First or Third POV?

NickelbackLuver · June 2010

I'm working on my novel.. or, hopefully soon to be novel within a year or two... Anyway, I started it off in first person. But, I've been hearing a lot of negatives about reading in first person. I read first person like someone is telling me a story... but it seems like a lot of people take it in the way that they are the character o.O I find that incredibly odd, considering said character usually has a name and usually has a description that totally doesn't match me... Anyway, what do you like to read in? First, or third? I've also been tossing the idea of writing it through different first POVs of characters... like switch every other chapter between two characters... would that be confusing? Do you think that'd be a good idea for someone who is writing their first novel? I don't want to get through this novel, or get a huge portion of it done, only to realize that the general public is going to hate the way its written. I, myself, hate reading and writing in third person... and I probably won't do it regardless... I just find this sort of an interesting topic to discuss xD

Cybergirl · June 2010

I write a lot of stories. I think all of mine are in 1st person. I just like writing that way. And if I like the character I can pretend its me. Then again Im not really writing to be famous. My friends like my stories, and I could care less what people I dont even know will think. But thats just me. And Ive also written and switched between characters POVs and I find as long as I put the character whos POV it is as the chapter title everyone can understand. Ive also read a book called Unwind that did that, and I LOVE that book. But thats just me (:

RoyalRaccoon · June 2010

I'm a big fan of 3rd person. I own very few 1st person books, including my autobiographies. I think you should choose a genre based upon what you wish to emphasis. If your emphasis is on the life or feelings of a single character then 1st person would probably be a good choice. However, if you want to emphasis multiple characters, then 3rd person is probably better; though some authors do have success with the 1st person character switch per chapter thing you suggested. The biggest problem I have with 1st person is that if you don't like the character telling the story, then what's the point in reading from beginning to end? You can easily loose audience members by forcing them to focus on one character's thoughts and feelings. With 3rd person there are many things you can relate to such as the setting, lifestyle, many characters, etc. That's just the way I approach books.

I read first person like someone is telling me a story... but it seems like a lot of people take it in the way that they are the character o.O I find that incredibly odd, considering said character usually has a name and usually has a description that totally doesn't match me...

It depends on how the person chooses to read it. Some take it as them imagining themselves as the character, and others imagine someone before them telling the story. I will do both, but it depends on how the author has written it. 1st person is very hard to do right in my opinion.

NickelbackLuver · June 2010

Yeah. My only issue with first person is descriptions. At least with third person, I can go all out there with descriptions. With first person - who actually looks at things and describes them in beautiful details? No one that I know of (aside from myself if I'm doing writing exercises...) I was also thinking of switching between first and third...every other chapter or every few chapters or so. Maximum Ride did this, though I liked the main character and didn't care for everyone else. I love getting into people's heads and writing from their points of view, but at the same time there is a lot of stuff going on in my story and I want people to get close to the enemies as well, which would be hard with just first person. So confusing. I think it's more work deciding what to write the darn thing in than to just write it. I haven't yet actually read any switching first POV books... I know Shiver is one, any suggestions on others I can read to see if I like reading it myself? I'm guessing Unwind must have done it as well. Thanks for all this feedback

It'll surely help me decide, hopefully.

DiamondPuppy0809 · June 2010

I like first person. I don't really like third person all that much, but I don't know why... I don't read first person as if I am the character o_O I read it like you do, as if someone is telling me a story.

DeathWish · June 2010

I prefer third person, only because I cant name any first person novels I have read off the top of my head o.O I like the idea of a change of POV, my friend is thinking of writing something and plans to have the POV change every few chapters between the two main characters. I suppose it might also depend on the plot, we studied the Cone Gatherers for a year and the POV shifts at the end of the novel, as it leads to a climax, for added impact. Cone Gatherer's is third person though, I'd really have no idea about changing first POV and weather it could work. I should probably rake through my book cupboard and find a first person novel, I feel somewhat deprived xD

Erra · June 2010

I think that whatever style is easier for you to write in should be the one you pursue. It's general writing skills you develop by doing so, building on your strengths. Once you have a good foundation, branch out and broaden your scope as a writer. If 1st person doesn't work in you're style, go through your manuscript and convert it to third - either way it will be easier once you have it on paper.

Alabama · June 2010

First person is very hard to keep a reader interested. And it's very hard to remain in first person and not let other goodies out. There are a few first person books that I love and those are the ones that are so vivid that I do start to experience the book as myself. But, those characters are also written somewhat reacting to things as I would if I were them. If they react differently than I would, it might make for a good read, but I don't really get into them.

SandPiper · June 2010

Alabama wrote:

First person is very hard to keep a reader interested. And it's very hard to remain in first person and not let other goodies out. There are a few first person books that I love and those are the ones that are so vivid that I do start to experience the book as myself. But, those characters are also written somewhat reacting to things as I would if I were them. If they react differently than I would, it might make for a good read, but I don't really get into them.

Xaetian wrote:

I think that whatever style is easier for you to write in should be the one you pursue. It's general writing skills you develop by doing so, building on your strengths. Once you have a good foundation, branch out and broaden your scope as a writer. If 1st person doesn't work in you're style, go through your manuscript and convert it to third - either way it will be easier once you have it on paper.

Meow. I agree.

