Comments on: The First Person Challenge

By: janettedalgliesh

janettedalgliesh — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:50:30 +0000

Perfectly timed post. I’ve just had feedback on an SF novel which went through several POV variations because I just could not decide to begin with. First person worked best for the quest-to-discover-truth-behind-global-conspiracy aspect; but led to far more technical challenges in the show-not-tell, also in the necessary exposition of backstory.

Being me, I went the challenge route and was far happier with the end result. Publisher? Not so much. So now I’m pondering whether to stick to my guns or do the work of reframing it all. I’m inclined to stick to my guns – but it’s no coincidence that my NaNoWriMo novel is third person subjective, alternating between two main characters. Definitely easier in some ways, if one can avoid gratuitous and uncontrolled head-hopping

By: Merrilee

Merrilee — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:11:51 +0000

I have always preferred third, but then I write science fiction. I’ve only lately come to first, and it can be good in the right story. But not all stories work in first.

By: Julie K

Julie K — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:25:47 +0000

I think it varies from person to person. For myself I prefer to read and write in first for the simple reason that it is more intimate and I feel a deeper connection to the character.

I’ve written things in third, but for something longer than a short story, it doesn’t work as well for me. I feel disconnected and don’t LIKE my characters as much. It’s the same when I read third. That isn’t to say that I hate every third person book because I don’t. It just means that it has to be done really well and it has to be a great story.

As an example, I’m reading UGLIES right now. It’s a good story, and I’m enjoying the read. BUT I don’t really care about Tally, or Shay, or David, or any of the characters. Does that diminish my enjoyment of the book? Maybe. If we were really in Tally’s head, I might like her more, but I might (as you pointed out) also end up hating her. Either way though, for me, it would probably be a more extreme feeling.

In the end, I think it comes down to personal preference.

On a side note, I used to write third because I thought it was easier. Now I’ve realized that to do it well is really hard. *shrug*

By: Amie Stuart

Amie Stuart — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:57:04 +0000

Third is and has been harder for me. I cut my teeth on first person, I do it well (not to brag but I do), and I’ve always had a tendency to play with POV– so with this current project I really had to buckle down and force myself to NAIL third person. It made me want to cry!

BTW Lisa McMann’s series is third present–very weird/kinda hard to get used to but it worked for me!!!

By: Tweets that mention The First Person Challenge « Shadow and Fang -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention The First Person Challenge « Shadow and Fang -- Topsy.com — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:59:18 +0000

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