it. Larry Loftis’s experience with his research is not mentioned in the main text. His only focus is to tell Corrie ten Boom’s story.

A Book with Multiple Points of View:

You may also be writing a book that uses all three points of view. For example, What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry has 1st Person narrative, 2nd Person processes for healing, and 3rd Person biographical stories. The key is to know when to use each.

How to Implement POV on Your Writing Journey:

Think of POV as the container you use to write your book. The structure of each of your chapters will depend on how you answer these questions:

➡️ What is the main purpose of your book?

→ I want to tell my story (1st Person POV)

→ I want to help my readers on their journey (2nd Person POV)

→ I want to tell someone else’s story (3rd Person POV)

➡️ What do you want your readers to do after reading your book?

→ I want them to be inspired by my journey so that they can use the lessons I’ve learned for their own journeys (1st Person POV)

→ I want them to use the blueprint I’ve created for their own journeys (2nd Person POV)

→ I want them to understand the complexities of human nature because of the person I presented to them (3rd Person POV)

Writing a book with multiple perspectives can be a challenging but rewarding experience. It allows readers to engage with different characters and gain a deeper understanding of the story’s themes and messages. However, choosing the right point of view for each section is crucial to ensure that the reader does not get confused, can fully immerse themselves in the story, and better connect with the characters.

By answering the above questions for each section, you can determine which point of view will be most effective for your book. Whether it’s first, second, third-person, or a combination, each perspective has its strengths and weaknesses, and selecting the right one can make all the difference in creating a compelling story.

If you’re struggling with point of view or any other aspect of writing, don’t hesitate to seek help. Working with a writing coach or mentor can provide valuable feedback and guidance, helping you improve your craft and reach your writing goals. At Dream That Big Publishing, we offer a range of resources and support, including online resources, a Facebook group to build up your community of writers, one-on-one coaching, and even comprehensive publishing packages to help you bring your book to life.