first or third?

lividseras · Dec 16, 2009

What do you think is easier to write in: First person or third person and why?

seun · Dec 16, 2009

I've never thought of it as easier. I just go with whatever suits the story/character.

I think for new writers, first might be easier but then it's also easier for the MC to just become a mouthpiece for the writer.

lividseras · Dec 16, 2009

I think it depends on the story. I started out in third person. Its better for me because in the particular story I am writing, i have three characters who play major roles. I sometimes find my self reverting back to first person alot. I am not too far into it and I'm relativley new to writing, so i might find myself changing later on.

cathyfreeze · Dec 16, 2009

Traditionally, first person is, for many, easier to write but harder to *get* right. There are certainly exceptions to this, but i stayed away from first for a long time, tho i've hit a patch where almost all of my wips wanna be first person.

First person limits much more than even 3rd tight does, for one. It's harder to get out of the PoV-character's skin and so beginning writers may have a harder time finding the right balance between setting/worldbuilding and a PoV-character's inner musings on same.

I found a lovely exercise that helps with that, tho. Write at least 900 wds of your wip using only one or two first-person pronouns. In other words, pare down your use of 'I' and 'me' and 'my' and 'mine.' Focus the protag's senses and experiences *outward.* It makes for much stronger first personage, imho, if you can pull that off throughout a piece. It's also hard as heck to do in first.

kaitie · Dec 16, 2009

First. Easily first. By a long-shot. I've always been that way, and I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe I'm hyper-empathetic or something. I've just always had an easier time getting into the MC's mind and getting voice in first.

That having been said, I do third when the story calls for it. My last one was third. I wouldn't say it's necessarily hard. Annoying at points, but not really hard. I just have a very strong preference for first.

Parametric · Dec 16, 2009

Third. Nearly everything I read is in third, so first-person pronouns look like mistakes to me.

Kalyke · Dec 16, 2009

I'm a third person writer--born and bred. Last year's nano was the only longer fiction I've written first person. I didn't like having to limit the character by only what he knew, which wasn't much. I also did not like not being able to show other people's thoughts.

lucidzfl · Dec 16, 2009

I tend to write in third person limited, but I would think that writing in first would have the advantage of never ever head hopping, which is a huge problem for new writers.

DeleyanLee · Dec 16, 2009

Depends on how I view the story: from within a character or outside a character.

Jake G · Dec 16, 2009

I'm agree with CathyFreeze on this one. Personally, I write YA and usually it is from 1st person POV. The real reason why: I think I have the vocabulary of a 6th grader and it becomes easier to hide in 1st person.

cathyfreeze · Dec 16, 2009

Elektra said:
It depends. For me, I think first person would be easier, because one of my main problems is writing too short of works. First person is just naturally wordier. I always write in third, though...

I'm not sure i'd pick it for *that* reason. Works aren't better just because they're longer--they're better if they have more plot and characterization and tension and action. Wordy is *not* something you want to strive for, imho. Wordy is usually a Bad Thing in fiction.

cat

Lady Ice · Dec 16, 2009

Most beginners naturally revert to 1st, as they picture their MC in their head quite vividly so that they are pretending to be that person.
You either get that school, who tend to write very dull 'I woke up and went to school' stories, or the other school, who create vastly complex and flawed works in third person, normally set in an imaginary world- 'caress the detail'. Then it turns out that they don't have much of a plot either.

The POV I use depends on the story. If I think the story is about experience, I do it in 1st POV. The likelihood is that the story will be quite simple but the character's experience is the primary interest. However if I think the story is more about themes and plot, I write in third person, so I can give a more selective, 'broader' view.

For one of mine, I'm using third limited. This allows me to stay with my character and have the reader become emotionally attached; but I can also show the reader the MC's flaws and problems, which she is unlikely to think about or tell us.

cathyfreeze · Dec 16, 2009

Jake G said:
I'm agree with CathyFreeze on this one. Personally, I write YA and usually it is from 1st person POV. The real reason why: I think I have the vocabulary of a 6th grader and it becomes easier to hide in 1st person.

Don't we all! But it's the attitudes of 6th graders I can't be true to. I'm an oooooold person, and i never thought the way these 6th graders do.

cat

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 16, 2009

Third person just seems unnatural to me. I can't get into the character. I tend to write the story too external to the character, as though a disinterested narrator was blandly telling the story.

