First Person, or third person???

[Naetoru & Stitch]

I don't know if my new story, Maxie- The PBF Academy, should be told in first person or third person, so I will let readers decide!

Vote and I will create my story!

 

[Act]

Ehh, third person is much, much easier to write. You don't have to worry about limiting your knowledge, staying in character, and not sounding stupid or sueish or whatnot. Third person, if done properly I s'pose, also has always had a more professional feel to it for me.

In my first fics I did first person, but I started changing to third mid-fic because I just liked it better. I've always liked being able to be the ghost hovering there, observing, than staying in just the mind of /one/ character. That said, third person also provides for characterization a lot better.

Aside, though, it all comes down to what you enjoy more. Me, it's heshethey, not Iweus

 

[Chibi Pika]

First person is without a doubt my favorite, although for most it's much harder to write. For me actually, third is harder =/ Basically, third allows you more freedom with supporting characters--you can show what's happening to them even if the main character isn't present. But first gets better emotion, it's easier to convery thought in first, and you get infinitely higher character development for the main character. First is a lot more than just writing "I" though... Most real authors use third, although for an example of awesome useage of first, IMO, check out the Animorphs series. That series inspired me to write in first.

~Chibi~;249;<?>;rukario;

 

[IceKing]

Third person is much better for beginning writers. First person is quite difficult to pull of successfully; I hope to one day be able to write a great first person one shot. I'm glad you knew not to use second person because the only time I have ever seen that work is in "The Ties that Bind"-Saffire Persian

 

[Shrike Flamestar]

I find writing in first person much more natural for me. It may not allow for as much insight into all the characters; however it provides a greater amount for the person whose view you’re writing from. First can also have a more cinematic flair if used correctly.

In fact, once I tried writing something in third person, but found myself constantly lapsing into first person and so went back and changed it completely to first person with almost no complications. Only once have I managed to write in third person comfortably, in IMPULSE (which has been more of an experiment than anything).

Which view you prefer really depends on your writing style. If you tend to focus on the actions of one character at a time (you can always switch views between characters, just not as subtly as you can the focus in third), go with first. If you want to be able to portray the thoughts of the entire group, go with third.

 

[Breezy]

Personally I'm more fond of third person. I find first person difficult because I end up mixing character personalities for one character since I'm so limited in the brain to stick to one character at a time.

 

[Willow's Tara]

I prefer third person, more freedom I guess and I can go into the midn sof the other characters as well....
Um what's a second person?

 

[Shrike Flamestar]

Second person is when you do something like:

You walk up to the bar and pull out a stool, slumping down on it and wondering why there are three bartenders staring at you instead of one. Or why they’re staring at you at all, in fact.

It’s similar to first person, but with “you” instead of “I”

You can go into the mind of other people in first person, it’s not like you’re restricted to the same view main character for the whole fic, just put a break into the story and imply that the view has changed, like:

Tiredly I waved to the woman, wondering why she had come to me and not someone far more experienced. Still, money’s money, and the case didn’t sound that hard. Knowing I had little time to prepare I turned to the papers that lay in disarray on my desk and shoved them into the trash.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walking away from the detective’s office I couldn’t help but wonder if I had made a mistake. His credentials were decent, sure, but he was awfully young. Still, he didn’t stare at me like the others had, wanting to help me more for my body then anything else.

See, easy.

P.S. Those were both made up by me off the top of the head, so don't think I'm plagiarizing someone...

 

[Breezy]

Well technically, first and second are two very different narratives. First is the actual character in the fic speaking and second is like you yourself are in the fic.

But yeah, you can replace "I" with "you" for second I guess. x_x

 

[Shrike Flamestar]

I know, I was just saying they are similar, not identical. I could never imagine myself writing anything decent in second person...

 

[Naetoru & Stitch]

I see a vote on "Don't Write a Story at all." I should have made this a public poll. I wonder who said that!

Anyway, I guess it's Third Person. Thanks and hope all goes well.

 

[Jetx]

If you with struggle with 3rd person, there's always rewriting with 1st person. I'm gonna try writing a 1st person fic soon....

