First person vs. Third person

[G-string_Vixen]

Which style of story telling do you prefer. The third person perspective or the first. In my last story one of the main complaints was that i did not involve myself enough with the story, but this is quite difficult to do if your writing in the third person.
I'd be interested to hear what people think.

Cheers

Jessica

xxx

 

[brightlyiburn]

Third person, all the way.
For one thing, third person is easier to write in general. First person is hard. Very few published authors choose to write in first person. It's hard to be successful someday.
Second...by what do they mean "involve yourself" in the story? Unless it's meant to be a true story about yourself, there's no need for that at all.
Third, I've seen what some of the people here consider first person. The whole "I saw you sitting at the bar" type of writing is downright creepy.

 

[sandmartin]

I prefer third person myself, although I some times write in the first but I do find this harder, mainly because it's much harder to be descriptive about yourself if writing in the first person. I'm with Brightly in agreeing that the use of 'you', as if it involves the reader in the story, totally switches me off!

 

[BlackSnake]

Third person, all the way.
For one thing, third person is easier to write in general. First person is hard. Very few published authors choose to write in first person. It's hard to be successful someday.
Second...by what do they mean "involve yourself" in the story? Unless it's meant to be a true story about yourself, there's no need for that at all.
Third, I've seen what some of the people here consider first person. The whole "I saw you sitting at the bar" type of writing is downright creepy.

I agree with you 100%

With the third person, you can be limited or all knowing. You, as the writer, are able to describe the settings and characters, including the thoughts and feelings of minor characters not just the main characters.

 

[HornyHenry]

Third peson

However, I have written two stories that were true, where it seemed that the only way to tell the story would be from 1st person perspective.

What about 2nd person?

 

[Boxlicker101]

I have never written in the second person and probably never will unless it's on some kind of dare or bet.

I like to write in the first person and get involved. For one thing, my protag. in first person stories is George Boxlicker, my own first name and handle here, and he is a writer, including a writer on Literotica. Even when I write in the third person, the stories are frequently about persons who interact with George in some other stories.

I find it easier to write that way because I have no problem getting into my own head and when I need to get into somebody else's, I can say something like "Later, he told me what he was thinking then" or something of that sort.

 

[goro goro]

What about 2nd person?

Please, don't. It hurts !
I prefer 3rd person, because it is easier to read. Sometimes I take notes of sexual fantasies in first person and rework them later to make them 3rd person perspective stories. First person narrative can be an irritating reading experience. "What, 'I licked her asshole ?' I'd never do that !"

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I prefer third person generally, but I find first person easier to write in: all you have to do is write what you know, and you can put in your own opinions and feelings.

If they complain that you're not involved in your story, maybe they mean that you're not emotionally involved. A lot of beginners' stories are liike lists of who did what to whom and who put what where. They don't realize that most of the heat is in the characters' emotions. The sex is often hot because it's an expression of what the characters are feeling.

---dr.M.

 

[weed]

As a reader, I have found few stories in first person that I enjoyed. There has to be a certain purpose to it being first person. Usually that can be covered in an omniscient third-person style anyway though there are times when the limited perspective of first person lends more to the story.

When I've tried writing in first person I have found myself mixing up the pronouns too often and at times, switching back to third person because I wanted more in the story than what "I" would have known in the first place.

 

[Rainbow Skin]

Feelings and reactions can be expressed just as well in third person as in first, using free indirect discourse: What could she do? He was here in the next room, he'd see her any minute now!

I've written a few in first person, and it works fine. I usually can't remember which they are until I go back and look at them. That is, it's not a distinctive feel for me, just a choice of perspective.

One difference is that in first person one of the actors hasn't got a name, or at least it isn't constantly used and obtruded. This might be a good thing for some purposes, though I find myself puzzled to remember my own characters' names if I haven't used them much.

Another is that same-sex stories have the advantage of overcoming the pronoun problem.

Thirdly, in third person you can swivel ('dolly'? 'pan'?) the camera round and describe from the other person's perspective and thoughts. Third-person stories often are from a single perspective, and thus more equivalent to first person, but there's no need to stick to it.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Thirdly, in third person you can swivel ('dolly'? 'pan'?) the camera round and describe from the other person's perspective and thoughts. Third-person stories often are from a single perspective, and thus more equivalent to first person, but there's no need to stick to it.

I switch points-of-view occasionally in third person, but I had a professional editor take me to task for it a few times. He said they didn't like that kind of thing and called it "head-hopping".

I disagreed. It seems to me that one of the strengths of third person is the ability to shift POV's and I don't see anything wrong with it. I have to think that he had a stylistic problem with it.

---dr.M.

 

[Boxlicker101]

One difference is that in first person one of the actors hasn't got a name, or at least it isn't constantly used and obtruded. This might be a good thing for some purposes, though I find myself puzzled to remember my own characters' names if I haven't used them much.

Another is that same-sex stories have the advantage of overcoming the pronoun problem.

Thirdly, in third person you can swivel ('dolly'? 'pan'?) the camera round and describe from the other person's perspective and thoughts. Third-person stories often are from a single perspective, and thus more equivalent to first person, but there's no need to stick to it.

In my first person stories, the narrator has a name, George Boxlicker, and I have no trouble remembering that. Other characters often address "me" by name, so it gets used occasionally. When other characters are mentioned, it is sometimes by name but more often by pronouns. Sometimes my same-sex stories are in third person but sometimes "I" am there also, at least as an observor.

