I have a question about POV (point of view). Which POV is preferred in the fiction novel world? 1st or 3rd?
Thanks
Thanks
Point of View? What's Preferred?
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As Willie said, whatever works better for you. Personally, I prefer to read 3rd limited. But that's just me.
Depends greatly on the novel. I know that the standard line is that 3rd limited is most commonly used these days. I'm not absolutely sure that's true, but I haven't done any kind of objective survey. A lot of fine books are written in 1st, too.
A lot of crappy books are written in either 1st or 3rd (limited or omni).
A more pertinent choice is: Do you want to write a good book, or a crappy one?
caw
A lot of crappy books are written in either 1st or 3rd (limited or omni).
A more pertinent choice is: Do you want to write a good book, or a crappy one?
caw
"Preferred" depends on who you ask. You can't make everybody happy -- only yourself. So which do you prefer? Write in it.
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The one that works for your book is the best one.
There are critically-acclaimed, award-winning, and/or best-selling books in first person; there are critically-acclaimed, award-winning, and/or best-selling books in third person limited; and there are critically-acclaimed, award-winning, and/or best-selling books in third person omniscient.
And there's Bright Lights, Big City, which is in second person. But I hate that. On the other hand, I am not your agent or editor.
There are critically-acclaimed, award-winning, and/or best-selling books in first person; there are critically-acclaimed, award-winning, and/or best-selling books in third person limited; and there are critically-acclaimed, award-winning, and/or best-selling books in third person omniscient.
And there's Bright Lights, Big City, which is in second person. But I hate that. On the other hand, I am not your agent or editor.
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"Preferred" by who?
More writers write in 3rd person, so you can "almost" say that's the norm. But that's not really the answer. The answer is given by Willie: Whatever works for the story.
More writers write in 3rd person, so you can "almost" say that's the norm. But that's not really the answer. The answer is given by Willie: Whatever works for the story.
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You will write a book. Once it is finished, you will submit it to agents and receive an offer of representation on the hundredth query; however, there will be a stipulation you re-write the story in anything but second-person imperative future tense; anything but that. It will seem like third-person past is popular, but you will decide not to prefer popularity over your personal judgment.
I enjoy reading books in both POVs. But I prefer writing in third.
Sometimes, though, when I'm stuck in my WIP, switching to first helps me see what the character sees a little more clearly. I go back and clean it up later.
Sometimes, though, when I'm stuck in my WIP, switching to first helps me see what the character sees a little more clearly. I go back and clean it up later.
3rd person limited is kinda considered as the default POV. But a writer should try and discover what's best for the story he/she is writing and go with that.
I have to admit, as more of a reader than a writer (at this point!), it's hard for me to enjoy first-person. Unless the main character doing the talking has interesting patter and internal dialogue, I find first-person narrative a crutch to force instant rapport with the reader. Either that or the author is self-indulgently living vicariously through their mc.
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And then there are people who prefer to read first person.
I think personal preferences are great but they remain personal. That's not going to do the OP any good.
As others have said, there is no preferred POV; there is only the preference of readers, and you will never please all readers. Write the POV that best serves your story, period.
PS - All novels are fiction. Using "fiction novel" is redundant.
PS - All novels are fiction. Using "fiction novel" is redundant.
Hey, I just thought I'd throw out a personal point of view on POVs! 'Serve the story' had already been beaten to death. Any story can be written from any POV, generally speaking. Indeed, there is no right or wrong. You have to decide what you enjoy reading, and therefore, writing. I'd say serve the story AND the writer...I was simply expounding upon why I felt first-person was not my cuppa. And I like pain. And pie.
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I did an exercise with my students (5th graders) while I was teaching POV. I had them take an excerpt from a book and change it to another POV. It was interesting and in some cases surprisingly entertaining. We had Wilbur using 1st person. I also had a student change a paragraph of Twilight to 3rd person, which was strange too. If you really can't tell what works best for your voice, I suggest writing a chapter with one POV and then switch it to another to compare. All will become clear.
I find I tend to write in 3rd Omni, not that I knew it till it was pointed out to me. I also write in 3rd Limited at the same time. I've decided that I'm going to marry the two into 3rd Omni-limete. I don't care if it's not real, the english language had a birthday too yay know. LOL.
no such thing. Novels are, by definition, fiction.
in terms of your question though, that all depends. Sometimes 1st works better than 3rd, sometimes it's the other way around.
There is no right or wrong answer here.
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Throw another 'whatever works for the story' vote in the hat.
I'm normally not a fan of first person, but I can't imagine Dolores Claiborne written any other way and being as powerful.
First or third isn't as important as writing a good story and writing it well.
Just my tuppence, YMMV, and all that.
I'm normally not a fan of first person, but I can't imagine Dolores Claiborne written any other way and being as powerful.
First or third isn't as important as writing a good story and writing it well.
Just my tuppence, YMMV, and all that.
I greatly prefer first person. I search it out. But the norm has to be third person limited, past tense. It's teh way teh greta majority of published novels are written.
When done well, I also love omniscient, but darned few writers even know what it is, let alone do it well. When it is done well, however, omniscient is a wonderful way to write a novel.
When done well, I also love omniscient, but darned few writers even know what it is, let alone do it well. When it is done well, however, omniscient is a wonderful way to write a novel.
I'm just wondering if you folks know you can download a spell checker that will work with the text editor here at AW, as well as most any online text.
Some of the typos are getting so bad, it's hard to understand what you're trying to say.
Some of the typos are getting so bad, it's hard to understand what you're trying to say.
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