Writing in First, Second or Third Person.

I am not going to get technical here, I am a simple person and write in simple terms. I apologise if you prefer more technical writing speak, but is a pet hate of mine to drag out a thesaurus every time I read a blog post, and I don't want to impose that on others. Besides I am not great on the writing lingo. Even though I am a writer.

Funny that.

This post is about narrating a book, and in what form. When I wrote The Empress Returns, I didn't for one moment consider writing in any other form. I wrote as if I was speaking through the book. Me. I told the story through the eyes of my alter ego; a young man named Lewis. I never got bored or confused with writing in first person and I enjoyed creating the character from his eyes, developing his emotions, his words and his mannerisms. I never tired of being the man in my book. In fact, I learned everything I could about being a young man from my son. Listening, watching and understanding, formed the foundation of my character.

Here is the first paragraph in first person:

I remember that fateful August day like it was yesterday. I was sprawled out on my bed getting increasingly pissed off at the sun for creeping in through a gap in the curtains. Staring at the ceiling, I’d been lying there for quite some time. I remember absorbing the smell of flowers from that god-awful washing powder my mother used and thinking about how it was sweet and overpowering, yet it reminded me of my home.   

Writing in first person is my favourite, but as a 'newbie' I still wanted to learn more. I have written a further four stories. Two in third person.

This I found was 'ok' and fitted the stories better than they would in first person... I felt. Simply because the situations in the story became more shaped and detailed in this style. It was also my gut instinct that made it feel right. In actual fact, my best reviews have come from a third person perspective, so it worked in this case. In third person it is important to pick a main character to follow, and I found this easy enough. 

I say I found it 'ok' as I still prefer first person.

Here is the first paragraph from 'They Always Come Back'

Sally gave her new kitchen units a quick wipe down before standing next to her brother who was sat at the kitchen table. With a mug of hot tea in her hand, she glanced around. The natural wood effect work tops were simple but tasteful, reflecting the theme of a traditional farmhouse, and the solid oak table had been carefully selected to match the theme along with the duck egg paint and terracotta tiles.  

Second person is a little trickier, and it is something I try to do a bit in my blogs.

' You want to know how to write a story? Sure... I'll show you!'

The you is you not the other person in this instance. I use in mostly in teaching or non-fiction works.

Digressing slightly and back to first person POV (point of view) I wrote a little book called TICK TOCK and it was actually my favourite to write. I wrote in present tense, which was tricky but so much fun. I felt very alive and in character. Playing a sick and twisted, ugly creep, really worked for me. 

That is my favourite writing style to date.

Here is a few lines from TICK TOCK

For you to fully understand what I am, I would like you to use your imagination for one moment. Imagine what your life would be like if you had a constant feed of adrenalin that gave you a thrill from dusk to dawn; the type of excitement that would have your heart thumping into what feels like the tune of your life.    

So what is your preferred 'narration'?