POV for Romance novels...

writergirl · Dec 8, 2009

Hey everyone! I am going to start on a new novel, a romance, and was wondering how often people write them in first person?? I don't think I've ever read a romance in that POV, but I have seen publishers who accept it. Have any of you written one from that perspective? Thanks!

veinglory · Dec 8, 2009

I did it once. My main editor and several of my readers politely asked me to never do it again. True story

thethinker42 · Dec 8, 2009

I write most of mine in first person. Some publishers don't like them, some don't mind. ALL of my gay romances are first person because third made the sex scenes into pronoun hell. My hetero romances are probably 50/50, first and third. Just depends on how I want to tell the particular story (i.e., if I want to get into the love interest's mind too).

K. Taylor · Dec 8, 2009

Well, my current I'm working on is two 1st POVs. Won't find out how well it's received until I finish, edit, query, etc.

I prefer working in 1st for the most part.

Darklite · Dec 9, 2009

I've just finished a romance novel in 1st person POV. I found it much harder to write than third, mainly because I was always aware of trying to keep 'in character' throughout the whole thing. And then whole months went by where my narrator went into a big sulk about the way the story was going and refused to talk to me at all. I've never had that problem with third, and I think it'll be a long while before I attempt first again.

shameless · Dec 9, 2009

My best selling book is in first person POV.

K. Taylor · Dec 9, 2009

My best selling book is in first person POV.

NICE!!

Cathy C · Dec 9, 2009

We write frequently in first person, and catch no end of complaints from romance readers. The problem with first person (unless you're writing in paranormal and use "tricks") is that the reader has no way of knowing the other side of the romance. When you write in first from the woman and the man is distant and hangs up abruptly, the reader wants to know "why?" It's the anguish and joy of BOTH parties falling in love that's critical to the reader.

The necessity of this is really why we've moved our first person stories to the urban fantasy shelves. Same books, same conflict, but the mystery of 'why' remains intact and is spread over multiple books. There's romance IN UF books, just no HEA in each book.

Know that it'll be a hard sell to die-hard romance editors unless you figure out some way to let the reader know the whys and let them into the other person's head to explore emotions and thoughts of your other party. That's tough with first person. It can be done, but it'll take time and planning.

raburrell · Dec 9, 2009

Cathy C said:
We write frequently in first person, and catch no end of complaints from romance readers. The problem with first person (unless you're writing in paranormal and use "tricks") is that the reader has no way of knowing the other side of the romance. When you write in first from the woman and the man is distant and hangs up abruptly, the reader wants to know "why?" It's the anguish and joy of BOTH parties falling in love that's critical to the reader.

So why not use multiple first? Switch hero/heroine POV by chapter/scene, same as you would for third. If it's confusing, slap a header on the chapter and you're good to go.

scarletpeaches · Dec 9, 2009

Not every reader wants to know what's going on in the other character's head.

It's more realistic that way. In real life, after all, all we have to go on are the other person's words and deeds. We don't know their thoughts and in a book, I'd have no problem only knowing the main character's thoughts too.

Darklite · Dec 9, 2009

The issue I have with multiple first person POV is that it takes a skilled writer to pull off a distinct and recognisable voice for each narrator. I’ve read a few books where it can be difficult to tell who’s head I’m supposed to be in, when it should be obvious by the tone/style etc. The reader should not have to resort to checking section/chapter headings for that.

Also, there’s the problem of readers finding one narrator more appealing than the other other/s, and they may skip whole chunks of story to get back to their favourite character – although this happen in third person POV as well, I think it’s more of a risk in first.

raburrell · Dec 9, 2009

Darklite said:
The issue I have with multiple first person POV is that it takes a skilled writer to pull off a distinct and recognisable voice for each narrator. I’ve read a few books where it can be difficult to tell who’s head I’m supposed to be in, when it should be obvious by the tone/style etc. The reader should not have to resort to checking section/chapter headings for that.

True, but if you're writing 'conventional' romance, and can't make a guy sound different than a girl, you're probably in trouble

Also, there’s the problem of readers finding one narrator more appealing than the other other/s, and they may skip whole chunks of story to get back to their favourite character – although this happen in third person POV as well, I think it’s more of a risk in first.

Also true - I'd say this is another thing that lands on the author's shoulders though, and the solution falls into the category of 'write a good book'

Cherelle · Dec 9, 2009

As a reader I hate reading first persons. My favorite author lisa kleypas writes her contemporaries in first person and I refuse to read them.

Deb Kinnard · Dec 9, 2009

raburrell said:
So why not use multiple first?

Most of us don't do this because they're a tough sell. You have to get it 110% perfect, I'm told by people who have tried, or it just doesn't communicate. If ever I tried this, I'd have it beta-read by someone I trust to see if it actually worked.

