Depends on the story.
I enjoy both but usually write in third.
My thrillers, In Cold Daylight and In For The Kill, are written in the first person because I find that provides a faster paced novel. My Marine Mystery crime novels are written in the third person, but from the single viewpoint of my rugged and flawed detective, Inspector Andy Horton.
I've written in both. I don't have a preference. It depends on what the story calls for.
First person. If it's non-fiction, I talk. If it's fiction, my characters talk. Although, I've been known to switch point-of-view for example, when a character is in danger of dying, just to ease up on the reader and to allow for better exposition.
Yeah, I know. Shame on me. But in 15 years of writing, no one has complained.
Both
I like first person the best, because if feels like you can go much more personal with the character, but it can be limited to just one person. Plus it is much more realistic, because in real life you are limited to only what you think. Third person can open up that window so you can explore several people instead of just one.
First person is my favourite because then the character has a real 'voice' and you can show it to the reader. However, I use third person as much as first because first person really limits the way you can present events. When you have as many as eight main characters it's extremely difficult to write in first person.
I wrote a short story entirely in second person once, and I want to add that first person present tense stories are the WORST! Don't do them! Just don't! Why would anyone think that was the best way to tell their stories? No, no, no!
I like close third person. It reads like first person and gets you close to that character, but is third person so you're not limited to only that character's perspective. You can get other perspectives within the story.
I've written in both. In fact, I've written the first chapters of books in both first person and third person to see which felt right for the story.
I like first person present tense, but you only have one viewpoint, so you have to be really confident in what you are writing to make it work.
Third person give you more choices and viewpoints.
I like to write in first person. I write in a method that is akin to method acting. I want to get inside my characters and try to become them in some way. If I want to change it to third person at a later time, well, that's why we have multiple drafts.
I like variety and both suit me fine.
I prefer to write and read fiction in third person. I like first person for blog posts, essays, and other nonfiction.
That's a tough question because I like a little of both. It's always fascinating to leave a little mistery in the air. |
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