DeathWish · June 2010

Alabama wrote:

First person is very hard to keep a reader interested. And it's very hard to remain in first person and not let other goodies out. There are a few first person books that I love and those are the ones that are so vivid that I do start to experience the book as myself. But, those characters are also written somewhat reacting to things as I would if I were them. If they react differently than I would, it might make for a good read, but I don't really get into them.

Yeah, I asked a few friends and that said that the first person novels they have read they didn't really enjoy. When I think about it, first person can be rather restrictive in the sense that the reader only ever really gets the protagonist character's POV, anything else mentioned about the other characters would only be the protagonists "interpretation" of words/actions/appearances hich could different from the other character's real meaning/intention etc. I assume in first person the reader wont ever really find out other characters thoughts and feelings, only the protagonist's? Unless he/she had a superpower to read minds. The predominant opinion or mind set through the book it that of the protagonists, so if the reader cant related to him/her or doesn't agree with their opinions etc then I guess they wont find it an interesting read. Someone correct me if I am wrong since I have never read a first person novel, but that how it would appear to be by my logic xD

NickelbackLuver · June 2010

Yeah

Ugh, I'm just not sure I can write in third person as strongly... I guess if someone wants to look at a couple of my pieces to let me know? It's hard for me to understand myself which comes out stronger. <a href="http://jaded-night.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2ky855"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://jaded-night.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2ky855</a> Jade & Crev first person POV (Jade) I have never actually written with those two in third person o.o but here's Cyan & Reina third person... <a href="http://jaded-night.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2r4s7i"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://jaded-night.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2r4s7i</a> Thank you all for all the help/input. I'm so afraid of rejection when I finish this thing, lol, so I'm trying to get it to be the best possible. I guess I don't feel confident enough with third person, but now that I look at my books... almost all are in first person, and I always seem to have a curiosity over what's happening elsewhere in the world. And I think with so much going on in my story, it's going to be hard to have it in first person and not make it lose some depth to the storyline. I've heard a lot of bad stuff about first person, and I'm afraid I'm going to make those mistakes and have it fail D; *such a worrier*

Cybergirl · June 2010

Someone please correct me if Im wrong, but isnt Darren Shans Cirque Du Freak series in 1st person? I read and loved those books, and they were a New York Times bestselling series. I guess it just has to do with how good your story is (:

NickelbackLuver · June 2010

Sybhat3 wrote:

Someone please correct me if Im wrong, but isnt Darren Shans Cirque Du Freak series in 1st person? I read and loved those books, and they were a New York Times bestselling series. I guess it just has to do with how good your story is (:

Yes, i do believe those were. Haha, most everything I've read was 1st person. I went through to check.. Vampire Academy, House of Night, even the ever so popular Twilight (I sure hope my details can surpass that...) Apparently vampire novelists like to write in first person. Maximum Ride is on and off first. Most teen books seem to be in first person. I don't know why that is o.o

Celia_1234321 · June 2010

Third person i strongly dislike books that switch from peoples point of views between chapter, not sure why but it bothers me

DiamondPuppy0809 · June 2010

...Seems like everybody's got a different opinion, Nickel. xD Might as well do what's easiest for you.

NickelbackLuver · June 2010

Garfieldz Gal wrote:

...Seems like everybody's got a different opinion, Nickel. xD Might as well do what's easiest for you.

Yeah, seems that way, lol. I'm not entirely sure myself which is easier now that I've gotten myself thinking about it though xD I guess I'll just have to pick one and if I -really- feel it needs to be changed.. I can always rewrite everything >.> (Yeah right, lazy me?) Thanks everyone for your input. Of course, I still want to hear whatever anyone wants to say ^^ I still find this kind of interesting.

Cybergirl · June 2010

No matter what you do there will always be people who love and hate your writing. So write about what you want and write it how you want. You can only please so many people, and always make sure youre one of them.

DeathWish · June 2010

Nickelback__Luver wrote:

Yeah Ugh, I'm just not sure I can write in third person as strongly... I guess if someone wants to look at a couple of my pieces to let me know? It's hard for me to understand myself which comes out stronger. <a href="http://jaded-night.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2ky855"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://jaded-night.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2ky855</a> Jade & Crev first person POV (Jade) I have never actually written with those two in third person o.o but here's Cyan & Reina third person... <a href="http://jaded-night.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2r4s7i"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://jaded-night.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2r4s7i</a> Thank you all for all the help/input. I'm so afraid of rejection when I finish this thing, lol, so I'm trying to get it to be the best possible. I guess I don't feel confident enough with third person, but now that I look at my books... almost all are in first person, and I always seem to have a curiosity over what's happening elsewhere in the world. And I think with so much going on in my story, it's going to be hard to have it in first person and not make it lose some depth to the storyline. I've heard a lot of bad stuff about first person, and I'm afraid I'm going to make those mistakes and have it fail D; *such a worrier*

Of the two, I prefer the second (third POV) one xD But I might just be biased because I've not read much first POV :P And with that I have to thank you for actually posting this xD its made me realise my reading is mostly limited to third POV novels, hopefully that will now change :P If you still cant decide, perhaps write a chapter or two(depending on the length) in both first and third POV and see which people prefer? Just a thought. If not, then just go with what you feel best at :P

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First or Third POV?

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