What's your favorite point of view when writing?

[MayorReynolds]

I feel like first and third are equally balanced in their strengths and weaknesses. Lately I've leaned toward first in my writing. While it only allows me to focus on one person whose reflections on other characters' thoughts and motives are merely speculative, it allows me to burrow into that one character's head. There's also something unique about first person that allows me to play with the language they're using to 'write' the story.

For instance, yesterday morning I got a random itch and hammered out 2000 words of what is turning into a (non-Lit intended, non-erotic) fantasy satire/parody story, and there were places where my main character's jaded cynicism came alive in the way he was describing people and using wordplay.

When I tried to do that in third person in my earlier writing days I often ran into an issue where my omniscient narrator's voice sounded too much like character dialogue. But I've had a chance to tweak that over the years.

The majority of my Lit submissions were third person, though in the future may have more of first. After all, erotica gains a certain flavor in first—it's like VR porn!

 

[Bramblethorn]

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=1336724

 

[lovecraft68]

It was first when I began writing, now I'm doing everything in third, just seems more comfortable these days.

 

[MayorReynolds]

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=1336724

Shit.

I'm sorry. I tried to look for a current one. Maybe I didn't look hard enough.

 

[Wifetheif]

It really depends upon the character. More than once, I have begun a story from third person and then altered it to first person a bit later. Third person and omniscient are quite handy but first person really gets into your character's head.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Shit.

I'm sorry. I tried to look for a current one. Maybe I didn't look hard enough.

No big deal, it happens

 

[Athalia]

I usually do first person with the lighter stuff, or if the personality of the character plays a great part of the story. If the action or the plot arc is more important, I'll use the third person. But there's really no fixed pattern to it.

 

[NotWise]

I find first to be limiting when there are more than a few people in the story and/or when the story itself becomes more complicated.

 

[49greg]

For me it is natural to tell it in first person, as if I'm sitting in my chair telling someone a story. But then the story is limited to what the character telling the story is thinking and seeing. So mostly I use third.

I did read a novel called "South of the Border", can't remember who wrote it, that tells the story first person, as if Charlie Siringo is telling the story. Early on in the book he tells us that while he wasn't there for some of the action, he talked to everyone concerned and thus is able to tell the whole story as if he was a fly on the wall.

It actually worked well, and was a good story.

Ps. Charlie Siringo was a real life person, called himself a 'Cowboy Detective' in one of his books. He worked for Pinkertons, he went undercover more than once with gangs like the wild bunch. His actual books are well worth reading.

 

[Ezrollin]

Both of my short stories have been in the first person and is my present endeavor. I should probably try something in the third just to see how it goes.

 

[Tasha7]

It depends on the story, but I enjoy writing in first person. I think it gives the reader a better relationship with the character and who they are/their personality

 

[John988]

I really like using first-person and making cuts to third-person omniscient. I like the intimacy that FP creates between the reader and the story, and TPO is really useful for telling parts of the story that the main character would have no way of knowing.

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

Everything I've written for Literotica has been first person. I've tried writing third person a bit, but I have a background in journalism, and anytime I try to to write in third-person I seem to fall back into an inverted pyramid, who-what-where-when-why-how sort of a pattern that makes for lousy erotica. Just muscle memory or old habits or something, I guess.

One of these days I really need to challenge myself to break out of that and make myself write something in third person.

 

[Kantarii]

A lot of my stories contain personal experiences and, for the most part, I like to put myself in the main character role so first person tends to work well for me. At first it was horrendous trying to get away from using (I) so much to start sentences. Then, I found alternate ways to write without using it all that much. Now, first person seems pretty natural for me - kinda like wearing a skirt and makeup. Kant

 

[NotWise]

I take on a pretty introspective point of view while I write--you know, working things out in my head. Then I usually write it out in third person.

 

[SimonDoom]

I prefer third person.

Third person allows you to do just about everything you can do in first person. If you tell the story in third person limited omniscient, you can get inside the narrator/protagonist's head just as you can in first person.

