Read Character & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card (ignore his personal foibles; as a writer, he knows a thing or three).
All else being equal, I vote for close third. But there are a whole lot of considerations inside "all else being equal." If you're thinking that you can't get close enough to the character in third, you could post a brief section, and a description of what you want but feel you can't achieve, in the review room.
Well, I think it really depends on what is the purpose of the 2% of the time your not in her head. 3rd person can help give the reader information that wouldn't usually be obtainable via the 1st person. Out of personal preference I prefer 3rd person just in general, furthermore, sometimes when writing in 1st person you can get pulled into the trap of just making the MC you which may not be appropriate for the story.
Addendum to what I wrote earlier: Writing in first person is far more difficult because it's not easy to show what's going on when the narrator isn't there to see/hear/taste/touch/smell it. Events have to be related to the first person narrator through conversation or summaries of conversation... which are never as compelling to the reader as 'seeing' for him/herself through direction narration. That's not to say first person should be avoided. There's always a way (a creative way) to get these things across. It just takes more time and energy on the writer's part to find them.
If you're writing in close third you have the same issues. Close third and first person, in my experience and opinion, have almost exactly the same advantages and disadvantages--they're essentially interchangeable. Omniscient third has some serious differences, but it seems difficult for beginning writers to do well. I have a project for which it would be really useful, but I'm not sure I'm up to making the switch!
So many replies! I am loved! Well, I am not editing my current copy. I plan to re-write it in either case. Because I think in this case I will get more bang for my buck out of starting over than editing. Third was just my more natural, but given that the story was so emotional/one POV driven. I thought perhaps that was a mistake. Could you elaborate please? I never thought of this way. But yeah that is pretty darn accurate. There really isn't any difference in style you think from close third and first? I mean in the sense where one would be a slightly superieror choice?
I think there are marketing considerations - if you're writing in a specific genre, there may be genre conventions to consider. And there can be times when the way the story is set up demands one or the other - if there's a framing story in which the narrator explains she's telling about what happened to her years ago, for example, first person would make sense. But in general, I certainly don't think one is better than the other.
Why not write a couple of pages for each POV and read through them and see what you like most. At least it should give you a feel which POV you are most comfortable in.
I am fine with writing either. I have wrote both styles. I am thinking that my character or story might benefit from one over the other.
I say for this type of story i would go with 1st person. I know a lot of people in general prefer 3rd but when I think of all my favourite books, they are written in first person. Also i think getting into Jenny's head is important to the story.
I mainly write in first person, but I occasionally use third person as well. If a scene involves two characters, and they are both of equal importance to the scene, I might use third person.
I prefer first, but will use either. First POV for me is more immersive, kind of like FPS style games. Giving the reader a more immersive experience, because they get to go on an adventure and 'see' the world from the characters perception. Third person gives more control over the story, and characters in general. But that takes a little bit of the unpredictability away from the experience. Similar to third person games, you can see the character and all the angles surrounding them. While still fun, you can't really have anything sneak up on them unseen/undetected. Though to be fair, I don't fully grasp how all the rules apply to the third party narratives work in their entirety. Besides unless you can see yourself from a third party perspective, most of us normal people can only see what is in our own eyes and minds. On the other hand if you can see your world in a third party perspective you might just be a god or other supernatural being.
I would write based on what perspective needs to be written. For example, I find first person lends a lot to explanations, in which a character guides the reader through their perspective on how things are happening, why they are happening and why they are there and doing what they're doing. It also lends an element of mystery to other characters and their actions as it can all be coloured by the first person characters perspectives. Essentially, first person allows for characters bias to colour and shape the story. Third person, to me at least, lends a lot of mystery, it's good at presenting events while leaving motivations and reasons unclear. It remains unbiased in-so-far as you are. So essentially, whatever story you're trying to write, whatever vibe you're trying to convey, should take the elements of exposure you want the reader to experience. EDIT: As it stands I'm using both in a story I'm writing. I have one character whose parts are all in first person, and the rest in third person. This is because the single character who is in first person is literally exploring the world, and showing us what it's like and how it is, but the others are the ones who drive a story whose mysteries will eventually be uncovered by the main character, so their parts must be in third person or I risk revealing too much and too soon.
I personally like first person better, but only if it's done well, and when reading fiction, it's usually... passable. I think of it as a more personal narrative device, thus it must reveal something about the character that third person would be incapable of. In my own writing, I don't usually use it, but in my latest piece it's been instrumental to the narrative as one of the books points is elucidating certain mental disorders and abnormal cogitations, which is not nearly as effective in third person. That, and much of the narrative deconstructs common traits like empathy and bias by alternating the perspective the world is viewed from through several very different characters with very different world views and morals. The psychopath character, for instance, would not be nearly as disconcerting if you weren't viewing everything through whatever perception filter they have on, while knowing full well through the narration of other characters that their perception of reality is warped beyond belief. (For example, from their perspective the extremely good natured protagonist is evil scum because they dare to argue with the villain. Conversely, the protagonist is always trying to make excuses for the villain's abhorrent behavior 'because, they probably didn't mean it that way.' or 'They were probably kidding' after all 'you're supposed to cover other's transgressions, not point them out with neon signs and flashing billboards.') And I don't think I could quite get my psychological point across the same way in third person. So when writing psychological/philosophical pieces that require a specific world view to be presented in all it's twisted glory, first person present is probably the best way to go. But in other cases where it's not really adding anything to the story it often falls a bit flat and if done improperly, can make the characters seem flat as well.
