POV issues

Okay, so I'm writing this story-thing (I'm superstitious, I'm not calling it anything like a novella or novel). Anyways, so far it's been written in third person. The thing is... I suck at third person and I think my writing is really suffering for that, but I worry that writing all in first can cause my characters to sound too much alike. The thing is I have trouble getting into my main character's head when I'm not in her head, you know? So I'm wondering if you all have gone through anything like this and what you did.

That probably doesn't make any sense, sorry. If you need more info, just ask.

And thanks in advance!

In third person, it's still possible to make it sound like first person. Just use words and phrases that the characters would use.

In first person, you might want to check out the Character Answer Game. In that game, you answer a question left by the pervious person, and at the end of your post you ask another question. It really helps for you to get to know your characters.

The little problem with character voice is the only way to really develop it is to practice. So write it all out in first person, and know that later you'll have to deal with rewriting all the voices so that they sound different.

Something that might be a hard to swallow fact is: even in third person, different viewpoint characters need to sound different in their speech and the way they describe things. If you really feel like you can't write the story in third person, then write it in first. You'll probably have to deal with rewrites anyway, for more reason than just character voice, so go for comfort first time around. ^^

Hope this helps!

~Rosey

Rosey Unicorn wrote:In third person, it's still possible to make it sound like first person. Just use words and phrases that the characters would use.

In first person, you might want to check out the Character Answer Game. In that game, you answer a question left by the pervious person, and at the end of your post you ask another question. It really helps for you to get to know your characters.

The little problem with character voice is the only way to really develop it is to practice. So write it all out in first person, and know that later you'll have to deal with rewriting all the voices so that they sound different.

Something that might be a hard to swallow fact is: even in third person, different viewpoint characters need to sound different in their speech and the way they describe things. If you really feel like you can't write the story in third person, then write it in first. You'll probably have to deal with rewrites anyway, for more reason than just character voice, so go for comfort first time around. ^^

Hope this helps!

~Rosey

Thanks for the advice! I've been thinking about it for a couple days and I'm thinking this one would be better in first. Like, I need to be in her head to be in her head. If that makes sense to anyone but me.

Hehe, first time around Not to sound snarky or anything, but it's sorta the fourth or fifth... plus random bits and pieces, obviously. Ironically one of them was in third person. And I'm always rewriting.

Anyways, thank you for taking the time to reply to this!