I'm so confused - Writers Forum

starseed · 06-13-2008, 03:39 PM

It has been suggested by a friend that my story would be better told in first person. I'm freaking out now, thinking she might be right. I feel like now I don't even remember why I wanted to do it third person in the first place. I don't have a problem rewriting the whole thing (writing is rewriting), I just am confused if I should or not.

I've thought for countless hours about this, and it seems there are very reasonable positive points for telling a story in the first person, and the third person.

What my friend suggested was there is a certain intimacy about first person that third person doesn't quite reach. Yet from third person, you can sort of watch the main character from a different perspective.

But then I thought about it a lot, and realized my story is written in third person tense, but the perspective IS always on the main character. His mind and thoughts are the only ones that are shown. So it made me think maybe first person would be better.

Sorry if this is jarbled, I'm just thinking out loud here. What do you guys think about first person vs. third person? Right now, it's written like this:

"Devin felt as if his body and mind had been broken down into micro particles and shot through space into another universe millions of light years away, and now they were finally making the long drive back."

I'm always describing his thoughts, but never the other characters. My other friend told me that he thought it was "close to first person" anyway.

I'm having a little trouble understanding what to do here. In the start of writing this, third person seemed better. But now that I'm over halfway done, I feel such a deep connection with Devin, I feel I COULD write things from his perspective and it might be much better that way.

So what do you guys think? How do you decide what perspective to use in your writing? The last two books I've read were written in first person, and it's really tempting me right now. What would you do if you were me? Write part of it again in first person and see how it feels?

Remedy · 06-13-2008, 03:59 PM

Third person can be limited, meaning that there is only one viewpoint character. From what you're describing, it sounds like this is what you have now.

I think perhaps writing part of it in first person as an experiment may do well. If you like it, then you can further consider the idea of switching the entire thing over. If you don't, you won't have written the whole thing over.

In the end, it's entirely up to you. You are the author, not your friend. If you want to switch perspectives, you can. If you don't want to, don't.

I would also ask yourself why it only occurred to you that first person might be best when your friend suggested such. Do you truly believe that you would like doing first person, or are you considering it now because your friend thinks you should? There's no shame in either, but the latter could mean that it wouldn't be the best idea.

Mike C · 06-13-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starseed

It has been suggested by a friend that my story would be better told in first person... I'm having a little trouble understanding what to do here.

Bear in mind: your friend isn't writing it, you are. Write it how you want it, not how some armchair expert thinks it should be.

HarryG · 06-13-2008, 04:04 PM

Third person is much easier and more common. First person is specialised and difficult, and, in most cases, unnecessary.

However, in the unlikely event that you would want to change from third person into the first person, it's easily done. Well, when I say easily, it's a long process, tedious and time consuming. Why bother?

Non Serviam · 06-13-2008, 04:05 PM

I don't find anything difficult whatsoever about first person.

mi is happy · 06-13-2008, 05:12 PM

I enjoy reading and writing in third most of the time. It honestly doesn't matter. If you want to write in first, write in first. If you want to write in third, go ahead. It's just about how the writer wants it to be written.

starseed · 06-13-2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remedy

I would also ask yourself why it only occurred to you that first person might be best when your friend suggested such. Do you truly believe that you would like doing first person, or are you considering it now because your friend thinks you should? There's no shame in either, but the latter could mean that it wouldn't be the best idea.

It had already been something I've been pondering for awhile before she pointed it out to me. Another friend said she "hates first person" (??) I have no idea why, so I'm definitely getting reviews on both sides.

What makes me want to do first person is the expression of Devin's thoughts. I really enjoy this in books. I'm reading Alex Garland's THE BEACH right now and I think he accomplishes this beautifully.

When I originally wanted to write this story, I considered multiple perspectives and hated the idea after I saw it on paper. It's a story about friendship and different characters have a strong role, but in the end it's really a story of one man's journey during a short period of time in his life.

Quote:

First person is specialised and difficult, and, in most cases, unnecessary.

Can you explain what you mean a little more?

RomanticRose · 06-13-2008, 08:51 PM

Never make editorial changes based on one opinion, unless that one opinion is paying cold, hard cash for the work.

Otherwise, editorial changes should be based on what you think is best for your story.

The Backward OX · 06-14-2008, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starseed

Another friend said she "hates first person" (??) I have no idea why

Perhaps if you asked?

Mike C · 06-14-2008, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starseed

Another friend said she "hates first person" (??)

The world is full of idiots, and for the sake of your sanity you have to assume that everyone who isn't you is an idiot. One friend tells you 1st person. Another hates it (but probably doesn't know why). Some people think it's easier and better, some think it's hard and specialised. Listenin to the opinions of others is like having the occupants of a football stadium all shouting different things at you at once.

Disregard all other opinion. Write what you think is right.

Sam Winchester · 06-14-2008, 03:41 AM

There's nothing hard about writing in first person, but when your friend said 'there's a certain intimacy about first person that third person doesn't quite reach,' he/she was talking through their arse. If third person is written well, the reader can easily achieve the same understanding and intimacy with the character as they can when reading in first person and believing themselves to be the character.

Don't listen to people like your friend. If he/she was making a comment about changing a particular scene or passage in your book, I could accept that. But making a radical change like switching from third to first person? No. Never. Unless, as Rose said, that person is a publisher or editor who might publish your novel.

The Backward OX · 06-14-2008, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Winchester

No. Never.

Where would we be without you, Sam?

starseed · 06-14-2008, 10:31 AM

I know but I'M saying that I didn't make this change based on her. It came from me and she just pretty much said out loud what I've been thinking.

edit-

Okay all it took was attempting to re-write my first chapter in first person to make me realize it's wrong for the novel. In theory it sounded good. It sounds easy to just change all the "he"s to "I"s but it didn't work at all. The entire voice of my story would have to change.

Although my story is a third person viewpoint focused on a "main" character, and it seems like it "might as well" be first person, I've learned there IS a big difference. There is a sweet, bumbling nature about my character that doesn't come across in the same way when he is the one speaking. It's hard to explain, but I know it isn't right.

I love the learning process of doing this. Thanks for all your thoughts guys.