First person, Second person, Third Person.

[such_a_steph]

There was a little discussion on this topic last month, specifically related to writing in the second person, but the varying thoughts and experiences amongst the responses prompted me to explore this further

Comments

[jans_intentions]

I have always written in mostly third person but occasionally first person. I think I'm glad now I did first person because I now understand where I might want to use it. But my first use of it was unconscious. I had previously always used third person.

My story Kept was originally fandom, told in first person, in Xander's skin. There was no way to distance yourself as a reader and as it is so personal a journey for the protagonist, I think it needed to be first voice. Third would have muffled the impact.

And now I'm writing a young adult story and it's the same, very up close. It's not easy because you can't do anything 'off camera.' All the other characters have to be filtered through the protagonist's impressions. But because I wrote Kept, I understand what I'm doing now and it feels right.

But mostly I like third because it's nice to be able to hop into different skins.

I think the big difference for me with first and third (I've never used second) is that first, the narrator IS the story in a way. You can't get away from their reactions or filter, so you better write a sympathetic first person.

Third, I think the narrative/story/plot itself is more center stage. Of course, some writers choose to stick in third with one person's POV.

I think sometimes that stories just tell us what they need to be.