I am a novice author and wanted to ask some clarifications about how most people respond to a First person narration.

I have a rough idea why someone might use 1p or 3p, and it is exactly for that reason I am using 1p

In detail, I want to focus on the MC's personality and psychology throughout the entire novel, helping the readers understand how he thinks by directly giving them his though process.

I also use it because in order to show that the MC is not all knowing and learns about things as the story unfolds , allowing readers to make speculations and immerse themselves in the events that are about to unfold

Summing it up, I don't want to go into the details of the novel , because that would be similar to promoting, but the main point is that in a "portals to other worlds" we have a rational MC whose psychological state and personality slowly deteriorates to the point of becoming a villain of sorts.

So in order to show precisely how that happens, I use 1p.

As stated I won't provide the name of the novel or a link to it, as that would be similar to promoting
(Although if you are actually curious you only need to see the information on my profile)

    DogPerson my novel is also in the first person point of view. I think there is no problem when writing novel like this... But, we tend to overly describe some feeling and though to the points it will become boring for readers. Also... Writing novel in first person of view is usually longer than writing 3rd person of view because we need to make sure everything happen in the novels make sense. Because, if we write from, let's say.. MC point of view. A normal person. He is not a god... So, of course he don't know what other people is thinking. He might thing that other people is scared... But, that other people maybe is just acting. But, the MC don't know. So, we have to explain things and it might take awhile.

    If we use third person pov... It's more easy to write but.. the novel can easily turn into a normal storytelling rather than a lively world.

      Hi DogPerson, it's nice to know your thoughts about the first person narration. I was fond of doing it, too. My sister also writes novels, and we were discussing about this topic one time. She told me she does not like using the first person because she finds it difficult. I said that's strange. It's easier for me.

      After that discussion, I thought about the using the third person in my next stories. This is just to know its difficulty level. When I started writing the third person, it's funny because I find it even easier than writing in the first person. You get to express the other parties' thoughts and explain the whole picture really well.

      However, I truly understand that there are writers more comfortable with the first person. My point here is to encourage you to try writing in the third person as well. This way, you will get used to writing either point of view. You will practice versatility when you write. :)

          DogPerson
          In my perspective, it really depends on the Author, and his skill.

          First person is harder because you need to be able to describe things very well from the eyes of the narrator. You have to be able to pull in the reader into the narrator's head. If not done well, the novel falls flat.

          I've read some good ones, and some bad ones - and when it's bad, it's cringy. It can get so long-winded and confusing that it becomes boring and/or uninteresting.

          With 3P, it's harder to fail in that aspect as people are more invested in the story or plot. However, if the story is still boring and/or uninteresting, it will remain so.

          I do not mean to say that your writing is bad or anything like that, but generally saying that there is no 'right' answer. People will avoid 1P because it is a risky thing but if you find that it is easier for you to convey your thoughts and story, then that is the best method for you.

          I would advise to do both at first, and see which style suits you the most. What helped you express yourself the best.

          I first started writing in 1P with the same reasons as you but after five chapters, realised that it would be better as 3P. It allowed me better freedom to express things . Never regretted changing, and allowed me to also expand more on the other characters in the novel.

            mavisfonthip25 I think so too, in first person, in order to show the story from another person's perspective or just put a remark to what they think you have to do a change of perspective, which if done many times or inconsistently will confuse the readers.

            I plan to write my second novel in Third person as well

              DogPerson

              Don't worry!

              90% of the originals here are written in first POV and it is hugely popular because it immerse the readers quickly into the story. When the readers are immerse, they can't see any plot holes too:X

              If you want quick collection, it's good to write a first POV on it.

              An example will be Monarch of Time which is quite popular (note: it is not written by me or is a friend of mine). So it is not self-promoting. You may want to check it out.

                I'm not sure of the question here but I do like 1p when I feel like I can relate to the character. It's a bit easier for me if I feel like I know the person I'm writing about, very well. The only 1p I wrote so far was a spicy fanfic. That was fun and very difficult. I feel like my 3p can be a bit stiff but eh, I don't have enough opinions to know. I also wrote in 2p one time for high school back in the day and that was fun and surprisingly easy to write.

                  I forget to mention that there is another advantage of writing in 1P. No readers will feel that the MC is stupid even if the actions are wrong.

                  On the other hand, if you are writing in 3P, you can easily give a world perspective and the hidden thoughts of the villains which the readers are privy to but not the MC.

                  Most readers will feel that the MC is stupid, dense, boar etc. Because the readers will all feel that they are all smarter than the MC and they forget that they had the benefit of hindsight.

                  But in 1P, the readers will never think the MC is stupid because they can't see anything in advance lol.

                    DogPerson
                    Hello there! I'd like to help out by sharing my tips and experiences with the perspective.

                    I've noticed that a lot of people here on this website use the first-person perspective for the readers to delve into the mind of the protagonist, but do it wrongly.

                    I concur with other people on this website. Mastering this perspective is hard, but perhaps these tips would ease things down a bit.

                    1. Do you really need to use the perspective?
                      First thing to consider is if it is really necessary for your novel to run under 1st POV. "Do some experiments," as one would say it. Try other perspectives first. If it fails to meet your expectation, and you're really sure that the 1st POV suites your novel best, then go with it!

                    2. Types of 1st Person Perspective
                      Let's keep things simple, and discuss the two common types only. Number one, the perspective wherein it is the protagonist who serves as the narrator, and number two, the perspective wherein it is the supporting character who narrates the story.

                    Mystery genres implement either of these two, especially when talking about detectives.

                    Usually, like Sir Arthur Coyle, author of Sherlock Holmes, and Mrs. Agatha Christie, author of the Poirot series, mystery writers would use the second type.

                    Watson and Hastings are usually the narrator(excluding Chief Inspector Japp, and other narrators of the Poirot Series) to avoid ruining the suspense and thriller elements. If Sherlock was the narrator, then the whole book would be boring. Why? He'd solve everything at first glance!

                    If you don't want to ruin the suspense, element of surprise, thriller, then use this.

                    The first type is commonly used by a wide range of genres such as fantasy, romance, YA, and etc. If it's not mystery, you can still use type two, but I highly suggest using type one.

                    1. Show not tell
                      Well, we all know what this is, but surprisingly, a lot of authors pour a whole cup of this method into their novel. Know when to tell and when to show. You cannot always show, show, show. Do that and you'll end up having cliches. Why? Well, certainly your characters will be experiencing fear, worry, happiness, more than once so if you're going to show, show, show, you might end up writing:
                      Her heart pounded.
                      Her heart struggled to escape her ribcage.
                      Her heart throbbed.
                      It accelerated the already rampant pounding of her heart.
                      They're the same thing with slight alterations. Readers will get bored of it, and that's when showing becomes a mistake.

                    In 1st POV, you don't want your readers to get bored of the character's emotions in response to situations so make sure you show when necessary and tell if not. Keep things balanced. Oh, and avoid filter words.

                    1. I, We,
                      Another mistake of amateur authors:
                      I went to the mall. I bought cupcakes there, and then I met Johnny.

                    Sounds like a to-do list or a done-list. (Or a report) Using I and we is essential but do not overdo it:
                    I went to the mall and bought some cupcakes, then met with Johnny afterward. Sounds better right? Same goes with me, myself, and my.

                    If you're choosing 1st POV, then it's best, in my opinion, if it's limited. The reader ONLY sees what the narrator sees, what the narrator feels, what the narrator hears, and is only limited to him or her. Take Watson from Sherlock Holmes as an example.

                    Well, this is all I can think of for now. If you have any other concerns, feel free to reply! I hope these tips and suggestions help you!

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