First Person v Third Person

As mentioned in a previous post, I was going to rewrite the first chapter of my most recent WIP in first person. For nearly a decade now, I’ve been writing in first person, despite the fact that most of my prior stories were written in third. I was undecided of which POV to use in this fantasy WIP, so I conducted an experiment of writing the first chapter in third and first.

Initially, I hated the chapter I wrote in third. And now that I rewrote the chapter in first, I hate that one even more.

The major differences I discovered are the following:

• It takes me significantly longer to write in third person than in first.
  • Writing in third person required much more thought and focus. I need to keep everyone in check, including the background, and most importantly, the plot. It took about 3-4 nights to write 2,700 words.
  • Writing in first person felt seamless. The words continued to flow and I was able to write 1,800 words in 1.5 nights.
• I ramble a lot in first person.
  • The chapter in first person was longer than third. Okay, it was 1,000 words less. But it just felt longer in first than third.
    

    You’re still talking?? Booring!!

    And I only got halfway through the plot of chapter one in the first person version. Add another 2,000 words or so, and I’d be caught up to where chapter one in third person ends. Which means that it takes more words in first person to get to the same plot point. This leads me to:

• Time passes by much more efficiently in third person.
  • In spending less time with the main character, the plot was able to move forward as it should. I couldn’t get as close to the characters as I’d have liked to, but at least there weren’t any dull moments.
  • As is often the case when I write in first, I’m with them every step of the way. And I don’t think it works so well for a story with a large scope and time frame — unlike my first person stories.
• The visuals and atmosphere were much easier to convey in third person.
  • In not having a single lens from which to look out from, I was of course able to show much more of the backdrop. Setting a theme was simpler and more easily achieved in third than in first.
  • First person’s theme and general sentiment is limited by the views and opinions of the MC — whether or not s/he’s a reliable narrator — or, in my MC’s case, young and reckless.

There was such a big difference in the ambiance between the chapters that it didn’t take me too long to decide which POV to use. Which just goes to show that I should have just went with my initial instincts. But at least I know which POV works for this WIP! I will, however, be rewriting chapter one again in third person.

Meanwhile

Can I just digress here and complain about how there just aren’t enough hours in the day, it takes so long to do certain things, and there’s just so much I’d like to accomplish in a day, but it’s just nigh impossible because by the time I sit down to be creatively productive, there are only 2 waking hours left — and those of which are 2 groggy hours of trying to stay awake?

 

I got this. I think.

I digress. a post isn’t a post unless there’s some degree of complaining involved. I’ve been busy with my art commissions most every evening, which is why the writing is coming by at a snail’s pace. And now that school is back in session this week, there goes another chunk of what little amount of free time I’ve had this summer. I’ll just have to use my time more efficiently. *sobs and runs away*