Dawnstorm

You could write a first person story from the point of view of a character who always refers to himself in third person.

Or you could write a third person story from the point of view of a narrator who loves talking about himself more than talking about the story.

Or you could make up a character who writes about you writing him writing you... I call the point of view whatever person Escher.

Seriously, on the topic, my favourite quote is from Ian MacDonald, SF writer and - in my opinion - master of PoV:


(here)

1. [terminology] "more of a descriptor than a generator"

2. "interaction of character and information"

Basically: what do the readers need to know, and who's best fit to tell them? (And, yes, Ian MacDonald has also used second person very effectively.)

Edit: As an exercise, read his story The Djinn's Wife and think about what he does with PoV in it. Then see how important the choice of PoV is to the story.

Cipher2

Simple. Write in First if you are inexperienced as it is easier although you have to work a bit harder on how you reveal the plot, exposition and working that into a coherent chapter structure. I think its better to do something simple well if you are not sure rather than do something complicated badly.

Sam Winchester

What's complicated about writing in any POV?

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Don't unlock doors you're not prepared to go through.

The Backward OX

From what I see, it's about as simple as rocket science and nucular physics and string theory and the Bermuda Triangle, all rolled into one.

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HarryG

If you've got a lot to tell in a novel, with lots of strong characters, the third is probably the easiest.


If you're more concerned with one character who has a more concentrated story to tell, and where minor characters only have walk-on parts, then first is easiest.


Second isn't really for conventional novels, in my opinion.

Cipher2

Looking at the posts in this section it can be confusing with Third how close to the action you are, whether a fly on the wall or whatever whereas I is just I unless you want to bring up obscure examples about it (at this point someone will cite multiple personality disorder blah blah blah...)

What HarryG said is true in my experience.

SevenWritez

I say first is easier to write, and thus hold greater respect for writers who can lend depth to their characters through third.

In first person there are so many things you can get away with that would completely fuck you over if you attempted them in third.

I don't mean to imply that the first person style of prose is used by the dregs of literature (many classics would kick my ass if I attempted to say this), but I do believe that it requires less skill to make a story interesting if you go the first person route. Just my opinion.

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Zyphial

Personally the best perspective I've read (and the one I try to write in) is one that has a third person narrative, but includes a focal character (which can change by chapter, or sections of chapters so long as the transition is clear) who expresses thoughts in the first person.

"That's not what I meant!" Jake caught her eyes and noticed one was oozing. He couldn't help but shudder - he only prayed she wouldn't notice. "Sometimes I loose track of what I'm thinking and garble my sentences. I was just thinking, I have met some girls in my time who were... revolting. That doesn't mean you aren't cute, though!" Of course, that doesn't mean you are either. He made a show of calling for a waiter. Jim, you ass, I'll get you for this! Blind date... what the hell was I thinking?

That was bad, but hey, it was on the spot and shows what I mean. I like it when authors transition from first to third like this, but I don't like first person narratives as a rule. For some reason, it takes me a lot longer to read just a few sentences in first person than it does in third. I don't really get it, but to be honest, I feel like I'm wading through a quagmire when the book is all in first.

lin

Congratulations, you hit the jackpot.
I've been saying the same thing for a long time, but people get freaked out because of the anti-headhopping plague. But that's the most powerful, flexible and easiest way to go.

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