As I've felt so far with experimentation with both viewpoints, first person allows for deeper, more personal emotions and experiences, as well as a more unique touch of personality into the narrative itself, such as sense of humor or quality of outlook. However, it's very easy to confuse your own personality with the character-narrator's in this style, and the challenge lies in making sure you so thoroughly understand the character you're talking through that you can stay in their voice at all times.
Third person is a bit freer, and allows for a broader knowledge base and clearer perceptions on the part of the narrator, since the narrator isn't necessarily tied to any one character. It also gives the option to be totally omniscient and able to dive in and out of characters' heads at will, or limiting itself to one or two particular characters at a time and working with them exclusively while still retaining a degree of detachment from their experiences.
Since I'm not 'formally' trained as a writer, I do most of my stylings by feel. This usually involves me spending large periods of time just sitting with my head in the scene, and often I relate point of view to what kind of camera angle I'm seeing it from.
Everyone pretty much said what I wanted to say! Just do what's most organic to the story. You can always experiment.
And a quick note on first person: It has an entirely undeserved reputation for being "amateurish." This is totally wrong, IMHO, but it gets that rep because failed first person stings a lot harder than failed third. Before you start a first person story, you really have to love and understand the character you're writing. Remember that you're stuck with them, and so is the reader - make sure they're the kind of character you want to hear talk for 150+ pages.
Last edited by NightBeck at 8:52:39 PM EDT on September 20, 2009.
it usually depends on the story. usually when i read story things like jonen are ushaly in thrid and shojo is ushaly in first
i like first person cause you become more atached to the person who is telling the story and you get to know them better as a person
I too prefer third person narrative, but mainly because my stories hardly focus on just one character.
I think its main advantage is to allow the narrator to quicly switch between viewpoints without having to interrupt the narrative.
Also - though I think that's just my personal preference - I think third person is more suited to describing action, especially if there's more than two characters envolved in it.
I once read a book that switches between first and third person narrative, it's called "The Amulet of Samarkand", by Jonathan Stroud. It could be a great reading exercise to compare the two forms.
Tveiter Tot (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 09/20/09 | Reply
@:
Thanks for the info! That really helps a lot :P
Yeah, one of the few stories I've written in first person involved emotional conflict. I think it would have been really hard to try to write it in third person.
Thanks again!
Madman With a Box (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 09/20/09 | Reply
LOL, I saw this in my backroom and said "How long has it been since we had a post here?" XP
Anyway, concerning Trip's question, all I really have to say is this: you can go with either one, but each one gives the audience a different level of information. In first person, your readers are discovering things along with the narrator and it's limited to what that character sees, hears, experiences, etc. Third person is more expansive. You can jump between people and places that are far apart and learn things that would be impossible if a first person narrator wasn't there.
I guess it all depends on the perspective one wants the story to be in. A first-person POV is very personal and is like being in someone's brain. The readers find out about things through the character. Third-person can sound like one of those omnipresent narrators, so the readers find things out with the characters. Mostly it's personal preference. If you're not sure, Trip, try putting a little bit of the story in both perspectives and see how they go. If one sounds like it flows better than the other, then go with that.
Oh, and yeah, I totally spazzed when I saw this update.
Last edited by Nehszriah at 4:26:15 PM EDT on September 20, 2009.
Allamorph
Spiritus Memorae (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 09/21/09 | Reply
@AnimeArchAngel:
As I've felt so far with experimentation with both viewpoints, first person allows for deeper, more personal emotions and experiences, as well as a more unique touch of personality into the narrative itself, such as sense of humor or quality of outlook. However, it's very easy to confuse your own personality with the character-narrator's in this style, and the challenge lies in making sure you so thoroughly understand the character you're talking through that you can stay in their voice at all times.
Third person is a bit freer, and allows for a broader knowledge base and clearer perceptions on the part of the narrator, since the narrator isn't necessarily tied to any one character. It also gives the option to be totally omniscient and able to dive in and out of characters' heads at will, or limiting itself to one or two particular characters at a time and working with them exclusively while still retaining a degree of detachment from their experiences.
Since I'm not 'formally' trained as a writer, I do most of my stylings by feel. This usually involves me spending large periods of time just sitting with my head in the scene, and often I relate point of view to what kind of camera angle I'm seeing it from.
NightBeck
Otaku Eternal | Posted 09/20/09 | Reply
Everyone pretty much said what I wanted to say! Just do what's most organic to the story. You can always experiment.
And a quick note on first person: It has an entirely undeserved reputation for being "amateurish." This is totally wrong, IMHO, but it gets that rep because failed first person stings a lot harder than failed third. Before you start a first person story, you really have to love and understand the character you're writing. Remember that you're stuck with them, and so is the reader - make sure they're the kind of character you want to hear talk for 150+ pages.
Last edited by NightBeck at 8:52:39 PM EDT on September 20, 2009.
red kie
Otaku Eternal | Posted 09/20/09 | Reply
it usually depends on the story. usually when i read story things like jonen are ushaly in thrid and shojo is ushaly in first
i like first person cause you become more atached to the person who is telling the story and you get to know them better as a person
)Oo~ Black rabit ~oO(
Sole Storyteller
Otaku Legend | Posted 09/20/09 | Reply
I too prefer third person narrative, but mainly because my stories hardly focus on just one character.
I think its main advantage is to allow the narrator to quicly switch between viewpoints without having to interrupt the narrative.
Also - though I think that's just my personal preference - I think third person is more suited to describing action, especially if there's more than two characters envolved in it.
I once read a book that switches between first and third person narrative, it's called "The Amulet of Samarkand", by Jonathan Stroud. It could be a great reading exercise to compare the two forms.
AnimeArchAngel
Tveiter Tot (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 09/20/09 | Reply
@:
Thanks for the info! That really helps a lot :P
Yeah, one of the few stories I've written in first person involved emotional conflict. I think it would have been really hard to try to write it in third person.
Thanks again!
AnimeArchAngel
Tveiter Tot (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 09/20/09 | Reply
@TimeChaser:
That's why I like third person, cuz I can jump back and forth and stuff :P Thanks for the help!
TimeChaser
Madman With a Box (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 09/20/09 | Reply
LOL, I saw this in my backroom and said "How long has it been since we had a post here?" XP
Anyway, concerning Trip's question, all I really have to say is this: you can go with either one, but each one gives the audience a different level of information. In first person, your readers are discovering things along with the narrator and it's limited to what that character sees, hears, experiences, etc. Third person is more expansive. You can jump between people and places that are far apart and learn things that would be impossible if a first person narrator wasn't there.
Bazinga!
AnimeArchAngel
Tveiter Tot (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 09/20/09 | Reply
@Nehszriah:
I can never really decide. I think I'll do what you said next time, and write a little bit of the story in both perspectives. Thanks! :P
Nehszriah
Hits Self With Axe (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 09/20/09 | Reply
I guess it all depends on the perspective one wants the story to be in. A first-person POV is very personal and is like being in someone's brain. The readers find out about things through the character. Third-person can sound like one of those omnipresent narrators, so the readers find things out with the characters. Mostly it's personal preference. If you're not sure, Trip, try putting a little bit of the story in both perspectives and see how they go. If one sounds like it flows better than the other, then go with that.
Oh, and yeah, I totally spazzed when I saw this update.
Last edited by Nehszriah at 4:26:15 PM EDT on September 20, 2009.
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