Well, I can obviously only speak for English, but here it goes:
I picked the last option because my impression is that whatever limitations there are to any POV, a good author makes you forget about them anyway. A while ago I looked up ony of my most favorite fanfiction stories ever from a previous fandom and was shocked to realize that it actually switched back and forth between first person POV of the one character and third person limited of the second character. Something that does seem like a rather odd choice if you think about it, but the fic and the writing was so good is that I didn't even notice.
I think that one that is obviously rather limited it second person (you). It can be *beautiful* particularly in shorter, very emotional stories, but I'm not sure whether it would really be useful for longer or more action type stories.
I used to have a more negative opinion of first person until I revisited this old fandom and realized that a lot more fic was written in first person and a lot of my favorite fic was. I often if first person is almost easier to write, especially in longer stories. Whether it is easier to get a certain flow running.
Especially in a romantic setting I tend to prefer it when a first person POV actually avoids the "I". Like the narator describes the person he/she is with, describes what happens and there isn't more "I" than necessary (so it doesn't sound like some egomaniac "I walked there. I did that. I felt that"). I think you can communicate a lot through what the character sees and notices and decides to describe rather than stating it outright. But it depends on the character.
As for WHO you should pick? Honestly? Probably the person who comes to you more naturally, the one in whose shoe you can step into more naturally. But aside from that... it's hard to tell. Like if there is a more active person and a more supportive person, which one of the two do you pick? The one experiences a huge change or the one outside? Again, I don't really know.
It probably depends on the story too. Like, what is the story supposed to be about? If it's supposed to be about something internal about that person, sometimes it's the kind of thing only that person would know about and so it wouldn't do much good picking an outside person. And on the other hand there might be internal things that are there but that the person would never notice or never speak or think about and that therefore have to be witnessed by an outside because the person would never do it themselves. So yeah, depends on the story.
I generally like changing/switching/rotating POVs, depending on the story. Can create a nice symmetry.
Ooops, sorry for trailing off into ramlings on different persons.
But yeah, basically, it depends on the story, on what should be witnessed, talked about. Depending on what the story is, I really love alternating POVs or the POVs of many people (I remember the first time I really noticed that being used was here (the "No Common Sense" series;)).
But alternating/rotating/multiple POV usually also means longer story and you have to ask yourself whether you want to commit to that.
Quick reply regarding the different POV: - Second person: I've never used it. I may appreciate it when it's well done but I'm not so sure about using it myself. I feel like the characters are watching themselves act - I don't know if I make any sense here ^_^ - First person: Not my favorite but every now and then, I can deal with it - reading as well as writing it. - Omniscient narrator: I used to write almost exclusively with it, but it was a different kind of stories. Not very funny for short stories, vignettes, drabbles and so on *g*
Ooops, sorry for trailing off into ramblings on different persons. lol, no, I appreciate the detailed answer :-)
As for WHO you should pick? Honestly? Probably the person who comes to you more naturally, the one in whose shoe you can step into more naturally. The question is really more about what the *reader* may expect or would like when they give a prompt. I've been writing stories based on prompts, and I have second thoughts regarding the POV I picked. I'm never sure the reader won't feel cheated if they asked a story about character A and end up with a story using character B's POV. I know it depends on a lot of things and I personally don't have a strong preference. I'm just being squeamish and I seek reassurance :-p Most of the time, I don't pick a character's POV, not consciously at least. It just comes along with the idea of the story and I would probably have a hard time switching if I tried to. But for longer stories, I like to rotate because I'm greedy and I like to have various in-takes on the situation - I used both Michael and Lincoln's POV in Twilight or Michael, Lincoln and Sara's in The Time They Need. Greedy *g*
But alternating/rotating/multiple POV usually also means longer story and you have to ask yourself whether you want to commit to that. I don't mind longer stories, but let's be practical: that thing is already getting out of hand and I only have a month to complete it ^_^
I think most people would mostly care about what the story says. If they want a certain character, they probably want insight on that character, regardless of who it comes from.
However, one thing you could do is maybe check that person's journals and look at what kind of stories they write. If they have a certain preference in their own stories (since I have the theory that people usually write the kind of stories they wish were written).
