What's your preferred POV?

JoNightshade · May 4, 2007

Since I'm fairly new to these boards forgive me if this has already been done. But I'm just curious-- what point of view does everyone prefer to use when you write a novel, and why?

Me: Generally I find that third person present tense works best for me. If I'm not getting the terminology right here, forgive me. What I mean is: "Jim wakes up at five AM with a huge headache. He slides out of bed and goes downstairs to get some milk and cookies."

Of course I've also done tons of stuff in your average third person past tense.

But I think the best things I've written have been in... uh, I am not sure what to call it. First person present tense, but jumping from person to person. IE, one person narrates for a while, as the action is happening, and then "passes the ball" to someone else. I love it because it enables the reader to get inside of each character's head.

I like to try different things. The only POV I really don't like is the "you" narratives. Is that called second person? "You wake up at 5 AM with a huge headache." I just can't stop myself from thinking, "Actually, no I don't."

LeeFlower · May 4, 2007

My preferred POV is whichever one best suits the story I'm trying to tell.

Sorry, dull answer, but that's all I've got. It usually ends up being third or first-person past tense.

scarletpeaches · May 4, 2007

My default tense is third person limited, present. However, I've been forcing myself to write 3rd limited past, as I'm told it's more reader-friendly.

I mean, I'm a reader and I don't have a problem with present tense, but there's no point shooting myself in the foot before I'm published.

Nickie · May 4, 2007

Mostly, I write in the thrid person (simple past, as my novels are all set in earlier ages). But I also like to switch from one person's viewpoint to another when relating what has happened. I think it can be of importance to the reader to know what the main characters are thinking at some time or other.

Nickie

maestrowork · May 4, 2007

First person. But yeah, it depends on the story. My current NIP is in 3rd limited. My last two short stories were in 3rd limited as well.

Devil Ledbetter · May 4, 2007

I depends on what the story needs. I wrote my entire first draft in first person. The second draft is in close third person limited.

I find present tense easy to write, but annoying to read so I only use it when I'm doing character interviews, which never see daylight.

Shady Lane · May 4, 2007

First person present first person present first person present.

I can deal with past.
And the ocassional third limited.
And second.

Nothing else.
Third person objective makes me ill just to think about.

herdon · May 4, 2007

Third Person Limited but I write in First Person as well. Depends on the vision I have for the story.

MidnightMuse · May 4, 2007

Third limited is my favorite, but I've done First and quite enjoyed it.

Randy · May 4, 2007

So far, I've been writing novels in third-person. Seems to work for me. I write thrillers-suspense. Funny thing is, almost every short story I wrote was in first person. And I really liked writing in first person! I'd like to try a first person novel. But I agree with other posts -- depends on the flavor and genre of the story.

TrickyFiction · May 4, 2007

It depends on the book for me. Right now I have two in first person, and one in third person limited. I seem to limit myself naturally, for some reason. I only want to see the story through one set of eyes. When, I was younger, though, I could write third person omniscient most easily. I wonder what changed.

JamieFord · May 4, 2007

I love first-person, but get into trouble with anything longer than a short story. I tend to write in close 3rd-person for novel-length stuff.

JasonChirevas · May 4, 2007

My current WIP is Third Person Objective because I want a cinematic feel and because that POV forces you to leave crutches like similes and metaphors largely to the side and focus on story and revealing character through action.

The crime short fiction I've written has largely been in First Person.

-Jason

Claudia Gray · May 4, 2007

I've written first person, third person limited and third person objective. Novels that aren't in an epistolary form or in a distinctive narrator's voice almost invariably work better in past tense, I think.

swvaughn · May 4, 2007

Third person limited past. I once started something in first person, but I either changed my mind and went to third, or scrapped the work. I don't remember. I should maybe broaden my horizons.

And how come Ray gets to have a NIP, and all I got is a WIP? ... never mind, just answered my own question. Note the sig.

deltasierra · May 4, 2007

I like third person, occasionally switching between limited and omniscient throughout the work. Sometimes, though, I like to play with first person, but I tend to lose my other characters when I write in that POV.

Lady Esther · May 4, 2007

I find it easier to first think in first person, past tense; then write it out in third person limited, past.

I prefer third person limited, past tense.

I read a book in third person omniscient and it irritated me to no end.

Sassee · May 4, 2007

I used to write in 3rd person limited all the time, but my current WIP is first person... it's a lot more challenging to present things through first person, but I like it so far. (for instance, you can't cut to a scene with some dude mysteriously sneaking through bushes unseen, because he's... well, unseen, so I can't write about it. lol)

CaroGirl · May 4, 2007

Whichever best suits the story. My last novel was 3rd person past tense. My WIP is 1st person past tense. I normally use present tense only for short stories because I find it difficult to sustain in a novel-length work.

Chasing the Horizon · May 4, 2007

All my work has been in 3rd limited past tense with multiple POV characters. But I have two stories for which I don't think this is working. One I plan on changing to omniscient 3rd past, which is something I've always wanted to try despite its lousy odds of publication. The other would read well in first person, but I'm afraid of writing an entire trilogy in first. What happens when I suddenly decide I need a second POV character halfway through the second book?

I don't think I could write in anything other than past tense, though. I'd end up confusing myself.

blacbird · May 4, 2007

Depends entirely on the story, although I'd do a second-person narrative only after gouging out my eyes with a spoon. I'm not terribly fond of present-tense, either, but I've used it on occasion. But first- vs. third-limited is story-dependent. I'm not good enough to use omniscient well.

Then again, as nothing ever gets accepted, that last comment could apply to any narrative style I use.

caw

Jamesaritchie · May 4, 2007

POV

First person, past tense, followed by third person limited, past tense. I generally hate present tense, no matter what.

Siddow · May 4, 2007

First person, trying for past tense, with limited slips to present, which I must edit out.

Or third person limited, past tense, if I need more than one POV. For some reason, third is easier to stay in tense. Anyone want to explain why?

sunna · May 4, 2007

Third person limited, past tense; though I used to love first person present or past tense. Third's harder for me, but ultimetly it seems to be making for a better story. I hope.

Countess Olenska · May 4, 2007

First person past or third person past.

What's your preferred POV?

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