First person as a whole is not easy to market unless you're writing really lighthearted women's fic (formerly known as chick lit). I was once told that a project I'd done in third person needed to be rewritten in first because it was humorous. I didn't do it--sold it to a house that was okay with it as-it-was.

writergirl · Dec 9, 2009

Wow! Thank you to everyone who has replied thus far

I find ALL of you have great points in all your words and choices with writing romance.

Shameless - oh, this is much too inspiring for me! [makes me want to do a happy dance and get my book written in, well, as soon as possible!]

I asked because for me first person comes as naturally as breathing. I remember writing my first book, started in third and then decided it wasn't going right so I switched to first person. Everyone liked it so much better. Granted, it was't a romance novel. I guess I really like to connect with the heroine, and be just as clueless to what's going on as she does when conflicts arise with the hero. That's just me, though. Like said above, in real life you don't know everything that's happening, or being felt. BUT, I do know, as also stated above, that readers want everything - to dive deep into the worlds and minds of BOTH heroine and hero. Guys, I must say I'm torn.

Having started the first chapter in third person, when I went to read over it - the writing didn't seem like it was mine :/ And it felt...wrong. Should I just stick it out, keep up third person POV with practice? Or do what feels and reads as my own? After all, I want to be able to show my voice in my work.

raburrell · Dec 9, 2009

Deb Kinnard said:
Most of us don't do this because they're a tough sell. You have to get it 110% perfect, I'm told by people who have tried, or it just doesn't communicate. If ever I tried this, I'd have it beta-read by someone I trust to see if it actually worked.

First person as a whole is not easy to market unless you're writing really lighthearted women's fic (formerly known as chick lit). I was once told that a project I'd done in third person needed to be rewritten in first because it was humorous. I didn't do it--sold it to a house that was okay with it as-it-was.

I find romance publishing to be too conservative for my tastes overall - 'tis why I aim elsewhere - there's something out there for everyone, and that's how it should be. For me (and yes, my betas), multiple 1st works, but yes, I concede, it can be difficult to pull of.

Ardelie · Dec 9, 2009

My only hesitation with romance in first person - sex scenes? The "I" just doesn't fit well, imo, and it tends to make me laugh more than go "oh, that's kinda hot."

veinglory · Dec 9, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
Not every reader wants to know what's going on in the other character's head.

The example given was for genre romance readers, who overwhelming do want to know this and represent the largest genre fiction market currently available.

veinglory · Dec 9, 2009

writergirl said:
I asked because for me first person comes as naturally as breathing.

If you look at literary novels, an author's first novel is often in first person. As they continue, in many cases, they move to third. It seems most people start out naturally inclined to first, but the market moves them. The market for genre romance is particulalry strong willed about this. While fantasy and women's fiction now have quite a few successful writers using first person, in romance it remains unusual.

dolores haze · Dec 9, 2009

veinglory said:
The example given was for genre romance readers, who overwhelming do want to know this and represent the largest genre fiction market currently available.

This is true. Unfortunately for me, 'cos my latest is third person, but entirely from the POV of the male MC. As a reader I wish there was a bit more variety in the romance formula. E-presses seem to be a little more adventurous, though.

Darklite · Dec 9, 2009

I wrote my first person romance with the e-pubs in mind. It's an unconventional romance as well as in first person, so the market would be very limited for me without them. Those e-pubs keep my dream of becoming an author alive

veinglory · Dec 9, 2009

dolores haze said:
This is true. Unfortunately for me, 'cos my latest is third person, but entirely from the POV of the male MC. As a reader I wish there was a bit more variety in the romance formula. E-presses seem to be a little more adventurous, though.

Indeed. I am also working on a male-POV romance... with a hint of femdom. It is unlikely to be one of my best sellers but at least smaller presses will give it a go.

veinglory · Dec 9, 2009

Darklite said:
I wrote my first person romance with the e-pubs in mind. It's an unconventional romance as well as in first person, so the market would be very limited for me without them. Those e-pubs keep my dream of becoming an author alive

Epubs vary in their acceptance of frist person. For some it is a non-issue but many of the larger ones are pretty reluctant to take it. My one first person novella was placed with a smaller epub for this reason.

*RomanceWriter* · Dec 9, 2009

I read and write both, but since starting to write in 3rd, I haven't gone back. Yes, it's more accepted, but I also find it less limiting when writing.

shameless · Dec 9, 2009

Ardelie said:
My only hesitation with romance in first person - sex scenes? The "I" just doesn't fit well, imo, and it tends to make me laugh more than go "oh, that's kinda hot."

I don't agree. I actually thought some of my love scenes (BTW, to me they'll always be LOVE scenes not SEX scenes because I write romance...) in Turning Thirty-Twelve came out pretty darned hot. At least my readers tell me so.

I think first person POV is like anything else in writing. You've got to learn to do it correctly. Biggest pitfall is switching tenses, judging from all the contests I've judged where entries used first person POV.

POV for Romance novels...

Yep, I'm a newb.

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Ooo! Shiny new cover!

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Gloriously Disfunctional

Yep, I'm a newb.

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Ardelie

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