 

[Saya]

I kind of do both. My first fic (LTHTH) is in first person, but now that I've completed that I've begun to write just about everything in third person. I actually like it better than first now.

 

[Seiryu]

Darn, I wanted to get a vote in. Though I suppose it doesn't really matter since I would've voted for third-person anyways...but I figure I'll add my two cents just 'cause I feel like it.

I personally do third-person because...well, I haven't written anything serious in the first person POV for a loooooong time. I attempted it for a short while when writing the original draft of the first chapter of one of my upcoming fics, but ultimately found it more difficult and figured that the third person would fit better.

Third-person is...just what I have more experience using. See, I've been an online roleplayer for a few years now, and I feel I've picked up a lot of experience with portraying characters' thoughts as well as their actions in the third person.

In my upcoming fanfic Fallen Angels there are three main protagonists, a few minor pro/antagonists, and the main "bad guy" himself. In the series that'll come after that, there'll be four or five main characters alongside the two "lead" ones as well as some other important people who only appear in a single "arc" and the main villain-type character for the series. I want to provide a bit of insight for all of them, and I feel I can do that best in the third person.

Now, I read someone's response about being able to really get into people's minds through first-person writing, and I agree. However, when there are three or four separate things going on and I want to give the reader some info on all of them, it can be pretty tough to constantly switch between characters like that. On top of that, I worry that if I do attempt that, my characters' personalities will begin to...merge so that the entire story would be populated by the same few characters with a bunch of different bodies...which wouldn't be pretty.

With the third-person POV, however, I feel confident that I'll be able to let folks know what a given character feels at a given time should I feel like it. Plus, if I wanted to focus on a particular character almost as if it was first-person (like in the Harry Potter series), I could. The only major text-based changes throughout the story would be scene changes, which are much easier for me to handle. Plus I'm not as limited to what kind of information that I can give to the reader as I feel I would be if I would write in the first-person POV. More benefits, less risk, at least IMO.

 

[Ace Kenshader]

I think I find it easier to write in first person than in third person.

 

[Saffire Persian]

Second person is not as similar to first as you might think - I know from experience.

XD..

First person is way, wayyyyy more personalish than second person is, as the character him/herself is telling the story. Thus the mannerisms and vocabulary would be very prominent.

Second person is personal, but doesn't have quite the 'attitude' that first person has. Sure, it's 'you' but you can get away with a more 'laid back' style, using some of the techniques third person does. IMO, it's more similar to third in terms of style.

Third person is an all out favorite, you can jump from character to character, or stay fixated on one, and it's more natural than first and second, and much, much easier to write.

In my opinion, you would want to go in third person.

If you would like an example of each of the different types of writing, I actually have some for you - it's the same paragraph or so from a piece of writing of mine - I was going through a similar dilemma like you were, Master of Light, so to see what style I preferred, I wrote the first bit in first, second, and third person:


First:

With Stella’s voice in close range, I know I can’t stand up, or she might just see me. So I continue to crawl through the dirt, leaves, and squashed berries, trying to keep up with the bug Pokémon. I can’t move that fast, but it seems to notice that and slows down a bit until we finally reached a tree in the middle of the clearing, surrounded closely by a bunch of bushes. The Caterpie jumps up and down again, before darting into the bushes, with me quickly behind it.

When I finally clear the bushes enough for me to see, I notice that the Caterpie has squeezed itself through a gap in the tree roots – it looks like it had been dug out by some dog pokemon or somethin’ before. I don’t really know if I can fit, but I guess I can try.

Somehow, I manage to fit in the tiny entrance, curled up like my neighbor’s Meowth on a rug in front of the window. There’s enough room for the Caterpie to fit, too, and at the sound of Stella’s voice, it begins to turn nervously in tight circles.

I eye him carefully. “Stella’s not that scary, you know. Well,” I admit, “she can be a little bit scary sometimes. She’s kinda like a dog, I guess: throw her a bone an’ she’s nice enough..” I pause. “Or maybe she’s like a cat, she likes them better.”

