You’ve heard us talk about it several times, but I think it bears repeating again. But perhaps I’ll try a different perspective.
Point of View (POV) is where you’re letting the readers sit while the story plays out in front of them. Are they ringside, up in the nosebleeds where they’ll need binoculars or are they sitting on the shoulder of the main character, in the middle of all the action.
Where you sit the reader, directly affects how interesting they’ll find your story.
If they’re too far away, they’ll start talking among themselves, put your book down and forget they were reading it. How many times have you gone to a game or recital and found the conversation beside you more interesting than what’s happening on the field/stage?
You want your reader right there in the thick of it – especially if you’re writing a horror or thriller. Don’t leave then standing across the room safely beside the door. You want them uncomfortable with chills running up and down their spine so that when their dog barks, they cling to the ceiling for a few seconds like a cartoon cat 
Even if your story requires multiple points of view, do them one at a time, Don’t narrate from the ceiling to fit everyone’s actions in at once. Just telling us what happens is boring. It’s like listening to the guys brag about their glory days in high school… when they’re 40, instead of being there on the edge of your seat, in the middle of the crowd, with only seconds left in the game.
Using a close POV helps to keep your characters from being wooden puppets.
Pretend you’re sitting at a cafe watching the world go by. Who catches your attention? What is it about them that holds your focus?
Someone in a dark business suit walking in a banking district might escape your notice.
The same person talking on their telephone loud enough for you to hear snippets of their conversation is more interesting and might hold your attention for a few more seconds.
If they exclaim, “What? How did this happen?” You might look at them again with slightly more interest.
If they say, “What? How did this happen?” Then collapse against the telephone pole beside them and you see them fighting back tears. You’re hooked, you are going to watch this person until they leave. Even if someone else catches your attention in the meantime, you’re going to keep looking back to see if anything has changed.
Having a close point of view is the easiest way to add layers to a character and make them more interesting. If the reader gets to hear a character’s thoughts, feel their emotions and experience their physical reactions, they’ll become the character and will have to see the adventure through to the end.
If they finish your book, they’ll likely start haunting bookstores looking for your next novel. I’d say that make POV pretty darned important!
Sue
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