First person allows me to get into the person's head and relate their thoughts, feelings, etc.

jgold · Dec 16, 2009

I use both. It depends on the story, really, as to which one is easier/best for me to use.

The longer it is, whether short story or novel-length, the more I tend to pick first person. Female narrators are more likely to be in first (I'm just more comfortable with their voices, I guess). Fantasy stuff, I find easier to write in first, because it's a little easier to 'tell' the background stuff than it would be in third.

For third, it's vice versa. I like horror stories in third, because it gives just enough distance for the character to not be completely aware of the danger while the reader can still feel it. I also lean towards third person with POVs that are male and/or children for the comfort reason.

Of course, there are always exceptions. My WIP novel is a YA urban fantasy in third and my WIP short story is a male sci-fi/horror in first. :Shrug:

theantisplice · Dec 16, 2009

I almost always prefer first.

cwfgal · Dec 16, 2009

I've done both third person limited and first person. My first three books were thrillers and the story and pacing were the main attractions. My current work is a cozy mystery series and the main character's voice is the main attraction. So the first three were done in limited third and the current series is written in first person.

As far as ease of use goes, I can't say one was easier than the other but the first person has been a helluva lot more fun.

Beth

Albannach · Dec 16, 2009

seun said:
I've never thought of it as easier. I just go with whatever suits the story/character.

I think for new writers, first might be easier but then it's also easier for the MC to just become a mouthpiece for the writer.

I am not sure that first is easier for a new writers. I suspect what is easier is what they usually read.

First is so VERY easy to do poorly because it is SO restrictive. A PoV slip that might slide by in third person will stick out like a great big zit in first.

Edit: Personally I prefer writing in Third close because I VERY MUCH prefer reading third close. I think that reading preference is a big part. Why would you like writing a PoV you don't enjoy reading? (Not that I don't find an occasional novel in first that I enjoy--but not very often)

Even when I'm showing my MCs flaws though, I can do that in third close. I assume that when my MC is doing something morally questionable, I don't have to tell the reader. They can see it from his actions. I think it's more interesting for the reader to see the interior struggle from a close PoV as my character struggles to justify himself.

ChainsawLicker · Dec 16, 2009

I prefer third-person. To me, it's less awkward. How many people are going to tell a story to an audience using extreme amounts of detail? (ie: "the paint was peeling from the walls, curling and yellow at the edges of each piece," etc. etc.) I just like the way third flows.

cathyfreeze · Dec 16, 2009

ChainsawLicker said:
I prefer third-person. To me, it's less awkward. How many people are going to tell a story to an audience using extreme amounts of detail? (ie: "the paint was peeling from the walls, curling and yellow at the edges of each piece," etc. etc.) I just like the way third flows.

Interesting point, ChainsawLicker. Never thought of that, but it rings true to me.

Well, depends on your narrator, i guess. I *do* have a couple first-p protags who do describe in detail, but only the bits of the world or action that pertain, so that could keep a newbie from rambling on about things that didn't matter, i suppose.

Now i have to go look at some first person writing to see what that does to setting details. Thanks for the interesting line of thought.

cat

TC Beacham · Dec 16, 2009

lividseras said:
What do you think is easier to write in: First person or third person and why?

imo the choice depends on the story and the writer's voice. (I don't think of one as easier than the other.)

Whenever I start something new, I write the first chapter in both first and third just to see how they read. It's a fun exercise!

ChaosTitan · Dec 16, 2009

I enjoy both, and I don't think one is easier than the other. Which one I write in depends on the needs of the story.

Aggy B. · Dec 16, 2009

I find first person a little more challenging because there's less separation between me and the character. I'm always thinking/writing "I" even though it's not really me.

But I write both first and third without hesitation. And when I write in third the narrative is as strongly influenced by the POV character as it would be in first. Only, you know, it's "he/his" instead of "I/mine."

Lady Ice · Dec 16, 2009

Shadow_Ferret said:
Third person just seems unnatural to me. I can't get into the character. I tend to write the story too external to the character, as though a disinterested narrator was blandly telling the story.

First person allows me to get into the person's head and relate their thoughts, feelings, etc.

Just because it's written in third person doesn't mean that the narrator has to be boring. Read 'Vanity Fair' or any of Charles Dickens' books. You can be witty and perceptive using third person.

Misa Buckley · Dec 16, 2009

I like writing in both. It really depends on what the story is and how I want to present it to the audience.

first or third?

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