Too often, we as writers fall back on the basic techniques to showcase point of view. But what if we looked at POV like another facet of character? Instead of sticking to the typical showcases of first person, second person, etc., we can push past into a land where our stories are engaging and compelling. One of the tools that many skilled writers use is showing their characters’ development through their dialogue—the words they say, how they say them, and who they say them to.

Using dialogue to develop or progress character through story and using it to show and distinguish character to the reader are two different techniques. While distinct character voice is essential, it does not show the reader a particular character’s point of view about the world around them. Unique voice doesn’t mean characters are moving through the story and experiencing the plot.

And that movement is what is vital to showcasing growth and POV in a layered way. Let’s dive into ways you can use your characters’ dialogue to show their development and progression through your story.

Show Your Character’s Growth in Contrasting Scenes

Write two separate scenes of characters where dialogue is exchanged and show how their responses change based on their development since the