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

[dreamflower02]

I almost always write in third person. I have done a few poems and drabbles in second.

First person is different. There are occasionally stories that just seem to "come" to me in first person; interestingly enough, the first person stories often also come in present tense. These are usually short vignettes or character studies, and to me, it often feels as if the character is "dictating" them to me--not a feeling I get when I write in third person. For this reason, I sometimes feel these rare stories are among my best, though I don't feel as if I can take credit for them.

As a reader, I don't mind reading first or third person. But I tend to have a much lower tolerance for poor writing in a first person piece. I think it's because if I am reading from the character's own thoughts, they need to be *in* character--much more so than in third person.

Second person can work in short mood pieces, like drabbles or poems. Anything longer seems to me to feel very contrived.

[anahcrow]

I love all the POVs. I find 2nd is heavy if done too long -- it can become like dictating to the reader. That requires skill to make it beyond a long-short/novella length. 2nd can be genuinely tiring to read, as well. It's not something that we're skilled in reading or doing, for the most part, unless we were raised to practice that kind of empathy because of subculture/religious practices

[jans_intentions]

I often write drafts in 1st-person, or segments of drafts; I think it allows for a more intense experience even when translated to 3rd.

Oh, that's interesting. I don't think I've ever done that, except by accident. I'm going to steal that and try it for scenes I want to get closer to, and then rewrite the switch.

[anahcrow]

I find it tells me things about characters that I didn't know but that are vital. It's like changing the angle of a photograph, or something. I can't explain it, but it's enlightening. :)

[jans_intentions]

Head hopping is not good, no. I actually edited something older recently that had those changes in POV that are unaccounted for. With people I beta, I always try to point that out also.

As you say, Nora does it, but it's frowned on. I think because with POV changes, you can lessen the impact of the person you are following. And why do that? Just better to put in a scene break and switch.

[velvetwhip]

I prefer third person in fanfiction; enjoy first and third in fiction; and will only read second in nonfiction.

Gabrielle