I never really gave this any thought but now I’m wondering if there is a connection between this and the stories I didn’t like. You’ve given me something to think about.
Which first and which third? There are several POVs resident within each. First person gives several options, and they all read quite differently: interior monologue, stream of consciousness, memoir, subjective narration (with additional options of central vs. peripheral narration) and objective autobiography. Third person offers omniscient–which I write in, using a fictional narrator who tells the story without ever injecting himself into it–as well as third person limited, framed narrative (switching from first to third; sort of omniscient on steroids–Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind are two well-known books written in framed narrative), and objective/detached, which I hate reading with the fire of a thousand suns. Objective is what you get when someone who has only watched TV or movies decides to write a book, and they only describe the actions. I’ll read any of them (except for detached third), as long as the author shows me that they know which one they’re doing and they stick to it–or that they know when and why to switch. I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain because the author used first-person central subjective when the dog was talking about himself, and a first-person subjective peripheral voice when the dog was observing his family. It’s really a master class in first-person voice and belongs on every author’s–or aspiring author’s–bookshelf. When an author starts weaving between first-person POVs or third-person POVs, I usually reach for the EJECT handle. Thank God for the Look Inside feature on Amazon, because an author who doesn’t understand voice past “first” and “third” will usually screw it up in the first two or three pages. Individual mileage may vary.
thank you for bringing up the framed narrative – i read the Heart of Darkness for my English Communication Science BA (Uncompleted Degree, i switched to Accounting by the way)
That makes sense! When my fiction is in 1st I just hate it usually (seeing the word “I” over and over irks me). I recently read Into the Wild and his use of “I” didn’t bother me at all.
For fiction 3rd Person Limited POV (not omniscient) is the publisher’s preference, and mine, for anything that isn’t a memoir. There are millennias of publishing research proving it’s the superior storytelling form. However, to distinguish a memoir in its genre 1st person makes the best narrative fit.
1st person is easiest to write for fiction and considered a beginner POV. Readers only get the story from a singular point of view ever. The reader never gets another characters take on the protagonist’s or antihero’s behavior. But with 3rd limited you view the same behaviors through different people’s eyes in different scenes and feel more connected to a variety of characters and their internal conflicts. 3rdP omniscient however is usually a mess of jumping from one person’s head to the next and feeling confused. 3rdP Limited creates the richest, cleanest and most easily relatable reading experience.
Both but sometimes first person is written TOO much like as if they were in a normal conversation. Too many filler words like “like” is when I don’t like first person
It would be interesting if there was a first-person narrative book but the person was not the main character so it read like a third-person narrative book.
Third with different POVs.
Definitely prefer third person.
Since that person was so rude, third person.
Generally third person, with a few notable exceptions (like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time)
I never really gave this any thought but now I’m wondering if there is a connection between this and the stories I didn’t like. You’ve given me something to think about.
Third person
First person
Both. Depends on the plot or themes. Usually I like psychological crime to be in the third person but comedy and romance in the first.
First person
I like both. I don’t have a preference.
Third person.
No preference.
First if it’s a complex or unreliable narrator – otherwise third
Third, for writing and reading. I will not continue reading a 1st if it’s not superb.
Generally I prefer third. But will read either.
I prefer third person narrative.
3rd person narration allows for additional insight.
Third person
First person
Third person
Really dislike first person. Find it hard to get into the story
Both
Both….
Both
Third
Third Person
Both, though I generally write in First-Person
i want to learn how to write in first person. 🙁
Third
Anything but 2nd person ?
Quite like it for short stories but my head would spin reading a novel in second person narrative ?
third person
First! But I also like third.
Which first and which third? There are several POVs resident within each. First person gives several options, and they all read quite differently: interior monologue, stream of consciousness, memoir, subjective narration (with additional options of central vs. peripheral narration) and objective autobiography. Third person offers omniscient–which I write in, using a fictional narrator who tells the story without ever injecting himself into it–as well as third person limited, framed narrative (switching from first to third; sort of omniscient on steroids–Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind are two well-known books written in framed narrative), and objective/detached, which I hate reading with the fire of a thousand suns. Objective is what you get when someone who has only watched TV or movies decides to write a book, and they only describe the actions. I’ll read any of them (except for detached third), as long as the author shows me that they know which one they’re doing and they stick to it–or that they know when and why to switch. I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain because the author used first-person central subjective when the dog was talking about himself, and a first-person subjective peripheral voice when the dog was observing his family. It’s really a master class in first-person voice and belongs on every author’s–or aspiring author’s–bookshelf. When an author starts weaving between first-person POVs or third-person POVs, I usually reach for the EJECT handle. Thank God for the Look Inside feature on Amazon, because an author who doesn’t understand voice past “first” and “third” will usually screw it up in the first two or three pages. Individual mileage may vary.
thank you for bringing up the framed narrative – i read the Heart of Darkness for my English Communication Science BA (Uncompleted Degree, i switched to Accounting by the way)
Either one ??♀️
Third
I prefer 3rd person but will read both. I do find it challenging to get into 1st person POV for some reason.
Why might be in my comment below?♀️
That makes sense! When my fiction is in 1st I just hate it usually (seeing the word “I” over and over irks me). I recently read Into the Wild and his use of “I” didn’t bother me at all.
Any
I can become so captivated that I forget who’s telling the story.
For fiction 3rd Person Limited POV (not omniscient) is the publisher’s preference, and mine, for anything that isn’t a memoir. There are millennias of publishing research proving it’s the superior storytelling form. However, to distinguish a memoir in its genre 1st person makes the best narrative fit.
1st person is easiest to write for fiction and considered a beginner POV. Readers only get the story from a singular point of view ever. The reader never gets another characters take on the protagonist’s or antihero’s behavior. But with 3rd limited you view the same behaviors through different people’s eyes in different scenes and feel more connected to a variety of characters and their internal conflicts. 3rdP omniscient however is usually a mess of jumping from one person’s head to the next and feeling confused. 3rdP Limited creates the richest, cleanest and most easily relatable reading experience.
Both but sometimes first person is written TOO much like as if they were in a normal conversation. Too many filler words like “like” is when I don’t like first person
Just tell me the story.
For me it depends on the writing style.
I prefer 3rd. I feel like I’m reading a true story when reading first but I still will read them. Just prefer 3rd.
It would be interesting if there was a first-person narrative book but the person was not the main character so it read like a third-person narrative book.