I am currently changing my first chaps from 3rd person to 1st person, as an experiment really. I have been tempted to write 1st person for a while but have ignored the calling - although my last book had a long diary entry in each chap which was good practice.

Anyway, the only thing i'm not sure of so far, is certain observations of the character's appearance and whether, when changing them to ist person, i am coming out of the MC;s POV.

Eg

Lisa looked down at her notebook and her eyes crinkled. Now that line was funny.

Changed to:

I looked down at my notebook and my eyes crinkled.

Now, i know the MC can't see her eyes crinkle, but she can feel them do so, so i think this is okay. Or does it sound wrong???

Also:

The grin slipped from Lisa's face.

to:

The grin slipped from my face.

Again, she can feel this happening - ???

any comments appreciated.

Writing this quickly because I'm expecting a visitor any minute…

I looked down at my notebook and my eyes crinkled.

Theoretically you could get away with it, but it’s a bit too distant to me. In POV3 you're saying the eyes crinkled to show what a character is thinking. With POV1, you can show us her feelings – I was amused for instance (crap example!_

The grin slipped from my face.

Again, what did she feel to make the grin slip?

Personally, I think in first person you probably have to lose both these two (externally visible) lines.

R x

Thanks, guys. and yes, i think you are both right. I guess this is part of the problem of converting a chapter from 3rd to 1st, rather than writing it in 1st from scratch.

x

I agree - the examples given in 1st person POV make it sound as if the narrator is observing herself in a detached sort of way.

However, your question has reminded me of something about 1st and 3rd POVs that rarely seems to be discussed - that in 1st person you can only write about things the narrator is consciously[u/] aware of. An advantage of 3rd person is that you can write about things your POV character might not be consciously aware of. So with "the grin slipped from Lisa's face" there is a hint that Lisa wasn't consciously aware of her grin slipping. Whereas with "the grin slipped from my face" Lisa has to be consciously aware of what her face is doing.

<Added>

Only the word consciously was supposed to be underlined in this post!

And the added bit wasn't supposed to be underlined at all!

That's a really good point, Daisy. I can see i'm going to have to watch that.

A very good point!

Daisy's right, and there's also a further advantage to using the 3rd person. As well as being able to put in the third person's observations and thoughts about the character, you can also (unless you are a member of the school that totally prohibits it in all circumstances!) allow an element of authorial opinion to find its way in as well. That's virtually impossible in first person and there are definitely circumstances where, used with caution, it has a valid place.

Chris

Hi Chris,

Yes, i have to say in my last 3 books i have done that.I just feel after 3 books of writing that way i am a bit too comfortable and need to challenge myself. Also, first person is still very popular in the WF/chick lit genre so if i'm going to try it i may as well do it now.

Who knows though, i may return to 3rd with my next book as it's not nearly so restrictive.

It's interesting the the first person is so popular in chick-lit - is it because it feels like the MC is talking directly and personally to you - as if you are her confidante or best friend?
Susiex

I think so, Suze. Also because there tends to be a lot of navel-gazing in some chick lit, so first person is great for the introspection.

x

But if used differently you can use the mc's awareness/lack of in terms of how she is coming across externally.

"I suddenly realised the smile had slipped from my face"

"I hastily tried to retrieve the smile that had slipped from my face."

Hmm, good point, Snowy.

<Added>

although phrases like that incur the dreaded 'I' which i try to avoid to a degree.

Gosh - can "I" be avoided in first person? Haven't heard of that before...