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Let's talk about writing POV. I have written books both in first and third person. Second person is something I will not consider, though if you are curious, there are books out there. I've only read Halting States, by Charles Stross, and I admire the author for having the guts to write in second person. But it is hard to follow. So let's focus on third and first only for now.
I love first person because it allows me to get deep into the character's head and for me it is often the only way I can get his or her voice out. When you write a book you are not just telling a story, you are presenting a person to your readers. If you think of all the books you've loved they all had one thing in common: you could identify with the characters. You need a strong voice to do that a voice that's real and has personality. You need time to get to know your own characters so that their voice slowly comes out and for me the best way to do that is using first person.
Unfortunately, I've noticed many drawbacks of using first person. The most common one is that you are too immerse in the character's head and you risk saying too much. We don't need to know every thought, every bat of the eyelashes, every heartbeat of the character. So, often, zooming out and looking at things from the outside helps. I do that with third person.
In third person I am able to zoom out and parse better actions and thoughts so not to overwhelm the reader with "inner junk." However, in third person I have a harder time getting the voice out. So my strategy lately has been to start in first person to get the voice for the first draft and then switch to third in the second draft. Not efficient, but I'm liking the result so far.
What about you? Do you have a preference between first and third? Do you have a strategy?
I've written more novels in third person, but my first published was in first. It was, IMO, a story that needed to come from only one person and it worked well. I feel good writing in either, but not second, like you.
ReplyDeleteInteresting way of doing it. I say if it's working keep doing it! I don't have a preference consciously, but I do find I write in third person automatically. So I guess that's my preference.
ReplyDeleteThat's been my strategy too if I want to do third person - I have an MG novel I did that with and for me it is easier to get the voice in first person and then switch it up to third. :) I have a YA that I might need to do that with (still thinking about it).
ReplyDeleteInner junk - I'll remember that phrase.
ReplyDeleteI've never written in first person. I like third. That way I'm not in the character's head too much.
Now that's a smart trick for finding the voice. I've written a little in first POV, but all of my stories are from two view points, so third POV works better.
ReplyDeleteI'll write in either depending on what the story calls for.
ReplyDeleteI usually default to first person for most of my stories. A few times I've changed and it tends to improve the voice. I don't mind reading either. As long as I'm pulled in, I'm good.
ReplyDeleteIt completely depends on the story. I ask myself questions like, if I want to hide information from one character and still let the reader be in on it, how best to do this? The answer is third person. Then there is the story where the main character's journey is all about discovery with the reader tagging along and that's best as first person. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from Shout with Emaginette
Usually I write in 3rd person POV. For my mystery I did 1st person. It is harder but I enjoyed it. It felt like I *was* that person. Very powerful.
ReplyDeleteI like 1st person. Not sure why... I just kind of jump into that every single time. I feel like it brings me closer to my characters in a way... I really should branch out and try 3rd person. You know, for experience.
ReplyDeleteI write in third person. The one time I wrote in first person, my editor didn't like it and I had to change the whole story to third person. haha
ReplyDeleteI default to third person although for my novella, I switched to first halfway through because I had to really explore my MC's psyche. Usually I like a variety of perspectives, but this was a one horse race. I quite liked it, so I would do it again if the story demanded it!
ReplyDeleteI like both persons (1st and 3rd), and I think certain works sound better in one or the other. Usually if I'm writing only one point of view for a work, I'll write it in first person. If there are multiple POVs, I write in third.
ReplyDelete