Second:

With Stella’s voice in close range, you know you can’t stand up, or she might just see you. So, you continue your crawl through the foliage, dirt, and berries, trying your best to keep up with the bug Pokemon. You can’t really move that fast, crawling on your hands and knees like you are, and luckily for you, the Caterpie notices this and slows down, allowing you to keep up.

When you finally clear the bushes, you spot the Caterpie just as it squeezes itself through a gap in the tree roots of a rather large tree. It’s a rather large gap, certainly enough for you to squeeze through – it’s as if it was dug out some time before, by a dog Pokemon or the like – or maybe a Pikachu. Just maybe – just maybe you can fit.

Looking over your shoulder, your gaze becomes determined. You’re going to try – Stella’s not going to win this round.

Somehow, you manage to fit underneath the tree, though you’re forced to curl up in a tight ball just to fit -- there’s enough room for the Caterpie to fit, too, and at the sound of Stella’s loud voice, it begins to turn nervously in tight circles. You’re kind of nervous yourself – not like you’ll admit it.

You look at him oddly. Really, Stella’s not that scary – and you tell the Caterpie so. “Stella’s not that scary, you know. Well,” , you admit, “she can be a little bit scary sometimes. She’s kinda like a dog, I guess: throw her a bone an’ she’s nice enough...” you pause. “Or maybe she’s like a cat, she likes them better.”

Third:

Shawn winced. With Stella so close to where he was know, he just knew he couldn’t stand up to follow the Caterpie a bit faster; he would just have to trudge it. Shawn tried his best to keep up to the bug-type, rather amazed that something so tiny could go so fast. On his hands and knees, Shawn really couldn’t go very fast. The foliage scratched him as he went through the bushes, while smashing the berries with his knees and palms weren’t exactly the most pleasant of feelings either – it made him feel unnecessarily sticky.

To Shawn’s immense relief, the Caterpie noticed his apparent lag, and slowed down – though it was apparent it wanted to get away to the stop it was leading him to as fast as possible.

When Shawn finally cleared the bushes, he was just in time to see the Caterpie squeeze through and overly large gap in the tree roots of a tree in the center of the clearing. It’s a rather large gap, certainly big enough for him to squeeze through if he tried; Shawn had hidden in smaller places than that – well.. hopefully anyway. Well, Shawn knew he could at least try - he wasn’t going to let Stella win this round.

Somehow, Shawn managed to squeeze himself through the gap and into the little, dark hide-away the Caterpie had provided. It was still cramped, and Shawn was forced to curl up into a ball like a cat just to fit without any arms or legs sticking out.

The Caterpie still had enough room to fit too, and was beginning to run ain tight circles with apparent nervousness – even more so when Stella’s loud voice filtered over to where he and the Caterpie was hid away.

Still, Shawn couldn’t help but stare at the strange little Caterpie. Stella’s not really that scary. Frowning, Shawn decided to tell the Caterpie so. “Stella’s not that scary, you know. Well…” Shawn finally admitted a moment later, “she can be a little bit scary sometimes. She’s kinda like a dog, I guess: throw her a bone an’ she’s nice enough...” he paused. “Or maybe she’s like a cat, she likes them better.”

These are in rough form, I realize, and are not fully edited and revised.. but hopefully this is some reference to go by.

 

[Shrike Flamestar]

Hmm, your first person example is present tense. I write in past tense first person and find it the most natural for me, so maybe that has an impact on why few people here seem to like first person. In fact, I've tried writing in present tense first person myself before and found it awkward as well.

Heh, that could be another thread "Past or present tense?"

 

[indigestible_wad]

Only write in first person if you can. It's generally meant for stories that want more than the eyes of a viewer. Third person gives it more of that TV feel. But generally first person is better.

 

[Orange_Flaaffy]

I agree past tense first person is the best type of first person. I love to write in it when a story is the sort that needs a very personal insider feel, but that is mostly because I love to read that POV to...

 

[SpaceFlare]

I think it really depends on which way you want to write your story. First person gives a better emotional impact on your main character than does a third person view. What a third person view does better is to portray a view of every character in the story.