a writer's first novel

pixiejuice · Jul 13, 2005

I found an interview with a well-published chick-lit author. The interviewer asked her why she decided to write her second novel in different points of view, when her first novel was written in first person.

Her response was that most writers choose first person for their first novel, and that it tends to be highly autobiographical. It's just something that first-time novelists do. And that she wanted to try something different for her second novel.

So, go figure, the novel I'm writing, my first, is in first person and happens to be highly autobiographical.

Is this something I should try to avoid? I was toying with the idea of third person alternating between the two MCs anyway. Would people read a first person novel and think "oh, that reeks of a first-time author"?

I didn't know that this was a trend that existed. Is it true, or was she mistaken? Should I try to be different, or is it okay to do what is expected?

maestrowork · Jul 13, 2005

If it's well written, you shouldn't worry about a thing. The chick-lit author sold tons of books, didn't she?

My first book IS first person (but not autobiographical). I haven't heard a bad thing about it so far. Nobody even said anything like, "oh, it's first person, so it must your first book."

I am writing my second in 3rd, multiple POV but just because the story requires it. I have two protagonists and the scope is grander. I suppose it could work with two first-person POVs...

Saanen · Jul 13, 2005

I love writing in first person. I know people who hate it. I'd question the chick-lit author's statement anyway--where did she get the information that "most writers choose first person for their first novel, and that it tends to be highly autobiographical"? Did she do a survey?

MadScientistMatt · Jul 13, 2005

A lot of writers, particularly in mysteries, write many of their novels in first person. I wouldn't worry about writing your first novel in first person. On the other hand, you may want to post about it here if you happen to get an urge to write your second novel in second person.

Christine N. · Jul 13, 2005

Leave it to me to buck the system. My first book is third person limited and only kind of autobiographical. I can see some of myself in my MC, but since I've never met a real fairy or ridden on the back of a dragon... LOL

maestrowork · Jul 13, 2005

Christine N. said:
Leave it to me to buck the system. My first book is third person limited and only kind of autobiographical. I can see some of myself in my MC, but since I've never met a real fairy or ridden on the back of a dragon... LOL

It shows that it depends on your genre, too. Mysteries are oftentimes written in first person. Fantasy usually in 3rd, even omniscient. First person in mainstream/literary is common. I'd say first person is common in chick lit anyway. Romance -- 3rd person...

There are always exceptions, of course. But like I said before, if it's done well, don't worry about it.

Aconite · Jul 13, 2005

Saanen said:
-where did she get the information that "most writers choose first person for their first novel, and that it tends to be highly autobiographical"?

This is one of those statements supported by much anecdotal evidence. A roomful of authors will nod sagely at the phrase "first-person autobiographical first novel" the same way other people will at "puppy love."

azbikergirl · Jul 13, 2005

Ha! My first novel was somewhat autobiographical, but in the third person.

loquax · Jul 13, 2005

My first book is in third person, but I have several chapters as letters from one of the characters, which are obviously written in first person. I could have just changed the POV, but the third person allows the narrator to describe things that may not be happening, which is exactly what I wanted to portray that particular character's fall into insanity.
A good example of this use of first person is Henry James' The Turn of the Screw. As you go through the book you realise that the narrator is delusional; imagining things that are not there. The best third person works take advantage of the fact that the narrator is not describing things as they are, but things as they perceive them to be.

brinkett · Jul 13, 2005

My first novel isn't autobiographical in any way, nor is it in first person.

pixiejuice · Jul 13, 2005

Aconite said:
This is one of those statements supported by much anecdotal evidence. A roomful of authors will nod sagely at the phrase "first-person autobiographical first novel" the same way other people will at "puppy love."

Okay, so it's not a terrible thing then. That's all I was worried about.

Thanks for the great comments, guys.

aadams73 · Jul 13, 2005

I write mysteries in first person that are in no way autobiographical. In my downtime I'm working on a piece that is based on places I've been but it's not autobiographical in nature either. I'm still trying to decide if it is best told in first or third--time will tell.

BenMears · Jul 13, 2005

Aconite said:
This is one of those statements supported by much anecdotal evidence. A roomful of authors will nod sagely at the phrase "first-person autobiographical first novel" the same way other people will at "puppy love."

I have written a short story in first person, I think, but never felt like using it for any of my attempts at a novel. I have also never been in love with a puppy.