I'm a first person nutjob , so much I'm rather proud of my first-person pieces and loathe my third-person ones. I realize certain types of stories just can't be written in first person, but still, for me third person sounds so impersonal, like it loses a lot of spark. I speak for myself only, of course, because I do read a lot of authors who write in third person and I find them terrific, but I can't for the life of me enjoy writing in third person. I realize it's something I need to get over with, definitely. I think I got used to writing in first person since I was a little kid and now I can't do it any other way
I believe it all contributes to personal preference and writing style. Like many others have said, the first-person POV may be very restricted in that the reader is unable to know what the other side and lesser main characters are thinking and feeling. However, such a weakness is also a key strength: you and the reader have the greater ability to get to know and understand the main character on a higher level when the story is written in first-person rather than third-person. But, if you do not prefer this POV, you may not be able to make your story work because your mind is thinking about the abilities and style of third-person rather than the POV you are going for. That is perfectly fine. Everyone has a different preference when it comes to the different point of views. I would just advise you to take another look at the plot of your story before continuing what you have or changing it to third-person (A good question to ask your plot: does the story focus solely on one main character? Or does it focus around two or more characters? That may help you decide ). Again, if you prefer third-person, by all means go for it! But, if you truly believe your plot would better take to first-person, then keep up the good work and practice that POV so that you may learn its limitations and opportunities to help you develop a great story. Good luck! And sorry for the extremely late reply, I am brand new here and trying to learn exactly what to do on a forum (this is my first one).
I think there's a fair bit of misunderstanding about what first and third person really mean. They're grammatical formats, essentially, not much more. Too often we seem to confuse person with narrative distance - that's why we hear things like "first person gives you a better look inside a character's head". But it's totally possible to be inside a character's head in third person, and distant from the character in first person. For example: He took a hesitant bite, and just as he'd anticipated, just as he'd feared, the taste was a perfect replica of the genuine dish. He didn't want to think about the last time he'd experienced this spicy blend, this careful balance of rich depth and light notes. He couldn't let himself remember the long summer evenings, reclining next to his brothers, eating dinner as the sun set and the stars came out, feeling perfectly at home, perfectly content, perfectly safe... He pushed away from the table so abruptly his chair fell over behind him. vs. I ate dinner, a spicy dish that reminded me of home. I didn't finish it before deciding to leave the table and go to bed. Third person and first person are red herrings, most of the time. What people are really talking about is narrative distance.
You say you write the character as if they were yourself... is this a bad thing? Maybe it's something to develop into a potential story Personally, my protagonist has my own thoughts and feelings and that's what makes him so fun to write. It really helps me get a grip on the world itself. The only first person novel I've enjoyed is the Hunger Games... I prefer third person because you can jump around characters a bit more, and it doesn't feel as jarring.
I am a fan of 3rd person myself when It comes to my own work simply because one of the trademarks of a David Tice Presents... novel is a score of different characters and personalities. I love flooding a readers senses with all these different people and watching them become attached to a character that may die off at any moment and I believe 3rd Person really allows them to get to know these characters in a flattering light, as opposed to 1st Person where the main character may not necessarily interact with a character in a manner that shows who that character really is. Another reason I like 3rd Person is because I usually have more than one storyline going on at once, and my plot rarely follows just one character though I have written tales in this fashion before. It really depends on the story I guess but the ability to PLAY God from the 3rd Person perspective is always an attraction for me.
I really like this response. I makes a very good argument and backs it up--fairly skillfully I might add. As for me, I don't really have a reading preference regarding point of view. First and third person can both be very exciting or very bland. depending on how the writer handles it. When it comes to writing, I prefer to write in third because it is easier to avoid certain pitfalls of first like focusing on minutiae, detailing needless thoughts and focusing too much on "I" statements. It's not that these problems don't exist in third, but for me they become more prominent. I also feel like third person just feels more natural for telling the story--perhaps due to tradition--and that it makes it easier to handle tense. Tense, poses a different problem. A lot of writers, especially in YA, like the way first person present tense feels. They say it's snappier, more immediate and suspenseful. I contend that it is only as good as the writer and that a skilled writer can create the illusion of immediacy and present tense even in past tense. Where this ties into pov is that, in third person you don't have the question "who is he/she narrating their life too?" in third person past or present there is an observer. In first person, there is an assumed listener. With either tense, a good writer can suspend logic, and entice readers to the ride. Readers want to be fooled. I just feel like first person is easier to mess up because it can quickly start to read like a diary instead of a story.