But third person is not limited the way first person is. You can narrate what someone other than the main character is doing or thinking, even if away from the narrator.

Third person also allows you to separate your voice as a narrator from the voice of the protagonist. It gives you more flexibility. I like to narrate in a way that isn't necessarily consistent with how I would want my characters to talk or think.

I have used first person in some of my stories, but I find myself moving away from it.

 

[Handley_Page]

I feel like first and third are equally balanced in their strengths and weaknesses.
.

For instance, yesterday morning I got a random itch and hammered out 2000 words of what is turning into a (non-Lit intended, non-erotic) fantasy satire/parody story, and there were places where my main character's jaded cynicism came alive in the way he was describing people and using wordplay.

When I tried to do that in third person in my earlier writing days I often ran into an issue where my omniscient narrator's voice sounded too much like character dialogue. But I've had a chance to tweak that over the years.
.

I do hope you've not forgotten that there's a section for those sort of stories !

Pretend your narrator tells the story in the manner of the great sagas of old, as told by some bard or other ?

I love the intimacy of first person. I like to show what goes on in the mind of my main characters.

For my Valentine Story, I also used first person, but that character mainly described the activities of the person she was following. So, in a way, it was a combination of first and third person point of view.

I think it's difficult for the main character to tell what's in the mind of a protagonist.

 

[Voboy]

I do hope you've not forgotten that there's a section for those sort of stories !

He probably has forgotten. He posted that in July of 2016.

Holy Zombie Thread, Batman!

 

[Hypoxia]

Holy Zombie Thread, Batman!

Get the flamethrower.

ObTopic: It depends on the story, obviously. Always past tense unless the MC is going to die at the end. First person for intimacy; switching first personas if necessary and gracefully possible; third person, either limited or omniscient, as needed. It's not my choice. The voices in my head tell me what to do.

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

...It's not my choice. The voices in my head tell me what to do.

Yup. I know other authors in the AH have the same issue I do, but it's always good to hear it again. The voices in my head tend to be my characters. The worst is when they keep me up at night after I've gone to bed.

 

[yukonnights]

Yup. I know other authors in the AH have the same issue I do, but it's always good to hear it again. The voices in my head tend to be my characters. The worst is when they keep me up at night after I've gone to bed.

I think that's called the "fourth person intrusive" voice...my go to style in all my stuff

 

[Zeb_Carter]

In most cases if it's just one on one or two on one, first person. Sometimes if there are more characters involved, I might shift between them always using first person.

Big stories start out as third person, but sometime I begin a story in first thinking it will just be a short story and wind up writing a novel. Too late to switch, so it all one perspective...first.

I have found myself starting out in first leaving the story for time and coming back and writing in third...I then have to fix it before I post it. Pain in the ass.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Yup. I know other authors in the AH have the same issue I do, but it's always good to hear it again. The voices in my head tend to be my characters. The worst is when they keep me up at night after I've gone to bed.

Those girls still squabbling, Loqui?

"Write me first."

"No, me!"

Oh, all right, I'll write you both together.

"Oh goodie, write me blonde."

"No, me blonde. You were blonde last time. Bitch."

Loqui turns over, hoping for some peace and quiet.

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

Those girls still squabbling, Loqui?

"Write me first."

"No, me!"

Oh, all right, I'll write you both together.

"Oh goodie, write me blonde."

"No, me blonde. You were blonde last time. Bitch."

Loqui turns over, hoping for some peace and quiet.

Um... That is eerily accurate, actually. Spooky. Hannah and Shelby haven't given up on me and started talking to you, have they EB?

 

[ElectricBlue]

Um... That is eerily accurate, actually. Spooky. Hannah and Shelby haven't given up on me and started talking to you, have they EB?

No, so far they haven't migrated from your universe to mine. Although Quinn, she can come on over ANY time she wants.

No, I'm about to have another demon child walk into my world; there's one already in this thing of mine, and now her daughter's come of age...