Pov?

[OutofKYGuy]

I just submitted my first story, and one of the first responses I got was what I would call "bad criticism" because it was unhelpful. The person basically didn't like the fact that my story was in first person. So...

I think there's a place for First Person. I know many good stories are in Third Person Limited or Omniscient, and Second person should be good for all those Hypnotistas.

What POV do you prefer to read or write?

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I'll write in first or third. They both have their strengths and weaknesses.

Although I prefer to write in first from a woman's perspective. It just seems to make it more erotic that way.

 

[Guest]

I just submitted my first story, and one of the first responses I got was what I would call "bad criticism" because it was unhelpful. The person basically didn't like the fact that my story was in first person. So...

I think there's a place for First Person. I know many good stories are in Third Person Limited or Omniscient, and Second person should be good for all those Hypnotistas.

What POV do you prefer to read or write?

I agree with TGP, and I have stories in first and third, too.

I do think many readers prefer third person as it has an almost voyeuristic quality.

But I have stories in first because I wanted them to seem like a personal retelling of the tale.

Do what you wish. Tell the story your way.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

The POV of a story is entirely up to the writer. I don't even think about it. Just keep the POV consistant otherwise you confuse the reader.

Sarahh, Your AV

 

[OutofKYGuy]

Has anyone intentionally written something for Lit with two POV's?
What about a chain story like that? The same event from different people's perspectives?

 

[Stella_Omega]

If you caved in to this reader and re-wrote the story in third person- someone would complain and tell you it should be in first...

Those serpents! There's no pleasing them!

OutofKYGuy, you posted at the same time as me!
I have read novels where the author switched POV's between chapters, I think. And I have written a story from two different first-person's POV's, but I re-wrote that to make it third person, with both points of view represented. It is tricky, and I got lazy...
but I like to keep to one POV exclusively, and let the reader learn about the other characters through the main character's eyes. It's just the way I'm doing it right now, I guess.
I am working on a sequel to a story that is posted here. In the first one, it's told in third person, and without any dialogue at all. I tell the reader the gist of the character's conversations...It was an experiment, and i like the outcome very much. But in this sequel, I am telling the rest of the story from a different character's pov, and I am using dialogue. Honestly, I am not sure if it's as good!

What I found from some of the feedback I got, was that readers could "load" that first story with their own words, and I got people telling me that I should have written the dialogue- but what they imagined the characters were saying was always a little different... and my own words were so much tamer...


by the way, would you add a link to your story profile in your siggy? we like that around here!

 

[Guest]

The POV of a story is entirely up to the writer. I don't even think about it. Just keep the POV consistant otherwise you confuse the reader.

Sarahh, Your AV

I'll send you the full-sized one. It's yummy.

 

[rgraham666]

Has anyone intentionally written something for Lit with two POV's?
What about a chain story like that? The same event from different people's perspectives?

Yes. A story I put up a few weeks ago, Embrace does this. (plug, plug.) It starts off third person, telling a synopsis of a previous story I'd written. The bulk of it is first person and it ends in third.

It did pretty well.

I've done both first and third. It really depends on the story I want to tell.

 

[Frederick Carol]

I use first or third, whichever feels right for the story. I've experimented, too, by writing the same story in first and third, but only one gets posted. My only second person effort was written for a specific audience of one. It was rewritten in first/third and posted here with her approval.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I'll send you the full-sized one. It's yummy.

I love you, Sarahh

 

[Guest]

I love you, Sarahh

 

[Weird Harold]

I just submitted my first story, and one of the first responses I got was what I would call "bad criticism" because it was unhelpful. The person basically didn't like the fact that my story was in first person. So...

I think there's a place for First Person. I know many good stories are in Third Person Limited or Omniscient, and Second person should be good for all those Hypnotistas.

I write mostly in First Person and haven't had any complaints about POV.

I hate reading Second Person because there are so very few stories where Second Person is A) the best way to tell the story and B) written well.

I always start reading a First Person story with bit of suspicion because First Person can be interesting if it's well written and absolutely horrible if it's not. I suspect that because First Person is more difficult to write well, your critic has simply giving up on First Person POV written by novice writers.

Third Person is the easiest to write and most forgiving POV but it's NOT the right POV for every story.

First Person is harder to write well, but, when written well and paired with a story it fits, can result in a much stronger story than Third Person.

