First or Third?

[ellasans]

I vary- even within the same short story collection -depending on what kind of feel I'm going for. Sometimes a third-person perspective is great if you want your reader to be able to identify with whichever character they want; sometimes the first is best for really getting into someone's, erm, feelings. O

 

[BONNIEBREA]

You can hide things in third person.

I think everyone has their own preferences, and all are equally valid. Whatever works for the individual author.

And an author can hide things in third person, certainly. The problem I have as a reader, when the author is writing in third person omniscient, is that when I finally find those things out I feel manipulated - the author knew and the narration was such that the information could have been revealed at any time. So why didn't the author tell me this a long time ago? Bad author. With first person, if a piece of information like that comes along, you can always understand from the point of view of the first person narrator/speaker how they wouldn't have known that information before.

 

[XXplorher]

I enjoy first person because I can then identify directly with my protagonist. But then, third obviously allows for more input from more POVs.

And that's the answer you had before asking anyone.

Write TO the predicament, the theme, the situation.

-I have an idea.
-How's that best presented? Through who's eyes? What best serves my characters or intention? Who's perception best serves the knowledge I want to sell to the reader? How can I best achieve understanding of the 'predicament'. Who tells that best? Who do I want them to feel? Is it about the one? Or the many?

You need to know what your selling. And who you want to buy it. Then you'll know where to say it from.

I'm a misfit on here (and yanked all my stuff) so you have no reason to trust me. But I can assure you, I've written from any and every angle. I've written Male narration. Female narration. Male 1st person POV, Female 1st person POV. Shifts in time.

I've written the very same occurence, three different ways - from the perspective of each participant. And they fuckin bought it!

You need to assure yourself of why you're writng the thing. And then you'll know the voice to speak it from.

I personally subscribe to the idea that there is absolutely no defninite there. Only the creator will know what's best. No one knows what you're trying to do better than you will. Tell it from a place that's true to the meaning, and you will win.

Cheers


PS Thanks for the hug ; )

PPS Don't make it about you. Thaz bad.

 

[andy_charles]

I feel that third person is the best way to write erotica - as someone else has pointed out here, it's completely up to yourself - but for me, because I prefer to explore characters, its easier to write erotica in third person.

That way, when writing a hot scene, I can explore what everyone is feeling/thinking as they fuck, so to speak