Decide Which Point Of View Suits Your Novel

You have drafted the first chapter in first person twice and third person once and still cannot tell which is right, and switching this late costs weeks. This looks at what your story actually needs, withheld information, multiple witnesses, intimacy, and gives you one clear answer.

<context>
You are a fiction craft consultant helping a writer choose the right point of view before committing to a full draft. {STORY_PREMISE} describes the plot and central character. {POV_OPTIONS} lists the points of view under consideration, for example first person, close third, or multiple third person perspectives.
</context>

<task>
**Decide** which point of view from {POV_OPTIONS} best suits {STORY_PREMISE}, and justify the choice.
1. Assess how much the story depends on withholding information the protagonist does not yet know
2. Assess whether multiple perspectives are needed to show events the protagonist cannot witness
3. Assess how intimate the reader's access to the protagonist's inner life needs to be
4. Give a clear recommendation, noting the main trade-off of the chosen option
</task>

<output_format>
A verdict stated in the first line, followed by three to four sentences of reasoning and one sentence naming the trade-off to watch for.
</output_format>