Absolute Chaos Discussion Boards
Fic Talk => General Discussion => Topic started by: RokofAges75 on June 16, 2008, 06:56:21 PM
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I swear we've talked about this topic before, but I hunted all over and couldn't find an actual poll, so I'm starting one.
When reading a fanfic, what point of view do you prefer the story to be in? First person (one character narrates the story... a.k.a. "I'm Howie, and here's my story..."), or third person (no narrator... a.k.a. "Howie was a short man with a high singing voice and a winking habit. One day, this happened to him...")?
I made the poll simple: choose between one of those. But in your answer, feel free to expand. Do you prefer to read in one POV, but write in another? If you like first person, do you prefer to write from a guy's POV or a girl's? If you like third person, do you prefer it to be limited (you only get the perspective of one character), or omniscient (you get the perspectives of many characters)?
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I like both, but I went with first person because I think personally I get the feel of my characters better when it's in first and that usually sucks me into a story better. I like hearing the main characters voice in my head as I read.
But third usually makes for a more graceful, pretty style of writing and enables much more description. So it has it's advantages as well. So I like both, but I think I tend to lean a little more toward 1st.
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I have a hard time writing in first person unless it's actually about me...I don't know what it is. I don't think I have the concentration to really sit down and be someone else enough/long enough to write a whole story in first person. I have really considered trying again though.
I have re-writting this several times because I can't decide. I like both. I like the fact that when I read first person I really get into that character (usually) and I'm all in their head and stuff. But I like third person, too-usually 3rd person omniscient because I feel like I get more info that way. Make sense?
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I am not a big fan of first person POV. It's really hard for me to get into other characters, and it just seems so redundant half the time. I don't mind reading it at all, I just can't write it.
Third person POV can allow you to get into not just one character's head, but many and it flows so much easier.
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Like Kelly, I like both as well. But if I had to choose one... I'd pick first person. I really enjoy writing in first person because for that moment I become the character I'm trying to portray and it's as if I'm a different person. It's funny because when I write in first person, I write everything I think the character would say, but at the same time I don't really think about it, ya know?! The dialogue just comes freely and the way I (well, the character) decide to tell the story. For me personally, writing/reading first person POV brings a little more realism and creativity to a story because the writer and reader alike become that character when they delve into the story. Lately, I've been finding myself to do a mixture of both first and third person. Like, for my story "Whatever It Takes", I alternate the chapters from Brian telling the story to me telling the story... just cause I like both POV's and thought "Eh, why the hell not balance them out". But when reading other stories told in first POV, it's interesting because everyone has a different take on it, ya know?! I dunno... I think I'm getting carried away with my explanation. I vote first POV. ;D
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This is hard! A month ago I would have definitely said third person, but after reading this months featured story, and doing both this month's challenges in first person, I have to say that I'm growing quite fond of it! It really lets you get inside the character's head, but of course the story will lean towards that one character (which isn't always a bad thing!) So I guess I'll say while first person is fun, I prefer third person just a bit more because I feel a bit more balance.
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I think third person is best, although both have their uses.
I think it all really depends on the story. If the story needs the limit that comes from one person's views, or benefits from it (such as "Mean Girls" or "Clueless") it needs first person. Those two movies wouldn't be as good in third person, you know?
And then third person gives a better view of the world around the characters and you can get more than one person's view of other characters.
This is a really tiny response because I don't feel like thinking right now. lol Sorry.
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Don't feel like thinking? I feel ya there, Dee. :D
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I like both but I really enjoy a story written in the first person. I like hearing it from that person's POV. And I like writing that way too. I've found I love to write in Nick's POV for some reason, whether I'm good at it or not, I don't know, lol..
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I love writng and reading first person. I just think you get a better feel for the character without all the description. Sometimes in third person, it's easy to get too caught up in the descriptions of things which can make a story monotonous and sometimes boring.
I do read both though, but I find the stories I love most fanfic and not are almost always first person.
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This is hard! A month ago I would have definitely said third person, but after reading this months featured story, and doing both this month's challenges in first person, I have to say that I'm growing quite fond of it! It really lets you get inside the character's head, but of course the story will lean towards that one character (which isn't always a bad thing!) So I guess I'll say while first person is fun, I prefer third person just a bit more because I feel a bit more balance.
YAY to having you rethink first person :)
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^Your story was one of the best first person stories I've ever read. You did such a great job of getting into each of their heads and you could tell who was speaking right away. :) I loved it so much, Mare!
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aww thanks! :)
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After doing this month's picture challenge, I did find that writing in first person isn't as bad as I had once thought. It is still hard for me because again, I like to get in character's heads at more than one time. Who knows, maybe my next solo project will be in first person POV. :D
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Reading wise? I actually really like 1st person but only if the voice is truly written well. A unique story telling voice in first person could really make a great story. Such as Mare :D
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I was going to say such as Nick, but wait! Mare IS Nick! *facepalm*
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I'm actually Howie
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I thought you were Alex. ???
WHO ARE YOU MARE?!?!?!?!?!?!?
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I'm actually Howie
nobody is Kevin... because I killed him.
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Nick is Kevin.
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If I do a first person story, its out of pure laziness. And if I do a third person, then that means, I'm actually using the old noodle.
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^I found it way harder to write in first person. What do you find to be easier about it, Kagoma? (I'm not trying to be a jerk, I'm actually wondering lol)
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I think it's just a totally different style of writing. If you're good at getting inside characters' heads and writing in their voice, then first person is probably easy for you. If you prefer the more flowery, descriptive style of writing, third person is probably easier. I think it also depends on the character narrating, if you're doing first person... some characters are better narrators than others, you know?
Personally, I almost always write in third person. I like it because it's not as limiting, and it allows me to be a little more flowery at times without it sounding unrealistic because no one actually thinks/writes/talks that way.
That said, I'm reading five different books/stories right now, and all but one of them are written in first person, so now I'm in that mode. I'm very easily influenced by what I read LOL.
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lol so am I. I've been reading a ton of teen fiction lately, and all of it seems to be in first person. I only have one story right now that is truly in third person and I would definitely say that one is more complicated for me. But I still like it and it does give that story an entirely different feel than most of my other stuff. I think that choosing first or third is a choice that should be made after you decide the tone and mood of your story. Some stories are really just meant to be in third person, and then others have to be first. Like for instance, could you imagine Cindy letting me tell Not Your Average Cinderella Story in third person? There's no way she would have let me get away with that. I think it all just depends.
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Yeah, totally. Your stories are perfect examples of the beauty of first person. Cinderella and Movie... both stories that make me want to write in first person LOL.
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Yeah, totally. Your stories are perfect examples of the beauty of first person. Cinderella and Movie... both stories that make me want to write in first person LOL.
aww, well then you should go do it! I'm still waiting for my new Julie Brian AU. ;D
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It depends on the story. I love reading first person. But writing wise, I tend to reserve first for say stories I want to rely more on the voice. The stories I keep in third person are typically action stories (Born To Be, 00Carter), and that's because writing in 1st person for those would weaken them. But some stories (JAD...or like Julie said, Kelly's Cindy hehe) would have been worse off without first person. So it's all about the skill of the writer and the actual story being told I think.