First Or Third Person, Part 1
February 20th 2009 23:48
After yesterday's post about humanising the hero of a story, I thought I'd talk about the two normal options for tale-telling: first or third person.
First-person text is written from the point of view of a single individual and uses the pronoun "I". As in "I pulled a face", "I told him to get lost" and so on. The reader knows what the individual is thinking, how they feel and what they do. Third person is the telling from an 'invisible observer' viewpoint, much like in most films, putting the reader in a position of seeing all the action as a spectator, no matter where it occurs. "He pulled a face" and "The bartender told him to get lost" are both third-person phrases. Both styles have advantages and disadvantages. Today, we'll look at first-person writing.
Recounting a tale from the first-person point of view makes it easier for a reader (and the author) to immerse themselves in the story: they can imagine that the "I" referred to really is them, that they are the hero(ine) thrust into whatever events are described. It also gives much wider scope for characterisation, since the reader remains with the same individual throughout the entire book, seeing things through their eyes and getting to know them as time progresses. Humour is often easier to write in this way, too, using the primary character's personality and views.
Unfortunately, writing in the first person can also be very limiting, especially when writing something that's plot-based rather than character-based. In other words, if the events are more important than the individual's development and feelings (for example epic fantasy as opposed to romance), deciding to write in the first person can really tie a writer's hands. This is because the story can only recount what the individual knows: it cannot skip away to see what three or four other people are doing, then return.
This, in turn, leads to one of two situations: either the author struggles to come up with ways to introduce essential plot information or they try to write interim chapters from another perspective (usually the villain's). The former often gives rise to all those horribly unrealistic parts of a book where the hero "just happens to overhear/see/read/be told" something really important or discover the plot device carelessly left in an open safe; the latter affects the flow of a story and can make reading the book feel piecemeal and jarring.
Of course, a special situation exists for stories based around secret plots, such as spy novels, detective stories and so on. In this case, the fact that the main character does not know what's going on can be a real advantage and the bad guy's Master Plan can be revealed piece by piece as the hero discovers it through hard work and clever deduction.
The first person can also be a problem for writers who are weak in their characterisation. Writing from a single person's perspective when that person is not well-defined can cause the author's shortcomings to stick out like a sore thumb (excuse the cliché) and make the telling of their tale very bland and uninteresting.
One final note for authors choosing the first person is to remind them not to forget their descriptive text or to abandon their supporting characters. It can be very easy to charge through the story at an accelerated pace, only concerned with one individual. Remembering to include appropriate descriptive paragraphs and to follow what happens to those poor, underpaid secondary people (and how they feel about it) is still essential to the reader's immersion..
Tomorrow, we'll have a look at the pros and cons of the third person.
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Comment by Janet Collins
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Seriously though, I found this post very informative and interesting. I look forward to reading more of them.
Comment by Chris Champion
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Comment by Teresa Ralton
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Comment by Norm
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Comment by Kleonaptra
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Get what I mean? Even though its in third person, you never get out of Lisey's head. I did not even realize the mastery of this device until I recently ripped it off in my own novel, I sent my first two chapters out for proof read and got, "I like it. But it feels weird. Like it should be in first person".
Coincidentally...(Or my mind gave me a push) I went back and read Lisey's Story. Thats when I realized I had used the device for a reason - by writing in third person, but staying in the main character's head exclusively as if it is first person, you create a real sense of lonliness around the main character. Like they are the only person in the world that matters, so you give them a bit of an ego too.
Personally, I love it as a device, but the main character has got to be worth it. I like it in my novel because the main character hears voices so its not like we are only hearing one person speak.
Comment by Chris Champion
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Comment by Teresa Ralton
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Comment by Lilla
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This 1st and 3rd person business has been a blind spot for me for years, in so far as my (previous) preference for stories told in the 3rd person narrative and my recent change in attitude.
I can remember after reading Battle Field Earth I thought ... why not get into the Decology and follow it through... problem was about three chapters into the first book I couldnt *get it* at all. Maybe because I couldnt relate to being a man? Who knows...
The fact is, it stayed with me for years until recently I glanced and per chanced at the Twilight series and related immediately. Of course in the female. Thing is, after reading the four books in this saga, I actually can say I prefer it to 3rd person when it is written properly.
It is interesting what you say too about not forgetting the descriptive text, which Stephanie Meyers didnt do, but I have never seen anyone who can advance a story so well, purely through dialogue and without loosing the plot, too. I know stephen King reckons she cant write, but I think them there sound like sour grapes!
Just my two bobs worth (I actually dont read many novels, preferring reference books far above them).
Lilla ...
PS is there really a 2nd person, or would that rather reserved for schizophrenics and bipolar? Could make for interesting reading *lol*
Comment by Spike 2
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Janet: I've noticed that a lot from writers on article sites, too. I think there's a tendency to write profile info in the third person so that people purchasing content can just copy/paste, but I don't think it's very normal to maintain the third person for everything!!
Teresa: Absolutely. Third person isn't omniscient unless you want it to be - which would detract somewhat from any kind of suspense or mystery! I'll try to do some examples - hadn't thought of that. Thanks.
Norm: I'm sure second person has been done, but it must be REALLY weird. "You" everywhere...? I can't think of a single example, except maybe in experimental writing or poetry or something!
Kleonaptra: The majority of third-person writing is done almost in that style, sticking mainly to one character's thoughts and actions (seen from outside), but the focus changes to different people. It must be quite something to read an entire novel written in that way - I can see what you mean by giving a feeling of loneliness. That's if I've understood what you mean: a sort of inside-the-head viewer who's not the main character? Must be horribly stressful on the characterisation skills!!
Lilla: I felt the same way when I read a romance novel I found lying around - it was all first-person writing and I simply couldn't connect because it was so very female (in that case). Just a little too far from my way of thinking, I suppose. Just about every writer prefers one or the other style in any particular situation. For myself, I find it easier to write modern, more humorous stuff in first person; fantasy and bigger-scale stories in a pseudo-mediaeval setting has to be third person. One day I should try doing the opposite, to see how it comes out, but that's Yet Another Scary Risk.
Comment by jimmy
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Comment by Spike 2
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Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Im feeling a bit lazy today hun, I strongly recommend grabbing a copy of 'Lisey's Story' because it is a top novel. I always found Kings work too 'Wordy' (except for 'Carrie' loved that) but 'Lisey's Story' is just so great to read. Really delves into the mind.
Just imagine, a third person scene, and other people enter, but you dont get their point of view. Lisey thinks about what they might be thinking, but you dont actually know. Even her husband, who is dead, is barely explained, and yet, through Lisey, you feel you know him utterly. I just ate it up without even recognising the device was even being used, until someone commented on it in my novel, then, I got it.
As Spike said, it really creates a lonliness around the central character. A lack of connection to the other characters, as if they are totally alone on every page.
Comment by Teresa Ralton
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I will try to get the book and have a look. It is good to acually become aware of these things. I just made a comment on Spike's next post about 3rd person narrator and this may have been what I was referring to - the 3rd person narrator who is very close to the protagonist. For interest, I am going to have to dig out some books and really have a good look.
Comment by Lay LAy
Comment by Anonymous
I am writing a novel in first person and decided i want to ,maybe, expand more on the antagonist and his plot to bring down my hero. BUT HOW!!!!
Do i need to start over and write in third person or can i figure out a way to develop the villians scheme without distroying my story!?