Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Total Bias

Like Tracy, I've always had a specific preference for a particular type of POV. But unlike her, I've always been a first person kind of gal. It honestly never occurred to me to write in anything other than first person, and I'm not sure if I could pull it off.

See, for me, writing is all about a close voice. While I enjoy books that are written in the third person, I absolutely the feel of getting into a character's head--sometimes easier when the story is written in the first person. Hearing the main character's thoughts, emotions and quirks. It's about reading a book and feeling like you're in on the main character's most intimate moments. I've been told that my writing has an almost gossip-y, feel-like-you're-talking-to-your-best-friend feel. And I honestly don't feel like I could achieve that in third person.

But I can see some advantages to writing in third. Being able to listen to more than one character and seeing how the plot unfolds from multiple angles are two really cool advantages--something that I think Lesley pulls off beautifully in Wondrous Strange.

Regardless of my immediate preference, as agents say: story trumps all. So while I might prefer first person to third person and past tense to present tense, what I really want is to be entertained.

What about you guys? Do you have a preference?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What I really want is a good story regardless of POV BUT I do think I preferr first person a bit better. I loke the closeness it give you to the main character. You almost become them with the use of "I and me". I don't hate 3rd person or anything - just a slight advantage to first :)

Anonymous said...

1st person is my main choice of reading,but funny thing is I almost always pick up the story with the 3rd person view.LOL.