Other than, I'd say go with what feels natural. I think any person receiving a story is better served with a *good* story than with necessarily a story that fits their preferences exactly and isn't as good as it could be.
I picked the last option because my impression is that whatever limitations there are to any POV, a good author makes you forget about them anyway. A while ago I looked up ony of my most favorite fanfiction stories ever from a previous fandom and was shocked to realize that it actually switched back and forth between first person POV of the one character and third person limited of the second character. Something that does seem like a rather odd choice if you think about it, but the fic and the writing was so good is that I didn't even notice.
I think that one that is obviously rather limited it second person (you). It can be *beautiful* particularly in shorter, very emotional stories, but I'm not sure whether it would really be useful for longer or more action type stories.
I used to have a more negative opinion of first person until I revisited this old fandom and realized that a lot more fic was written in first person and a lot of my favorite fic was. I often if first person is almost easier to write, especially in longer stories. Whether it is easier to get a certain flow running.
Especially in a romantic setting I tend to prefer it when a first person POV actually avoids the "I". Like the narator describes the person he/she is with, describes what happens and there isn't more "I" than necessary (so it doesn't sound like some egomaniac "I walked there. I did that. I felt that"). I think you can communicate a lot through what the character sees and notices and decides to describe rather than stating it outright. But it depends on the character.
As for WHO you should pick? Honestly? Probably the person who comes to you more naturally, the one in whose shoe you can step into more naturally. But aside from that... it's hard to tell. Like if there is a more active person and a more supportive person, which one of the two do you pick? The one experiences a huge change or the one outside? Again, I don't really know.
It probably depends on the story too. Like, what is the story supposed to be about? If it's supposed to be about something internal about that person, sometimes it's the kind of thing only that person would know about and so it wouldn't do much good picking an outside person. And on the other hand there might be internal things that are there but that the person would never notice or never speak or think about and that therefore have to be witnessed by an outside because the person would never do it themselves. So yeah, depends on the story.
I generally like changing/switching/rotating POVs, depending on the story. Can create a nice symmetry.
Reply
But yeah, basically, it depends on the story, on what should be witnessed, talked about. Depending on what the story is, I really love alternating POVs or the POVs of many people (I remember the first time I really noticed that being used was here (the "No Common Sense" series;)).
But alternating/rotating/multiple POV usually also means longer story and you have to ask yourself whether you want to commit to that.
Reply
- Second person: I've never used it. I may appreciate it when it's well done but I'm not so sure about using it myself. I feel like the characters are watching themselves act - I don't know if I make any sense here ^_^
- First person: Not my favorite but every now and then, I can deal with it - reading as well as writing it.
- Omniscient narrator: I used to write almost exclusively with it, but it was a different kind of stories. Not very funny for short stories, vignettes, drabbles and so on *g*
Ooops, sorry for trailing off into ramblings on different persons.
lol, no, I appreciate the detailed answer :-)
As for WHO you should pick? Honestly? Probably the person who comes to you more naturally, the one in whose shoe you can step into more naturally.
The question is really more about what the *reader* may expect or would like when they give a prompt. I've been writing stories based on prompts, and I have second thoughts regarding the POV I picked. I'm never sure the reader won't feel cheated if they asked a story about character A and end up with a story using character B's POV. I know it depends on a lot of things and I personally don't have a strong preference. I'm just being squeamish and I seek reassurance :-p
Most of the time, I don't pick a character's POV, not consciously at least. It just comes along with the idea of the story and I would probably have a hard time switching if I tried to. But for longer stories, I like to rotate because I'm greedy and I like to have various in-takes on the situation - I used both Michael and Lincoln's POV in Twilight or Michael, Lincoln and Sara's in The Time They Need. Greedy *g*
But alternating/rotating/multiple POV usually also means longer story and you have to ask yourself whether you want to commit to that.
I don't mind longer stories, but let's be practical: that thing is already getting out of hand and I only have a month to complete it ^_^
Reply
However, one thing you could do is maybe check that person's journals and look at what kind of stories they write. If they have a certain preference in their own stories (since I have the theory that people usually write the kind of stories they wish were written).
Other than, I'd say go with what feels natural. I think any person receiving a story is better served with a *good* story than with necessarily a story that fits their preferences exactly and isn't as good as it could be.
Reply
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