The artist must grasp the importance of structure as it pertains to the art form she or he seeks to create.
Along with an appreciation of structure, crafting entertaining and engaging stories also involves a deep understanding of psychology.
The literary artist must develop an appreciation and comprehension for the structure of rendering, the delivery of a story, and the various ways of delivering that story to the listening reader influences the reader.
The astute writer understands not only the psychology needed for the writer to craft a story, but the mental concepts that go into listening to and hearing a story, and the possible outcomes that can proceed based on the nature of its delivery.
Thus we have the subtle, yet important, differences in point of view or focus, and point of narration—how the writer presents the story/the focus of the story vs. who tells the story.
Stories are generally shown, and told from the perspective of the character most transformed by the events of the story. In most cases the protagonist, the one who has most suffered holds this position.
Despite her or his sufferings, the protagonist may not be most suited to narrate/tell the course of events.
To achieve maximum entertainment and engagement for the reader the author may designate a character closely related to the protagonist, one who is not caught up in the thick of events, to tell the story.
Here is where the manner in which the author displays the scenes of the story that focus on a particular character, point-of-view, bifurcates from point-of-narration, who tells the story.
Such was the case with Nick Carraway in Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby“. Daisy Buchanan was the major character. The story focuses on her and her relationship with Jay Gatsby. Yet Daisy’s cousin, Nick Carraway narrates, tells, the unfolding of events.
Through the words of a character distant, but closely tied to the protagonist, the writer delivers the course of events that transform the protagonist.
How do you decide who will be the point of view character?
Is it always your protagonist? Why?
Why not?