I'm interested in how other writers came to a decision on pov - first or third. Did anyone experiment with both, and if so, how did you choose one over the other.

The first draft of my book was a real story dump -= get it out any old how and is in first and third. I can see pitfalls and strengths to both. Now I want to get the voice right for this draft and am really struggling to decide which works best.

With third, the story can tell itself, it doesn't mean one character must find it out. But with a series of first person narratives maybe the same is true, with the added advantage of getting closer inside the skin, into the voices of the different characters.

With short fiction I can usually tell instinctively but with the huge sprawl of a novel, different parts seem to suggest first or third. I'd love to know how others made the choice. Was it immediately obvious, or did you have to work it out?

Thanks,

Susannah

I have quite a few characters, and while I thought I had most of the PoV's sorted in the draft, during the edit it became apparent that certain scenes worked better by changing the PoV. I usually go with the most lead character, or the one most able to relate the background or situation of any particular scene. It can be tricky, because by lending a character a PoV you are involving them more directly in the story, and if you have no use for them beyond that scene, I try to avoid doing that.

JB

Thanks Waxy. I'm guessing from that, that you write in third person. I keep intending to write it in third person. It makes sense during all those note scribbling, plot deciphering sessions, but whenever I pick up my pen to actually write a scene it comes out in first person and then I have to reword it.

I love writing in first person because I'm addicted to voice, and the creative limitations of character narrators. But because it's bad for me to keep doing what I like doing, the novel after the one I'm working on is going to be 3rd, multiple moving PoV, not sure if how present the external narrator will be. So I'll tell you when I get there.

If you keep slipping into first, I do think that's an instinct worth listening to, though... One of my current MC's was going to be in present tense for all sorts of excellent structural reasons, but he wouldn't stay there, and I've had to let him have his way.

Emma

If you keep slipping into first, I do think that's an instinct worth listening to, though... One of my current MC's was going to be in present tense for all sorts of excellent structural reasons, but he wouldn't stay there, and I've had to let him have his way.

I know it's wrong wrong wrong to want advice to go a certain way... but I'm so glad you said that. It seems odd to be instinctively drawn to first person, which I don't usually write in, when logic says third would tell the story more smoothly, but the various voices that emerge are taking hold of the story and I feel much closer to the characters as a result.

Good luck with your third person narrative, Emma.

I tend to favour first person or the intimate third. I also like the opportunities for voice that first person offers; characters almost builds themselves this way. In my parallel narrative WIP, I had one (unreliable) narrator in the first person, and the other in third - the point being that the latter character is terribly obsessed with where she "fits" in the world, how others view her, how her own story is going to unfold, and it made sense to write from a slightly more distanced p.o.v.

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characters almost build themselves this way

If you don't usually write in first, but it keeps coming out like that, I agree, it's a very strong pointer...

I don't think it's wrong to want advice to go a certain way. You should certainly be aware that you might be inclined to hear such advice better than contrary advice. But if really what you want is confidence to follow your instincts, then I'm all for it. None of us can know what the work needs better than you can. I think asking for advice is often like tossing a coin - you ask, and when it falls you realise you know what you wanted to do all along...

My first two books were written in the 3rd person, from one character's pov - i felt too timid, writing-wise, to try first person, which was something i'd always wanted to do. I found 3rd person 'safe' for some reason.

so, with book 3, i stuck to 3rd person but added a diary entry, first person, at the end of each chapter. I could quickly see that those were the bits of writing that jumped out as more sparkling, more vivacity, that read more naturally.

My wip is written in the first person.

Of course, first person very much suits my genre (chick lit) and it has it's obvious restrictions.

Apparently many beginners start of with first person, i found the opposite was true of me.

I guess, like Emma says, follow your instinct.

Not much help, i'm afraid..

Casey it definitely helps. I was thinking of journal entries for one chara and the rest in third, but they creep into first. All useful stuff. Thank you for replying.

I started with 3rd person, one pov, and thats useful for most things I write. But the current one is in first person which I'm finding fun but a trial, Consistancy of 'voice' across the chapters is probably the most difficult thing, and I have to be in the right mood to capture it.


- NaomiM

My first novel was 1st person, one PoV all the way through. Yeah now I'm writing in third person and find it a lot easier to be honest.

JB

That's interesting. Why's it easier JB?

Naomi - that consistency of voice argument is intriguing. Maybe one reason I'm so nervous of following instinct on this. That, and a wheedling voice in the back of my head going 'editors don't like first person.' Or so I understand from informed commentary on here. So why are most of my favourite contemporary novels in 1st person?

I suspect agents dislike first person in first novels, because, very often that 'voice' is the writer's own.

I find it easier because I get to pan around the story more, see things from different angles rather than just the one. I had a real headache writing a mystery thriller from only one PoV. This new book is a lot more fun.

JB

I wrote my first teen novel in third, and a reader said she found it emotionally distant; I tried my second teen novel in first and received some nice comments about the voice, so when I started to rewrite that first novel - two years later when I could actually face it again (it was the novel that lost me my first agent) - I changed it from third to first and not only has that made it seem like I'm almost writing a fresh book, I think it's also made me more giving in terms of emotion for my poor, formerly self-contained, mc!

(way too many uses of the word 'first' in this message, sorry)