My wip & the one before were both written in a close 3rd, i.e. it is in 3rd but sticks very close to a single character. I like this because it gives the intimacy of 1st, but also allows me to pull out and show the reader a broader perspective once in a while.

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

I'd say follow your instincts; if you want to write this one in first, then do it!

Sometimes the prose just kind of comes out in the voice it prefers, I think. Mine always come out in first person present tense. I've tried third but it just doesn't seem to work.

I'm just beginning my current novel - the previous one had three POV characters and was written in third-person, present tense. For this next one I'm going to stretch myself with four POV characters, three in third person (haven't decided yet whether present or past tense) and one in first person, present. This is going to be a challenge! But like you, cherys, the first person character in this case just began talking and so I'm letting her have her head!
Susiex

Hey. I know I'm coming into this thread a little late, but I thought I'd join in as I've written a book that's a first person perspective of the character describing the story. It's not one that was published (it's self published, but that probably doesn't count), but it was told from the point of view of three characters in my story--each with their own separate tale. I decided to use that idea because I saw the film Sin City and liked the idea of the story being told from the characters point of view. I also liked it because one of my main characters was a real bastard (doing some pretty nasty things), but the way he descibed it was a way of trying to justify his actions.

The only problem I found with this is that not a lot of publishers or agents wanted to take it on, so as such it died a death. I think it could also have something to do with the characters being really horrible that might have put people off. But also, I kinda found it restricted the kind of things that I could write about, as you're only seeing things from a characters perspective it limited the stuff I wrote about. So personally, I wouldn't do it again, but that's just me. Although if I ever get published I might just give it a go again in the future.