First-person POV vs. third-person
I've had a reader ask about the increase in fantasy novels written from the first-person point of view (POV), rather than in third-person. Trend or coincidence? And does one POV have advantages over the other?
I've written four books so far -- two were in third-person (they're in my office closet and are going to stay there), two are in first-person (one is in bookstores, one is with my publisher in copyediting).
Every author has their preference. Though for me it's not preference, it's what I can do and what I can't do. Some writers are fortunate (and talented) enough to do both. I'm not one of them.
In the 80s I read Eddings, Feist, and Brooks -- all big, epic series -- all written in third-person. I loved them; I wanted to write one. I wrote two. They both sucked. They even bored me.
I started reading other genres: mysteries and detective novels. I read Robert Parker, Raymond Chandler and Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe books. All written in first-person. I particularly loved Archie, who was Nero Wolfe's assistant. He was smart, street-savvy, snarky -- and funny. I got back to the keyboard and started a new book: a quasi-traditional fantasy, but with modern overtones and speech. I liked it; I hoped that eventually I could get an agent and publisher to like it. Raine was born. And I've been writing first-person ever since. I love the intimacy and immediacy of it -- one person, one point of view, right here, right now. Simple, uncluttered and direct. Just like the detective novels I love.
That could by why there seems to be a trend toward first-person: some of the most popular urban fantasies have one main character with a "supporting cast." That main character very often has a "detective-like" job: seeker, bounty hunter, vampire hunter, paranormal investigator, wizard gumshoe. Kind of an updated take on the fantasy quest novel. But those epic fantasies are still out there, they're going strong, and gaining readers.
Urban or epic. First-person detective or a Cecil B. DeMille-cast-of-thousands epic -- it's all a matter of preference.
I've written four books so far -- two were in third-person (they're in my office closet and are going to stay there), two are in first-person (one is in bookstores, one is with my publisher in copyediting).
Every author has their preference. Though for me it's not preference, it's what I can do and what I can't do. Some writers are fortunate (and talented) enough to do both. I'm not one of them.
In the 80s I read Eddings, Feist, and Brooks -- all big, epic series -- all written in third-person. I loved them; I wanted to write one. I wrote two. They both sucked. They even bored me.
I started reading other genres: mysteries and detective novels. I read Robert Parker, Raymond Chandler and Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe books. All written in first-person. I particularly loved Archie, who was Nero Wolfe's assistant. He was smart, street-savvy, snarky -- and funny. I got back to the keyboard and started a new book: a quasi-traditional fantasy, but with modern overtones and speech. I liked it; I hoped that eventually I could get an agent and publisher to like it. Raine was born. And I've been writing first-person ever since. I love the intimacy and immediacy of it -- one person, one point of view, right here, right now. Simple, uncluttered and direct. Just like the detective novels I love.
That could by why there seems to be a trend toward first-person: some of the most popular urban fantasies have one main character with a "supporting cast." That main character very often has a "detective-like" job: seeker, bounty hunter, vampire hunter, paranormal investigator, wizard gumshoe. Kind of an updated take on the fantasy quest novel. But those epic fantasies are still out there, they're going strong, and gaining readers.
Urban or epic. First-person detective or a Cecil B. DeMille-cast-of-thousands epic -- it's all a matter of preference.
posted by Lisa Shearin at
9:30 AM
3 Comments:
Great article, Lisa.
I've always gravitated to third person as the most-comfortable POV for me, but I admit after reading MLTF, I've given it more thought. There's something very immediate and active about being in the MCs head, looking through her (or his) eyes. Especially when the MC takes you on such an imaginitive journey.
Thank you!
I find it easier to be in one person's head. It's so much simplier for me -- if Raine doesn't see it or hear about it, it doesn't enter into the picture.
I currently have a WIP that is being written in the first person. An interesting new adventure for me. We'll see how it works out.
Shelb
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