First timer, Fiction, finally, and my novel is coming along, learned a lot along the way, but I have a tense question as it applies to Chapters in general and POV. Basically, the story takes place over 4 days with some drifting memories back to earlier times. First 3 Days are the bulk of the story and Day 4 is the last chapter and climax. It's written in first person narrative, with only a few main characters. 17 chapters total. I have been going back and forth with tense, but I finally decided to write the first chapter primarily in present tense, IE this is happening to me now, this is how I feel now etc, with a few interspersed memories going back in time, and those are written in past tense. Chapter 1 was written like that for the immediacy of action or at least that was the intent, IE to immediatly hook the reader into the protagonist state of mind at the peak of the story, dropping hints without giving away too much. So, Chapter 1 POV is present tense from the night of Day 2 as it is happening. IE set in the middle of the story. Chapters 2-16 are mostly written in past tense story telling style, About Chapter 8, IE the end of Day 2 is the switch where everything changes and that is the POV of Chapter 1. Now obviously Chapters 2-8 could be told from the POV night of Day 2, IE the same POV of Chapter 1, but that leaves me with Chapters 9-16 being told from some later POV/date, like at the end of Day 3 just before the final events of Day 4/or the last chapter. So... Everything from Chapters 2-16 could be told from some POV/time past all events up to Chapter 17. Or I could split and have one POV from chapter 1-8 and a 2nd POV for chapters 9-16, and then the third POV on Day 4. This is where I am stuck at the moment and I am not sure if it really matters, like I could just have the POV of Chapters 2-16 at some vague time beyond when all events happened like at the end of Chapter 16. But then it doesnt tie into Chapter 1 so well as it is more distant? Chapter 17 is the closer and I want to go back to mostly present tense again here. IE I am here and this is happening now with a few thoughts to what happened over the last few days, similar in structure to the Chapter 1 IE So basically, the novel starts...Could be like... Chapter 1 - mostly takes place on the night of Day 2 - written mostly present tense - POV/end of Day 2 (middle of story) Chapter 2-8 - mostly takes place on Day 1-2 - written mostly past tense - POV/end of Day 2 Chapter 9-16 - mostly takes place on Day 2-3 - written mostly past tense - POV/end of Day 3 Chapter 17 - takes place on Day 4 - written mostly present tense - POV/Day 4 Or... Chapter 1 - mostly takes place on the night of Day 2 - written mostly present tense - POV/end of Day 2 (middle of story) Chapter 2-16 - mostly takes place on Day 1-2 and 2-3 - written mostly past tense - POV/end of Day 3 Chapter 17 - takes place on Day 4 - written mostly present tense - POV/Day 4 Or does it even matter ? or should Chapters 2-16 be some vague future POV. Is there anything inherently wrong with either scenario above ? How about starting and ending chapters in present tense with past tense in the middle ? It seems to flow pretty well with the story. That is my main question BTW. Thanks for the patience. Being a newbi I don't know the rules of this vs that, or whats heavily frowned on etc. Talking big items. Also I am mostly trying to keep tense swaps to a minimum and isolated through the novel as best I can unless it is something like "That happened to me yesterday, and this is how I feel today," then I am isolating them within independent clauses. Its basically finished, I am just fine tuning it. Thanks
My advice: Pick one tense and stick with it. I realize that's a pretty curt response to all of your explanation, but that's my view. Switching tense is just not a good idea.
Agree with @ChickenFreak. Switching tense and POV -- why? I would rhink you would have to have a really good reason to do it and be extremely skilled to pull it off. Even though you are nearly done with what I assume is your first draft, the "real" writing is in revision. Maybe you have a friend or someone who can read what you have and see if they find it confusing or whether it "works." Good luck.
The Last chapter is currently written in past tense and I think I will leave it like that. I read through it as if written in present tense and I think it will be too awkward to revise to present tense. So the first chapter is now the only Chapter written as present tense, then transitions into Chapter 2 past tense. I wanted Chapter 1 to read immediate, like you are inside the protagonist head, like this guy is talking out of his head, or out of his mind in a direct manner. The lead characters reality is falling apart and he is not sure of he is insane, dreaming, dead or what. Yeah, it is one of those, and pretty complicated so I guess you could say I was trying to place the reader inside the lead character's insanity in the first chapter. I have had the first chapter written both ways, present tense, then past tense, then back to present, so I have driven myself crazy over the best way to present with his psychosis. Chapter 1 transitions into Chapter 2 with a significant event from the past so maybe it will work. I think I will save this Chapter 1 present tense version and rewrite a second Chapter 1 past tense version and have a couple of friends read both. Think I am on my 15th or so Edit - LOL. Thanks
