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Hello! I am at the beginning stages of a novel and I am debating if I want to write it in first person or third person limited. What are the pros/cons of either point of view?
Watching Brandon Sanderson videos (free on YouTube) gives you answers to questions like these.
POV and narrative person aren't the same, remember.
First POV disadvantages (character telling their own story).... He gives 5; I will only post 2 (so I do not plagiarize him)
1. Reader knows character survived the story (removing tension). Untrustworthy narrator.
2. Two versions of the main character (contrast or similarities in person…. were vs. are). Personalities dominate.
Fair enough, but these notes were presumably posted *for* us to draw conclusions on.
Watching Brandon Sanderson videos (free on YouTube) gives you answers to questions like these. I HIGHLY recommend them for questions like this, and a whole lot more. Brandon shares info like....
First POV advantages.... He gives 6; I will only post 2 (so I do not plagiarize him)
1. Reader knows character survived the story (removing tension). Untrustworthy narrator.
Paraphrasing somebody inaccurately is not desirable.
Huh. I would argue an unreliable narrator would be one of the greatest strengths of the 1st PoV, though I suppose the intent of the author would factor into whether this is a positive or a negative aspect.
Yes. Sanderson covers this in the videos.
I like the 3rd person. You can show opposing points of view through another character.
It's what suits the story. What kind of story do you want to tell? The advantages and disadvantages are on a per story basis, as in, the good and the bad will depend on what you're attempting.
For example, if your story spans 3000 years and covers multiple generations of people (like 'Helliconia' does), then there are no advantages to 1st person.
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