Young Writers Society

I was just curious... Do you prefer to read 1st or 3rd person narration? What's easier for you to write?

I've always liked to read 1st person, but for some reason only wrote in 3rd. I just began a story in 1rst person and I was surprised by how naturally it came to me! I really like it- it makes character depth easier IMO.

You?

I don't prefer either - it depends on the story.

Typically, I treat 3rd person as default, and only really use 1st person in stories where I want to create a strong bond between reader and protagonist. Main downside of using 1st person though, is that the reader knows the character won't die.

I use both, but i prefer first person. I only use third person if i need to go into many of my character's minds to correctly tell the story.

I wouldn't say that you CAN'T kill off your first person characters. i have a few times...at the end of a story,

That tends to annoy many people though. I wouldn't recommend doing it.

Sureal wrote:That tends to annoy many people though. I wouldn't recommend doing it.

I've seen it done well -- Animorphs, beginning of the last book?


... well, I liked it.

Prokaryote

I never got to the end of Animorphs. I did try, but the next book I needed was only available for like £50, and there's no way I'm paying that much. I've got the vast majority of them though. I think I've only got another 10 or so books left to get (although it may be more).

Maybe in the Summer holiday I'll try and make my way through the series again?

1st person is too limited for me. I always stick to 3rd person for stories with more then a single character. The whole I thing is really only good in limited situations and while Sureal thinks the character won't die, sometimes they do and the last bit of narration will be the final thoughts. Or it could be the narration into the story of the recent events that ultimately lead up to the character on the verge of death or some great fault or achievement. Just in time for an unexpected term or revelation.

It really depends on the character--if they're an odd person, who nobody knows what they are thinking, I usually like to use 3rd... that way you can keep the distance, while giving little clues here and there that the observing characters on the sidelines might not notice.

First person I like to use for emotional pieces, because it takes the readers into the mind of the character and (when done well) helps get the emotion across. The difficult part, though, is that you can't write metaphors and the like if they aren't something that your character would think... like they might think "The foliage above me reminds me of the yard at my grandma's house" but they wouldn't think "that foliage above looks like layered lace." Even if the latter would get the image across better. Really, you have to think in your character's mind and not your own--which can be really hard.

So both, really.

For shot stories i like to write in first, but third was always more natural, so I'll have to go with that.

I used to only ever write in 3rd person and then one day out came a jumble of 1st person narrative that then turned into my current novel.

Since then I do a mix. To be honest, I prefer writing YA in 1st and other genres in 3rd.

Alainna
xxx

I like both so....
I tend to write in 3rd person though but i have a great idea for a diffrent kind of3rd person than what i ussully rite in....

I tend to get caught up in books that keep my attention so it doesnt matter....
-em

sure it is easier to create a depth in your characters using First person, and perhaps allows the reader to appreciate the characters more. yet this can be done with thrid person as well, if execueted properly. read the Hobbit. Your voice, the most crucial in an authors book, is better projected through third person, and it is still possible to create lovable characters through it.

I guess its up to the writer, some choose bows others choose blades.

I agree but the Hobbit didnt intice me enuff past the first chapter.....
-em

I like to write in first person and read in it as well. I think it's probably because I feel like I can relate to the characters better and understand the main character's feelings easier. It's like I'm actually there, you know?

I am branching out, though, because the story I'm working on right now is in third person.

Personaly I like to write in first person but I can read either.
I wouldn't mind writing in first person but I'm not that very good at that