When writing a novel, one of the first things an author considers is what point of view to use. There are a variety of options available, each with benefits and disadvantages. Generally the point of view is up to the author's discretion. There are three main categories of point of view, under which all of the variations lie: first, second, and third person perspective.

First person perspective is a favorite of many beginning authors, because it comes naturally to most people. It feels immediate to the author, and often to the reader as well. However, this perspective limits the reader to the main character's point of view, and the author is often tempted to make the main character sound just like them when writing this way. Consistently writing in first person can make all of a writer's main characters sound the same, and that's usually something to be avoided. That's not to say this perspective is bad at all. It's popular in young adult fiction that attempts to give the reader someone to relate to, and it can be used to conceal important plot information from the reader when necessary.

Third person is a very versatile perspective. It can do many of the same things first person can do, but it also allows for a smoother transition between narrators if the story requires multiple main characters. The reader isn't restricted to one character's take on events, because they can see multiple angles of the same story. Third person is slightly less immediate, can detach the reader a little bit more, and can be a little more challenging to do well, but it is often well worth it. With third person, an author has the opportunity to have a wider cast of well-developed characters.

Second person is the outcast of the three perspectives. It's rarely ever used, mainly because it's disorienting to the reader in most settings. This is because it puts the reader in the main character's position. By saying "you did this," and "you said such and such," when the reader knows very well that they didn't, the author may pull their readers out of their story. The best place for second person is in choose-your-own-adventure stories, and in certain fan-fictions. In both of these types of story, the author purposefully inserts the reader into a universe they want to be a part of. It's possible that second person could be used in another way, but it would be highly difficult to achieve.

The bottom line is that there is no good or bad choice when it comes to point of view. Some perspectives work better than others in certain genres, but ultimately it depends on the author's personal preference.