Th only thing I can suggest is that you look at your story to see if First Person was really the best way you could have told that story -- If you feel it was, ignore the critic.

 

[Ravlicious]

The POV of a story is entirely up to the writer. I don't even think about it. Just keep the POV consistant otherwise you confuse the reader.

As Jenny said, as long as you keep it consistant, you're fine. Very few writers can get away with mixing POV, especially in short stories. Once a story is finished, and you've made sure the POV is consistant, if a reader or two tells you it doesn't work in your story, take it with a grain of salt. If you're happy with it, keep it at that.

 

[Weird Harold]

I just submitted my first story, and one of the first responses I got was what I would call "bad criticism" because it was unhelpful. The person basically didn't like the fact that my story was in first person. So...

PS after checking out your story:

The problem isn't "First Person" but "First/Second" person.

From your story:
Perhaps you want me to kiss your slit, but there's that possibility that you don't. Maybe you hadn't really noticed how horny you are; how much you wanted me to make you cum. It's funny that you underestimate how much I enjoy making you cum, though. If only you knew how I felt, maybe you would make the first move. But you don't, so I'm going to make the first move, and I'm going to tell you how I feel.

Addressing your First Person narration to a single Second Person "You" severely limits the range of readers who can identify with your story -- you've essentially eliminated all male readers.

 

[Ravlicious]

Personally, I can read very few second person stories, no matter how well written it is--erotic or not. It's just too jarring to me. But mixing it with first person just adds that extra bit of a jarring aspect, at least in my opinion. As I said before, though, if you're happy with it, go with it.

 

[NoJo]

I just submitted my first story, and one of the first responses I got was what I would call "bad criticism" because it was unhelpful. The person basically didn't like the fact that my story was in first person. So...

I think there's a place for First Person. I know many good stories are in Third Person Limited or Omniscient, and Second person should be good for all those Hypnotistas.

What POV do you prefer to read or write?

Your story in your sig is more like 2nd person I think. Just 'cause you refer to 'I' in it doesnt make it 1st person. It reads more like a love-letter. I think that could be what your negative critic may have been getting at.

 

[Carnevil9]

My favorite is First Person, because there is an extra layer of reality in there: the narrator is speaking, but the reader doesn't have to believe everything he says. It's easier as an author to poke fun at him when he needs to be taken down a peg. In Third Person, there is a sense of infallibility to the narration, so readers tend to believe everything you say. No fun at all, in my opinion.

I posted one Second Person story here. It was not particularly well received, but I enjoyed writing it and couldn't imagine doing it any other way.

But, in the end, it's all good. Follow your muse......Carney

 

[CharleyH]

I just submitted my first story, and one of the first responses I got was what I would call "bad criticism" because it was unhelpful. The person basically didn't like the fact that my story was in first person. So...

I think there's a place for First Person. I know many good stories are in Third Person Limited or Omniscient, and Second person should be good for all those Hypnotistas.

What POV do you prefer to read or write?

Oh my goodness. I hate to pick on you but ... if i want to get off and DO NOT on your story, that you posted on a PUBLIC FORUM - should you give a shit as a confidant author whether I said your story sucked or not? Jesus.

People on Lit really enjoy first person real. Some readers only know how to say I loved or hated your story - got off not not, so - GET some balls as a writer.

 

[Ravlicious]

My favorite is First Person, because there is an extra layer of reality in there: the narrator is speaking, but the reader doesn't have to believe everything he says. It's easier as an author to poke fun at him when he needs to be taken down a peg. In Third Person, there is a sense of infallibility to the narration, so readers tend to believe everything you say. No fun at all, in my opinion.

Actually you can quite easily write a third person story the way you are describing the first person story. Depends on how you write the narration. If your main character is a duchebag (or maybe not that extreme ), you can get that across and the readers will see it. You can take him down a peg, as you say, and the readers can eat it up the same as they would if you'd written a first person story.

posted one Second Person story here. It was not particularly well received, but I enjoyed writing it and couldn't imagine doing it any other way.

But, in the end, it's all good. Follow your muse......Carney

Funny how some stories just call for a certain pov or style, isn't it, even if it's not a style we're used to or comfortable with (or like all that well). Makes sitting down to write that much more interesting and fun!