A technicality of 1st Person POV

RLSMiller · May 30, 2007

Is it generally assumed that a 1st person narrator is relaying the story directly to the reader, be it passively (in a diary) or actively (like friends talking between each other)? And if so, is it okay to directly address the reader at certain moments for dramatic effect?

Here's an example of me doing this in something I just wrote:

It was ten o’clock at night. I was cold, tired and hungry. The last thing I wanted to be doing was standing in a crowd of screaming fans and merciless paparazzi while Mother dearest soaked up their admiration like a tanning addict on a Californian beach. But that didn’t matter. I had a job; I was the guy who applied the sun-block if she got too burnt. Yeah, I know, it wasn’t all that convincing to me either, but cut me some slack - smiling and posing for two hours straight is bound to make anyone a little delusional.

I’d like to take this moment to impart a little valuable knowledge. Next time you’re bored, be thankful. No, that’s not a joke. Just remember that things can get much scarier than ‘boring,’ as I was just about to find out.

Would you find it jarring? It's a YA contemporary fantasy, if that makes a difference.

Sassee · May 30, 2007

If you're not comfortable doing that you can re-word it to be the character reflecting to him/herself about boredom. I don't know that I'd address the reader directly. If it's the only part of the book you do it, it'll be out of place.

Danger Jane · May 30, 2007

I tend to find that jarring, that is if the story's not epistolary. I think that's because I think of most first person narration as the narrator's head, the narrator's thoughts, not the narrator telling a story. Of course that's for first person present tense; I kind of avoid first person past because it gives me headaches thinking about how the story is being told and why and all that.

JoNightshade · May 30, 2007

You can use whatever method you want, but just decide on it and stick to it. For instance, if you decide your audience is the MC's diary, then you write it to the diary. If the audience is the actual reader, then you write to the reader. Etc.

rugcat · May 30, 2007

An occasional aside to the reader can work, ("Yeah, I know, it was stupid,") but a little goes a long way. It needs to be used sparingly.

DeadlyAccurate · May 30, 2007

I agree with rugcat. That tends to be how my 1st POV run. By the way, I think the word you want is impart, not implore. Implore means to beg for aid.

RLSMiller · May 30, 2007

DeadlyAccurate said:
I agree with rugcat. That tends to be how my 1st POV run. By the way, I think the word you want is impart, not implore. Implore means to beg for aid.

Thanks for that.

I just noticed it myself, but I couldn't be bothered to edit the first post.

Dawnstorm · May 30, 2007

Famous novel beginning:

"Call me Ishmael."

There.

***

Actually, the only narration mode that doesn't allow for addressing the reader is second person. (And it's kind of difficult in 3rd limited, too.)

FennelGiraffe · May 30, 2007

The technical term for that is 'breaking the fourth wall' and it is a valid technique. It carries the cost of reminding the reader that they are reading a story (as opposed to maintaining the illusion that the reader is actually experiencing the story). If the benefit of doing so in your story is greater than that cost, then go for it.

My only other caveat is don't do it just once. Either commit to it and use it throughout, or don't do it at all. Well, OK, in complex structures such as frame stories, you can address the reader in the frame while the contained story doesn't, or vice versa. But in cases like those, you still want to be consistent for each part.

Jamesaritchie · May 30, 2007

RLSMiller said:
Is it generally assumed that a 1st person narrator is relaying the story directly to the reader, be it passively (in a diary) or actively (like friends talking between each other)? And if so, is it okay to directly address the reader at certain moments for dramatic effect?

Here's an example of me doing this in something I just wrote:

It was ten o’clock at night. I was cold, tired and hungry. The last thing I wanted to be doing was standing in a crowd of screaming fans and merciless paparazzi while Mother dearest soaked up their admiration like a tanning addict on a Californian beach. But that didn’t matter. I had a job; I was the guy who applied the sun-block if she got too burnt. Yeah, I know, it wasn’t all that convincing to me either, but cut me some slack - smiling and posing for two hours straight is bound to make anyone a little delusional.

I’d like to take this moment to impart a little valuable knowledge. Next time you’re bored, be thankful. No, that’s not a joke. Just remember that things can get much scarier than ‘boring,’ as I was just about to find out

Would you find it jarring? It's a YA contemporary fantasy, if that makes a difference.

Since first person is talking to the reader directly, this is fine, and I don't know a first person writer who doesn't do it. In fact, if you hadn't told anyone, they wouldn't know you were doing it here, either.

This is how first person is supposed to be written. Just don't break in and tell the reader you're telling the reader something. Just tell them.

Shady Lane · May 30, 2007

Yep, I do this all the time.

Of course you don't want to do it too much. You don't want to do ANYthing too much.

This is actually one of my favorite parts of of writing in first person, and the thing I really miss now that I'm writing a third.

justpat · May 30, 2007

I've seen this done very effectively in other books. I believe Vonnegut did it a lot. I think it typically only works when the novel is somewhat comical.

You wouldn't want to do it in a thriller. For example:
I plunged the knife deep into his back. You know how it is when you cut up a roast? Yeah, it was like that, only there was more blood. And all the screaming was really annoying. I twisted the knife to make him stop.

windyrdg · May 30, 2007

There's always the potential to move the comment into the abstract. ie: Sometimes we should be thankful that all we are is bored. There are a lot of things scarier than being bored.

Doug Johnson · May 30, 2007

Or you could write something like:

Ten minutes later, I was praying to God, promising that I'd never complain about being bored again.

evangoer · May 30, 2007

What are you talking about, justpat, that little snippet is great!

Lindo · May 30, 2007

This is done all the time. You also see third person addresses to the reader. Not a big deal.
The important thing is: who is there to tell you you can;t do it?

A technicality of 1st Person POV

RLSMiller

Sassee

Momma Wolf

Danger Jane

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

rugcat

Lost in the Fog

DeadlyAccurate

Absolutely Fazed

RLSMiller

Dawnstorm

punny user title, here

FennelGiraffe

It's green they say

Jamesaritchie

Shady Lane

my name is hannah

justpat

QueryTracker

windyrdg

New kid, be gentle!

Doug Johnson

evangoer

(modified)

Lindo