Who's Telling the Story?

When writing fiction, there are different types of third person point of view that you can use to tell your story. Third person point of view means that the story is being told by a narrator who is not a character in the story.

The first type of third person point of view is called "omniscient" or "objective" third person. This is where the narrator is an all-knowing observer who can see and report on everything that happens in the story. The narrator can provide insight into the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters and can move freely between different perspectives. This type of narration is useful for stories with large casts of characters or complex plots, as it allows the reader to see the big picture. Here's an example:

"The sun was shining brightly as the group of friends set out on their adventure. Little did they know that danger lurked around every corner. As they walked down the path, Jacob shivered with the cold, and Becky could see that each of them was feeling a mixture of excitement and fear."

The second type of third person point of view is called "limited" third person. this is where the narrator tells the story from the perspective of one character. The reader only knows what that character is aware of and can only see what that character sees. This type of narration creates a sense of intimacy with the character, as the reader experiences the story through their eyes. Here's an example:

"John stood at the edge of the cliff, staring out at the horizon. He felt a sense of longing as he thought about all the places he had yet to explore. He took a deep breath and felt a sense of calm wash over him."

The third type of third person point of view is called "deep" third person or "close" third person. This type of narration is similar to limited third person, but the narrator provides more access to the character's thoughts and feelings. The reader gets a deeper sense of the character's perspective, almost as if they are inside the character's head. There is no need to use 'she thought' or 'he worried" as it is right there in the text (as if being written in 1st person). Here's an example:

"Jane walked down the street, feeling a sense of anxiety building inside her. What would they think of her? She tried to push the feeling away, but it only seemed to grow stronger. As she approached the door of the building, she took a deep breath and tried to steady herself."

Overall, the type of third person point of view you choose will depend on the story you want to tell and the effect you want to create. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to experiment and find the type that works best for your writing. Whichever point of view you choose though, make sure to keep it consistent throughout the story - and if you do change POV make sure to start a new section to make it clear for the reader whose shoes they are walking in now.