Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Writer Wednesday: First Person or Third?

If you've read any of my books, you know I love first person POV. It doesn't matter if it's first person dual POV or if only one MC is telling the story. I like to be inside the head of the main character(s), experiencing everything while they do. I don't read very many books written in third person because I feel like the perspective distances me from the characters and story. Until...

Recently, I decided to rewrite one of my Ashelyn Drake books in third person. Why? Well, it's going to be in a boxed set with a bunch of other authors. Oh, did I not mention that before? ;) More news to come when I can say more. For now, I'll just say that I was encouraged to alter the POV of the story for a few reasons. At first, I panicked. I may have ranted and raved for a day. Then I sat down and got to it, and you know what? Close third person dual POV reads a lot like first person dual POV. With this particular book, I realized I liked third person better. I couldn't have been more shocked, but it seemed to suit the story. Now this doesn't mean I'll be writing in third person from now on. No way. My plan is try a book out in both and see what works better. Just like with anything else, I think you have to find what works for each individual book.

Which do you prefer as a writer, first person or third? Do you find the same is true for when you are playing the part of the reader?

*If you have a question you'd like me to answer from the other side of the editor's desk, feel free to leave it in the comments and I'll schedule it for a future post.

18 comments:

  1. I jump back & forth between the two, which is very confusing. I think I prefer writing 3rd close but love reading 1st.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love first person, but I do enjoy a close third that reads like first.

      Delete
  2. I prefer third person but I try out first person in short stories sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've almost always preferred third person, but since I've been writing a memoir, naturally, It has to be in first person. Also, I just began a diary-style novel, another type of writing that's in first person.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, that's a great way to get into first if you aren't used to it.

      Delete
  4. I've heard that switching POV in an entire book could make for a complete different read for the better sometimes, especially going from 1st to 3rd and vice versa.

    I prefer 3rd person, unless it's a series and I've been following the main character for awhile.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I prefer third person, particularly as it allows you to move into the mindset of other characters aside from your protagonist.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Usually I write in third person, but then I tried first person with my most recent manuscript just to change things up. Gotta say, I enjoyed it. It's interesting to re-write something in the other tense, isn't it? I did that with my second book and was amazed how shifting focus changed the story. Ultimately, I think it comes down to whatever suits the story best.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've always done first person for children's books. It just feels more personal, if that makes sense. But I wrote romance for years and that was always third person because the books I wrote were alternating POVs between the hero and heroine of the story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like alternating first person POV too for romance, but third does have its advantages.

      Delete
  8. I've always preferred third, though I've grown grudgingly more accepting of first person. Noticed a lot of the mysteries and romances I've been reading lately are written in first person. But at the end of the day I'm a 3rd person kind of girl. The romance WIP I'm working on is written in third and dual POV.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We all have our preferences, and there's nothing wrong with that.

      Delete
  9. I find that first person is used more and more (especially in MG and YA) but that, indeed, maybe there is a point to return to third person personal.

    ReplyDelete

All anonymous comments will be marked as spam and not published.