Question... - Writers Forum

Julian_Gallo · 08-01-2005, 04:14 AM

I have a question. I am just now beginning my new novel. What I would like to know is if one is writing from "you" perspective, what "person" is this? Is this 2nd person?

For example, say the narrative goes something like this:
"You find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep..."
but the narrator is talking about himself...not the writer writing about the character, so to speak.

Is this still a form of 1st person or is this 2nd person....

Would really love to know because I am toying with the idea of writing the entire novel from this perspective.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

mammamaia · 08-01-2005, 07:11 AM

it's second person... and, in the opinion of most teachers [and readers], annoying if done at any length... a whole novel written that way would be very limiting storywise, as well...

it's generally agreed that only instruction manuals work well in 2nd, although some teen and erotic fiction is showing up in that pov these days...

google for info on 2nd person pov and you can see for yourself...

hugs, maia

lisajane · 08-01-2005, 09:21 AM

Like Maia said, it's second person.

I personally love writing in second person (my new poem in the Poetry section, Seventies Suicide, is second person). I think it's great for connecting completely with the reader, but an overdose can be too much. An entire novel in second person probably wouldn't go down so well... though I love second person, I probably wouldn't attempt that.

The only novel I know of that's in second person is The Bride Stripped Bare by Anonymous (Nikki Gemmel, I think is her name, something like that). Have a read of that, despite it's genre and stuff, to see what it's like as a full novel.

Monkey King · 08-01-2005, 11:16 AM

To me, whenever I read second person prose, I think of those Choose Your own Adventure books or old school text-based adventure games. Because of this, when I read 2nd person stuff, I feel you're actually talking to me and if I'm in the story I should be able to control something.

When a writer tells me they do something stupid or their characters do something stupid, I'll believe them. But I'd rather not have them tell me I did something stupid. I get enough of that at home.

Of course, it's possible that you'll write such a kick-A story in second person that it'll change everybody's opinion.

Whende · 08-01-2005, 12:16 PM

I agree with Monkey King. You should definately have a choice about what you should do. When you write in second person it really does sound like you're talking to the reader and that they're in the story. I they don't have a choice yet you're still making their character do things they wouldn't normally do it can get annoying.

I strongly advise against writing an entire novel in second person unless it's a choose your own adventure.

Kikster · 08-01-2005, 07:27 PM

I think that it gets old after a while.

using the second person is great to get the reader feel for you, but I wouldn't use it in the whole novel. after a while it gets kind of repetitive and a little odd. kind of like people who talk about themselves in the third person. after a while you are like, what the hell is wrong with you?!?

but then again, maybe it would fit your story perfectly...

Talia_Brie · 08-01-2005, 07:39 PM

I wrote a short story once that featured extracts from a novel written in 2nd person, so it was like second person, once removed.

It worked for what I wanted, but a whole novel of it would get annoying after a while I think.

Hodge · 08-01-2005, 08:44 PM

Second person is most effective in shorter pieces. Like maia said, it gets annoying.

Unless it is a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book, in which case it's pretty cool and totally retro.

Drzava · 08-01-2005, 08:49 PM

I also think of Choose Your Own Adventure (frustrating worthless books) and songs.

Julian_Gallo · 08-01-2005, 09:26 PM

Hey, thanks everyone. I can see that the consenses is that it may not really work for a whole novel. Hmm....I thought it might be an interesting experiment (I never heard of the Choose Your Own Adventure books). It was just something I was thinking about. The first time I had ever come across it was in Juan Goytisolo's books...but he didn't do an entire novel that way. I just found it interesting and wondered what it would be like to write an entire novel this way. Maybe I will give it a try for a few pages and then see how it works but maybe it won't work for a whole novel.

Got to think about this one some more.

Thank you everyone for your comments and opinions. I appreciate it very much.

suzakugaiden · 08-01-2005, 10:27 PM

Not all second person writing is actually putting words/actions into the reader, a la choose your own adventures. Second person, in the barest sense, would simply be when the speaker is speaking directly to someone (As opposed to of themselves or something indirectly, which are first and third respectively). Technically, Catcher in the Rye was in the second person. Despite the fact that the story was told in the past tense first person, it EXISTED in the present tense second person.

But like everything else, only do it if there's a reason to do it.

Julian_Gallo · 08-02-2005, 05:54 AM

Thanks! I will give the idea some thought. It might be interesting to incorporate the 2nd person with either 1st or 3rd. I am only just beginning and literally have written only two paragraphs so I still really have no idea where I'm going with this. (That's another problem I usually have----no clear idea of what it's going to be. I usually have a vague idea and begin writing and see where it goes. Probably not the best way to approach writing but...) So far, what I've written is in the 2nd person. Perhaps I should post a little of what I have to see other's reactions to it. That will give me a much more clear sense of whether or not it's going to work or if I should do some re-thinking about my approach.

But thank you for your input. It is appreciated.