 

[TheCentaur]

I prefer 3rd. First person is fine if it's done as if someone's writing a memoir (i.e., past tense) but it rare to find something done well. If it's combined with second person (e.g., "I gave you a big kiss...") it's incredibly annoying. Can't even read stories written that way.

 

[JammieDodger]

First person but as has been said, absolutely no second person at the same time. The thing is, first person if done well will make me feel as if I am the narrator, or going through the same experiences for a short space of time whilst not trying to make me think that I really have gone through the experiences... because that would make me the author, and thats where it gets confusing... hard to explain. Anyway, to sum up, first person is the best because that means no icky descriptions of another guy, assuming its male on female.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I switch points-of-view occasionally in third person, but I had a professional editor take me to task for it a few times. He said they didn't like that kind of thing and called it "head-hopping".

I disagreed. It seems to me that one of the strengths of third person is the ability to shift POV's and I don't see anything wrong with it. I have to think that he had a stylistic problem with it.

---dr.M.

That editor doesn't make any sense to me. When I write a third person story, I always describe what a character is thinking or why they do certain things. This necessitates switching POV, sometimes frequently. I have to agree that is one of the best parts of writing in third person.

 

[NikkiDawn]

In 1st or 3rd, that is the question

When reading, I don't really care what person a story is written in.

To write I prefer 3rd person because it seems to flow better. My main concern with this is keeping the tense the same throughout the story (she is, she did, she was ... that kind of thing)

Like HornyHenry I've written a couple stories about real life experiences ... 1 was in first person, the second in 3rd person.

My suggestion - for the person who gave you the feedback (not getting involved enough in your story) ask for some specific examples. It may be a different problem that wasn't described properly.

 

[Penelope Street]

I prefer the intimate feel of first-person for short erotic stories, but third-person is undeniably more versatile.

I'm with Dr. M and others regarding "head hopping". It doesn't bother me and I consider it just another valid use of third-person. That said, I've seen style guides that flat said to avoid the practioce. I know it drives some readers nuts, including my main editor.

The use of second person (e.g. I saw you walking across the room.) in fiction sucks. And not in a good way.

 

[Esclava]

Interesting cross section ...

15 replies and 12 voters ... hmmm ...

8 of the 15 posters have fewer than 500 posts - new members of Lit seeking information, perhaps? That's a good thing!

People either loved or hated my story. I say it all depends on what is interesting to you. Write what you love and only consider constructive criticism that makes sense to you.

Esclava

 

[Seattle Zack]

I prefer to write in third person, although first person can be a very interesting exercise ... but, truth be told, I prefer to read books written in first person. When I'm standing in Barnes & Noble, deciding between two authors that I've never heard of, both books seem equally appealing, I inevitably choose the first-person story.

Sex stories are a different category than novels, of course. I do prefer limited third-person for erotica.

 

[GrammarGoddess]

I prefer 3rd person because it reads less like a letter to Penthouse, and it lets the reader get into whichever character he or she prefers. When I read, I like to have that kind of choice.

That said, I'll take anything as long as the story isn't written in 2nd person. That is annoying!

 

[trendyredhead]

First person sux...

I hate reading first person stories. I think it takes a great deal of talent to pull it off well. A lot of people try, and what could have been a great third-person story turns into a crappy first-person story. So when I'm skimming stories to read, if it's first person, I back out. Doesn't do it for me. The story lines and descriptions are pretty flat, one-dimensional. And I'm here for the fantasy, not the reality. (That's not to say that a "true" story can't be a great story - I've got several of them on here myself. But they're written in third-person, and I dare you to figure out which ones are true and which ones are fiction.)

But that's just my 2cents.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I prefer 3rd person because it reads less like a letter to Penthouse, and it lets the reader get into whichever character he or she prefers. When I read, I like to have that kind of choice.

That said, I'll take anything as long as the story isn't written in 2nd person. That is annoying!

Hi, Goddess. Welcome to Lit. I hope you find lots of good reading.

My first person stories tend to read something like letters to Penthouse except they are longer, smuttier, more detailed and the women in the stories enjoy themselves as much as the narrator, or more. Usually women are the instigators and control the action rather than being duped or blackmailed into doing what some selfish man wants.

 

[Sean]

If you lot don't mind crit.from a newbie,first person is fine if it's done well.Unfortunately talent of the calibre to carry it off is fairly rare.The only time I'll read a story in 1fp is if I've read something by the same author (auteur?) that I liked.

 

[Bengal52]

The issue I have with first-person is that it makes the reader become the main character. This might be unintensional but it does happen. I can't exactly read a story where a woman makes references to facts that any female would know but men have no reference point for. (I'm a guy....) Don't get me wrong, I've read well written first person but the perspective can cause huge issues.

I love a well written first person story but since I haven't found many of those, I tend to read third person much more. Most writters don't make a very good first person story so I think writters should focus on third.

Lately, I turn away from most first person stories quickly. Recently, I tried to read a story in first and couldn't follow it or get turned on but it at all. I'd say, write third person. In fact, when I finally get arround to writting, look for it to be in third person.

 

[elsol]

I think the problem with first-person stories (it is my preferred POV) is that new writers don't realize the story lives and dies by the strength of the narrator's personality. That personality has to be strong enough to prevent a reader from displacing the 'I' with their own self.

The ideal in the first person POV is not to tell a story that the reader is in the shoes of the narrator, but one where the reader rides on the shoulder or the wake of the narrator.

In erotica, I see a lot of writers that use the First Person POV spend time developing all other characters EXCEPT the narrator, but that's the MOST important character to develop in this POV.

Sincerely,
ElSol