Writing in First Person or Third - A Tough Choice?

by Shobhan Bantwal

As authors we sometimes find ourselves torn between writing in first person and third person. I know I have, on a number of occasions. Consequently I have two novels written in first person and four in third person. My latest book, The Reluctant Matchmaker is in first person and has earned good reviews.

Both kinds have their pros and cons, which is why some of us find the decision so hard to make. Here are some of my own thoughts about the negatives and positives of each approach.

First-person stories:

  * I enjoy the more personal and intimate examination and mining of the protagonist's psyche.

   * Every scene is portrayed through the eyes, ears, and emotions of the heroine/hero.

   * Depending on how skillfully an author develops the main character, this "from-the-heart" story-telling could hook the reader from page one.

   * If the character is uncomplicated, the amount of research needed may be minimal since it encompasses only one person's depth of knowledge.

   * Self-examination and self-recrimination can be deeper and even brutally honest. 

   * However, the "I-I, Me-Me, My-My"-filled pages can make the protagonist seem self-centered. Some reviews of my own books have alluded to this unfortunate element.

   * The author loses the opportunity to introduce all the other significant characters' thoughts which can potentially make or break a novel.

Third-person stories:

   * The author has the luxury of delving into more than one character's mind and introducing many points of view.

   * Each character develops multiple facets, adding rich and fascinating layers to the emerging story.

   * The dynamics of complicated relationships and communications can be rendered more effectively, with every character given a reason for their respective words and actions.

   * On the other hand, there is the inherent risk of the author's omniscient voice "telling" too much and not "showing" enough.

   * Also, too many POVs can clutter up the story and/or complicate the plot.

Have you struggled with this first-person versus third-person issue? Tell us about it.

Website: www.shobhanbantwal.com

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ShobhanBantwal.author