Third or first person POV, which do you prefer?

Question · Jan 12, 2012

Used to love third person, but I prefer first person right now. It doesn't matter so long as a story is told well, but that isn't a good enough answer to sate my curiosity

Anne Lyle · Jan 12, 2012

I don't dislike first, but I prefer third. First needs the right voice or it can be really grating, whereas third tends to be more neutral so you can focus on the story.

willietheshakes · Jan 12, 2012

Fourth.

alleycat · Jan 12, 2012

Fifth.

I believe the modern preference is for first-person or third-person close, but it really depends on the story. I don't select a book, or reject a book, based on whether it's written in first or third.

Buffysquirrel · Jan 12, 2012

Is this for reading or writing?

happywritermom · Jan 12, 2012

I prefer third, but I've enjoyed many first-person novels.

CrastersBabies · Jan 12, 2012

Indifferent unless the POV becomes too intrusive.

ios · Jan 12, 2012

I actually like either in reading, but with a slight preference for strong voiced, first person pov. For writing? I used to do close, third person, limited omni. But in the last few years or so, I've leant more toward first person. I tend to only write in third person now for stories that require multiple povs or when I'm writing my Regency-inspired-fantasy-setting-with-vampires, because Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and Barbara Metzger, my inspirations for style, don't use first. In fact, I think my style slips a little into the omni too for those--at least, I think that is what Jane Austen is considered.

Anyway, long winded answer complete

Jodi

Devil Ledbetter · Jan 12, 2012

As long as it's well written, I don't care.

EthanJones · Jan 12, 2012

My two novels are written in third person. I tried my hand on first person in a short story, but I like third person best. I think it allows both the author and the reader to bring more details and more perspectives into the book.

Thanks,

Ethan

magicmint · Jan 12, 2012

What ever gets the job done.

Emerson · Jan 12, 2012

I definitely prefer 3rd. I've written a couple short stories in 1st but I have a hard time imagining doing more than that.

SRHowen · Jan 12, 2012

I use and write both.

thethinker42 · Jan 12, 2012

Reading? Don't care.

Writing? First.

Springs · Jan 12, 2012

It really depends on what you're writing/reading. I've read some books that absolutely need to be in one or the other to work effectively. When I'm reading, I'm usually pretty indifferent in that case, although I've yet to be able to write very long in first person. For some reason, it bothers me in my own work.

Bogna · Jan 13, 2012

Third person for both reading and writing. I can't pinpoint what exactly irks me about first person, it just makes me cringe.

sunandshadow · Jan 13, 2012

I think they are great for different things. I use first person when I want to write a story which is heavily about the main character's inner thoughts and feelings (or which alternates between two or more main characters). I use close third when I want to write a story which is about a group of people interacting with each other and the external world.

J.S.F. · Jan 13, 2012

Both my published novels were written in first-person, mainly because I wanted to get at the mindset of my MC and focus on his changes along the course of the novels. I have two more (at least) coming out over the next few months but the novel I'm working on now will be written in third-person. I agree first-person can become grating after a while, but it really depends on how you depict him/her.

Linda Adams · Jan 13, 2012

Mine's not on the list: Omniscient.

Reading: Prefer omniscient. I don't particularly care for first.

aurinko · Jan 13, 2012

I used to mostly write in third, but recently switched to writing in first. At first I did it because I perceived myself as being prone to lapsing into pretentious prose when I write in third person, but ended up sticking with first person because it was just so damn fun to be inside my characters' heads' and to have them narrate their story.

When it comes to reading, I actually prefer omniscient, but I don't have any problems with first person or limited third.

seun · Jan 13, 2012

The story and characters matter much more than the POV.

Saint09 · Jan 13, 2012

For me it totally depends on the genre I'm reading.

I don't like my fantasy in first person at all. Only on very rare occasions have I liked a fantasy novel in first person (Name of the Wind, and the Eddie Lacrosse novels). I mostly read epic fantasy, so I prefer to experience the world through a very broad scope, and I think it's hard to pull off with a limit first person PoV. Not to mention most fantasy has a large cast of characters. With them all playing important roles, it's nice to experience the story and world through multiple views. I like third person limited for my fantasy. We still get their limited PoV, just not stuck in their head.

With the mystery (especially P.I.s), I prefer first person. I like seeing what's in their head as they deduce and solve and work through things. The world is so much less important in this genre (I mean modern is modern, we all are familiar with it), so there's no need for a broad point of view. These novels tend to follow one person as well.

Far as writing. Same applies. I'm fine with either, but it all depends on what the story and scope require.

Bufty · Jan 13, 2012

This question crops up every so often and usually leads to the same place - nowhere.

Question said:
Used to love third person, but I prefer first person right now. It doesn't matter so long as a story is told well, but that isn't a good enough answer to sate my curiosity

donroc · Jan 13, 2012

3rd -- too often 1st comes across as whiney.

Nephytis · Jan 13, 2012

reading? i don't care.
writing? i prefer first person, but it depends on the char and story. when i write in 3rd i have to watch how i'm writing it, because i slip so easily into passive voice. ><.

Third or first person POV, which do you prefer?

First or third?

I prefer first person

I prefer third person

I'm COMPLETELY indifferent

Soon I will be invincible

Fantastic historian

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

Still around

Burninator!

Weirdo.

Come on you stranger, you legend,

Erotica is not a four letter word!

Abnormal Romance Author

Impractical Fantasy Animal

Red fish, blue fish...

Soldier, Storyteller

I should be writing.

Horror Man

is a very hoopy frood.

Where have the last ten years gone?

Historicals and Horror rule

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