First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

[JLaCroix]

Okay so I've been writing a lot lately and I am thinking of starting a new project. The main thing I am trying to figure out is if I should tell the story through the eyes of the main character (first person) or through the eyes of someone else (third person). I've been unable to start writing because I can't make up my mind.

The story in question is a mix of Sci-Fi, Horror, and Fantasy. I want the story to be very emotional and demonstrate how seeing horrific things can affect the main character as a person.

What do you guys think?

[Loki]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

Is one narrative form better than others for a particular type of story? This depends again on your skill level as a writer, in the type of story you want to tell, and on the tone you want to set.
� Do you want more intimacy with all characters? Do you have a more sweeping canvas than a single, narrow view? Then perhaps you should pick third person.
� Do you want the single-eye view of the world? Do you want the reader to 'wallow' or be immersed in a single man's fallacies, triumphs, and fears? Consider first person.

http://www.tarakharper.com/k_frstpr.htm

[Red Dragon]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

I think you should write it in the eyes of the monster.



I thought 3rd person was the author telling the story and 2nd person was somone else is looking at the story.

Or am I mixed up?

[JPS]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

If you break it down into chapters you can have multiple first person scenarios, Ive read a few books like that, but you have to know how to make people differentiate whose telling the story at the beginning.

[Tintenfisch]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

2nd person and make is a choose your own adventure.

But really whatever works best for the story, try chapters using both perspectives and see what works best for it.

[JLaCroix]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

Thank you guys, I guess I will settle on third person.

[Adrian Foley]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

Are you going to do third person limited, or third person omniscient?

[Perversion]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

That's the real question, isn't it?

[JLaCroix]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

Are you going to do third person limited, or third person omniscient?

What's that?

[Loki]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

Limited is where you only show things from the main character's point of view, while omniscient is where you show everything and everyone.

[JLaCroix]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

Limited is where you only show things from the main character's point of view, while omniscient is where you show everything and everyone.

More than likely Omniscient then. There are going to be a few times where the main character isn't around for a short period.

[Adrian Foley]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

Limited is where you only show things from the main character's point of view, while omniscient is where you show everything and everyone.

Actually, it's more like limited shows what's happening, and omniscient shows what the characters are thinking and feeling as well.

[Perversion]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

Miss Foley with the correct response.

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

First Person is good when you really need to mine a specific character's intentions and motivations within the realm of the story. To me it sounds like this is where you're heading.

Second Person is good if you want a sort of detached "I'm telling you a story that didn't happen to me." kind of thing. Like when a person tells you an anecdote in a bar about a friend of theirs.

Third Person Limited is great if you want to be able to explore more than just one specific character. You're telling the story through their eyes, but not assuming the role of that person. You get their thoughts and feelings and the "camera" follows them around. If the camera of your story is not focused on them, they don't know about it, more or less. A lot of people like this version. I prefer it myself.

Third Person Omniscient is great if you have a huge cast of characters, or even a limited cast that you want to be able to explore at all times. You can describe anything that's happening at any point in time, know any character's thoughts and motivations, without the characters in the story necessarily knowing that information. I don't like this one so much, but mostly because I don't have a lot of experience with it.

[JLaCroix]

Re: First Person VS Third Person When Writing A Story (Please help!)

First Person is good when you really need to mine a specific character's intentions and motivations within the realm of the story. To me it sounds like this is where you're heading.

Second Person is good if you want a sort of detached "I'm telling you a story that didn't happen to me." kind of thing. Like when a person tells you an anecdote in a bar about a friend of theirs.

Third Person Limited is great if you want to be able to explore more than just one specific character. You're telling the story through their eyes, but not assuming the role of that person. You get their thoughts and feelings and the "camera" follows them around. If the camera of your story is not focused on them, they don't know about it, more or less. A lot of people like this version. I prefer it myself.

Third Person Omniscient is great if you have a huge cast of characters, or even a limited cast that you want to be able to explore at all times. You can describe anything that's happening at any point in time, know any character's thoughts and motivations, without the characters in the story necessarily knowing that information. I don't like this one so much, but mostly because I don't have a lot of experience with it.

That is very detailed. Thank you. Now I'm not totally sure which direction I want to go. A couple of them sound good.