Determine what will be the perspective of the narration. For instance, the perspective might come from close narration, in which one character observes the world, or it can come from distant narration, in which an omniscient narrator observes everything that happens.
Choose who will narrate the novel. This can be done by examining the story’s plot, the events that will happen in the novel, and who will be affected by these events. Sometimes a narrator can observe events that happen to other characters but provide a perspective or awareness about them that wouldn’t be available to the characters involved. A multiple character narration might work for stories that examine epic events, such as a fictional account of London during the blitz or a large city during a major riot.
Examine why this character(s) has earned the right to tell the story. For instance, if the narrator is a child observing adult behavior, examine why this child’s perspective will work best for the novel and how it will reflect the novel’s plot, theme or meaning. If the story will reflect multiple narratives, examine whether each character will contribute voices, perspectives or experiences that are unique and organic to the telling of the story.
Write a sketch of the main character or characters. Create a background for each character. Determine their personalities and what they desire most in the world. Describe the characters as well as the voices they speak in. This will provide some indication on who will have the best narrative perspective for the plot. For instance, the novel about the small child observing adult behavior might work better from the adult’s perspective.
Free write. Before beginning the novel, write a paragraph or two in first person, third person limited, third person omniscient, or any other point of view. This will determine whether a character’s voice is strong enough for first person narration or whether a single character is capable of providing multiple experiences that will cover the epic scope of the novel’s plot. It will also give some indication about whether the narrative perspectives chosen for the novel will work or not.