DeZertFairy · Jul 13, 2005

My friend and I were just having the "first person vs. thrid person" conversation the other day LOL For me, first person POV is much more comfortable to write in. Ive written a few things in the third POV also, but I tend to try to switch back to first person, as its more natural to me.
Personally I enjoy reading books that are first person, or even multiple POV's, I tend to bore easily or feel like a fly on the wall with thrid person. With first person, you almost start to become that character.
As far as you're first novel tending to be first person and biographical... perhapse that is what is most comfortable for a lot of authors and what get's them going??? Who knows. All I do is write what comes most naturally to me, not what someone tells me I should.
~Dez

Saanen · Jul 13, 2005

Like maestrowork said, I suspect it has a lot to do with genre. I read and write mostly fantasy/SF and my first person work is an exception to mostly third person POV books. I expect a lot of chiclit is first person and certainly autobiographical, but it's not a genre I read so I wouldn't know.

One thing I have heard that I've always been curious about is that a newer writer tends to create main characters of the opposite sex from him/her. Has anyone else heard this? I feel comfortable writing from POV of male or female, but most of my main characters are female (like me). I do remember, however, that when I was just starting out a lot of my MCs were male--then again, that could have to do with genre again, since back then most SF and a big chunk of fantasy was written with a male MC.

Dhewco · Jul 13, 2005

My first book is third person. I hate writing in first. I might do it one day, but not anytime soon.

David

katiemac · Jul 13, 2005

My first novel isn't autobiographical in any way, nor is it in first person.

I second this.

Ken Schneider · Jul 13, 2005

katiemac said:
I second this.

Thirded. um.
Anyway, I wrote my first novel in thrid, and the six others in third.

For me, none of them except for the last two have been worthy of publication.

Like playing golf, you will get better with practice.

Third person lets me watch, first means I have to be involved, and I may want to kill myself off.

pianoman5 · Jul 13, 2005

First novels that are thinly-disguised autobiographies are very common. After all, we've all been told, "write what you know", and a fair proportion of writers write because they've got something to say, or rid themselves of. But remember that only a handful of people - close friends and family - will even know that your story has a lot of yourself in it, so it shouldn't harm one's marketing efforts. Although, I suspect professional readers are a little wary at present of work containing too much transparent, bleeding-heart stuff.

The more important consideration is this: is your own story fascinating enough to enthrall potential readers? The answer for most of us, it seems, is a resounding "NO!" Fiction is generally more interesting than fact. It has to be for people to part with money to read it. Most true stories need to be punched up quite a lot to give them that larger-than-life verisimilitude we demand of fiction.

My own first novel was not meant to be autobiographical, but there's certainly a lot more of me in there than I intended. Since I realised that, I've edited out a lot of stuff that belonged to me and not to my characters, for the sake of interest, pace, and character consistency.

Kiva Wolfe · Jul 13, 2005

Pixiejuice,

Rather than going by what another chick-lit author did, I would encourage you to take a chance on your yourself and see where your POV and writing takes you. Have faith. If you don't like the way your selected POV reads, try another, multiple if you have to, until you are satisfied it works.

What do I know, I ask. I write hunk-lit.

LightShadow · Jul 13, 2005

I don't tend to write in the first person because I really don't like reading novels from the first person POV. I feel it limits narration. Yet, first person works for some. Sometimes I write in first person if the material is closer to my heart. Really, I don't think it hurts, one way or another, and I have noticed most new novels by new writers tend to be in the first person. Such as JA Konrath's Whiskey Sour.

MillyBecker · Jul 13, 2005

My first novel wasn't in first, either. It was third (limited). Nothing about it was autobiographical, either. No one would want to read about my life. My second novel was written from multiple POVs. I don't really enjoy 1st person either.

LightShadow · Jul 13, 2005

I just feel like 1st person is too limiting. The best novels are written with God-like narration. At least, that's what I think.

Sharon Mock · Jul 14, 2005

For what it's worth, I've written short stories in first person, but all the novels have been in multiple third person POV.

No autobiography -- I write fantasy -- though I did include myself as a tertiary character in the last novel. (It was just that kind of book. Which probably explains why it never got revised.)

The first two novel attempts had male protagonists. The WIP has a female main character.

It's all trivia, really. Write what you want to write. Write something different when you're done.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 14, 2005

Novels

What's wrong with autobiography? Write what you know really works, and I think all novels, especially published novels, are autobiographical to one degree or another. Many of those that aren't tend to be wish fulfillment stories, which is a form of the same thing.

The trouble with first person novels is that not many new writers can handle first person well.

a writer's first novel

pixiejuice

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Saanen

MadScientistMatt

Empirical Storm Trooper

Christine N.

haz a shiny new book cover

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Aconite

azbikergirl

I really do look like this.

loquax

I verb nouns adverbly

brinkett

Elder Scrolls devotee

pixiejuice

aadams73

A Work in Progress

BenMears

DeZertFairy

Saanen

Dhewco

katiemac

Five by Five

Ken Schneider

Absolute sagebrush

pianoman5

Means well

Kiva Wolfe

LightShadow

defender of the blahs!

MillyBecker

LightShadow

defender of the blahs!

Sharon Mock

Wing nut

Jamesaritchie