How Second Person Point Of View Can Add Dimension To Your Multiple Viewpoint Story

Second person point of view writing has the ability to create an intensity that draws the reader into the story as if he is a primary character. It can be very effective in providing a sense of urgency and a pace that is fun and exciting. In spite of that, it is rarely used in a full-length novel.
Readers expect to suspend their disbelief when they pick up a work of fiction. The authors job is to maintain that suspension from the beginning of the novel to the very last word. Second person point of view is the most difficult to pull off for an entire novel.
Each type of viewpoint writing has its benefits and drawbacks. With first person point of view, the author tells a story as if he were living the experiences himself. It creates an intimacy and bond with the reader. Third person is similar although the events are related as though they happened to another character. If the whole story is done in either of these viewpoints, the drawback is that the author and reader are restricted to a single point of view for the entirety.
If the novel is written solely in second person, you not only have the restriction of a single point of view. You have the issue of persuading the reader that the events, thoughts, and feelings, were his own. Done in a prologue or a few short scenes, most readers will be willing to go along for the ride. It can give a fast paced energy that adds dimension to the story.
Pace is just one of the intricately woven parts that create a compelling novel. As a writer, you have to be aware of precisely when to speed up the pace and when to slow it down. For all but the tremendously skilled authors, a work of fiction done only in second person point of view can be too much of a good thing.
Here is a short example of second person point of view. You are likely able to see how it can add to certain stories as well as how it could become tiring if carried on for too long.
You feel the cold night air fill your lungs. It freezes there. The chill combines with the darkness. You feel like you’ve been swallowed whole.
The power in your entire neighborhood has been out since last night’s storm. The only light is coming from your tiny flashlight. You wouldn’t have even gone out if Houdini, your dog, hadn’t been whimpering for the last hour.
The footsteps behind you echo as the sound fills your head. It gets closer and closer. You want to run. You can’t. Your heart beats into your throat. Your house is only a few doors down. Are you being foolish? No. There was something on the news. A murder, but, it wasn’t in your neighborhood. You’ll be OK. Calm down.
You walk faster, but you still don’t run. Whoever is behind you will only move in, pounce on you. You fumble for your keys as you near the door. Your hand is shaking. The keys fall. Now what? You can hear his breath behind you, feel it on your neck. You can’t turn around. Somehow, giving a human face to the thing behind you would make it more real.
Why did you lock the door anyway. You should have let Houdini out in the backyard. But, there’s a reason you gave him that name. You don’t move. There’s nothing you can do. Then, the door opens. A man smiles at the person behind you, from the entrance to your home.
He winks at you. “I’ve been waiting”, he says, softly.
Second person point of view is generally reserved for authors who enjoy experimenting with unique styles of writing. I predict that as the prevalence of multiple viewpoint writing increases, so will interspersed scenes of second person point of view. If you’re working on a multiple viewpoint story, you might like to try some second person scenes and see if you like the effect.