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In literature, the first-person point of view immerses readers into the intimate perspective of a single character or individual. When a story is told from this viewpoint, the narrator shares their experiences, thoughts, and emotions directly with the reader. The narrator uses pronouns like “I,” “me,” and “my” to convey their personal journey.
First-person is the most immediate point of view. Since readers share the protagonist’s every thought and emotion, they identify closely with them.
Writers of young adult fiction often write from a first-person point of view to offer appeal through plots that involve self-discovery and acceptance. First-person POV is also common in literary fiction, women’s fiction, urban fantasy, and some crime fiction and mysteries in which readers discover the clues and solve the crime along with the narrator.
New writers often find first-person POV easier to maintain. It forces authors to adhere to one perspective. POV violations don’t happen as often because there’s only one “I,” and because it’s how we tell stories about the events in our lives.
When to use first-person POV :
When not to use it:
What Is First-Person Point of View?
The narrator tells the story from their perspective and takes part as a character within the story. Depending on the type of first-person POV employed, the narrator may or may not be the story’s protagonist. The narrator uses pronouns such as “I” and “we” and describes the actions, characters, and settings through their lens.
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First-person deep
The protagonist tells the story, immersing the reader into their thoughts, feelings, actions, and reactions. By allowing readers to step into the shoes of the protagonist, the reader shares their joys, fears, and growth during the story.
Since the narrator is the protagonist of the story, readers see events only through their purview.
If done well, writing in first-person central POV establishes an intimate bond between the reader and the character, and the reader experiences the events as if they’re happening to them. The narrator’s biases, opinions, and feelings influence their narrative, and their unique voice shapes their perceptions.
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
Protagonist Holden Caulfield’s introspective voice allows the reader to feel his angst and depression and experience his rebellion, alienation, and search for authenticity.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Charlie, an introverted high school freshman, writes a series of letters that capture his struggles and emotional journey during a pivotal year in his life.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Protagonist Katniss Everdeen takes readers through her fight for survival in a dystopian world, grappling with her identity and her role as the symbol of the rebellion against the Capitol.
Deep POV immerses readers into a character’s psyche, blurring the line between narrator and protagonist. It explores the lived experience in real time and doesn’t filter through a narrator’s voice or the author. Every word on the page comes from the character or from within the character. That is the essence of deep first-person POV.
Writing in deep first-person requires the author to remain completely invisible. Readers should feel what the character feels and hear what they think, experiencing what they do without distance. In deep POV, every word on the page comes from within the character.
While the reader lives vicariously through the character, the character doesn’t acknowledge, talk to, or think of the reader at all. Everything happens in real time, so the author’s voice should not summarize, explain, skim, describe, skip time, etc. The difference is like that between feeling your own emotions and watching someone else’s.
Writing in deep first-person POV eliminates unintentional telling. This means having a better understanding of showing versus telling. Deep POV feels tighter and quicker in pace even though it often uses more words. Tight writing is less about the number of words used and more about making every word count.
Deep POV cuts out a lot of the filler words and emotionally empty words and replaces them with strong words that hold the reader’s interest. Emotional depth, connection to the viewpoint character, smooth writing, and a fast pace all combine to form a reading experience that blocks out the world around the reader.
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
Spensa dreams of becoming a starfighter pilot to battle the aliens threatening her world. Readers experience her hopes, fears, and personal growth as she fights to break free of her father’s tarnished legacy and shows resilience in the face of danger.
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton
Nina navigates modern dating, friendships, and self-discovery. Readers share Nina’s joys, heartaches, and humorous observations.
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Celestial and Roy reveal, through alternating perspectives, their vulnerabilities, desires, and the impact of wrongful imprisonment on their marriage.
A story written in first-person peripheral involves a narrator who is not the story’s protagonist. Their narration shows an excellent view of the action surrounding the main characters. They may or may not explicitly identify with or approve of the real main character (the protagonist).
Why choose a first-person peripheral POV?
The Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Doctor Watson narrates and takes part in the tales of his friend and the protagonist Sherlock Holmes.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Nick Carraway narrates his front seat view of the protagonist’s (Gatsby) exploits and that of the other focal characters.
The first line of these books makes it clear the POV is in first-person:
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
“Call me Ishmael.”
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
“When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow…”
Sharp Objectsn by Gillian Flynn
“My sweater was new, stinging red and ugly. It was May 12 but the temperature had dipped to the forties, and after shivering four days in my shirtsleeves, I grabbed cover at a tag sale rather than dig through my boxed-up winter clothes. Spring in Chicago.”
Killing Floor by Lee Child (first in the Jack Reacher series)
“I WAS ARRESTED AT ENO’S DINER. AT TWELVE O’CLOCK. I was eating eggs and drinking coffee. A late breakfast, not lunch…”
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
“Conscription Day is always the deadliest. Maybe that’s why the sunrise is especially beautiful this morning—because I know it may be my last.”
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak (narrated by Death)
“First the colors. Then the humans. That’s usually how I see things. Or at least how I try.”
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Once you decide to write in first-person, stick with it throughout the story.
The narrator’s voice is crucial in first-person writing. Make it distinct and unique, a reflection of the character’s background, personality, and quirks.
Remember the narrator only knows what they experience. Use this limitation to build suspense and intrigue .
Decide whether your narrator is reliable or unreliable. If it’s appropriate for your story, using an unreliable narrator can add intrigue and complexity.
Conversely, a reliable narrator establishes a strong sense of trust with readers by showing consistency, good judgment, and truthfulness. Think Doctor Watson in the Sherlock Holmes books. Watson provides a consistent and objective perspective, and the reader believes him to be rational, knowledgeable, and trustworthy.
All writers have heard this rule before, but it’s especially important when writing in first-person to use sensory details and emotions to immerse readers. For example, instead of saying, “I was scared,” describe a racing heartbeat and sweaty palms.
In first-person, it’s all too easy to start sentences with “I” or “We.” Beginning with a sensory detail or an action can keep things interesting.
It could be a challenge to write from a first-person POV if your character differs vastly from you in gender, age, or education and the voice doesn’t come naturally to you. A writer with a PhD in French History may struggle to write convincingly from the POV of an illiterate coal miner.
Developing other characters when writing in a first-person perspective can be challenging, since readers see everything only through the narrator’s eyes.
In summary, first-person POV offers intimacy, subjectivity, and emotional resonance. The narrator’s psychology will draw readers into a close relationship. It’s a powerful way to connect readers directly with the main character’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Choosing between reliable and unreliable narrators allows writers to shape readers’ perceptions, challenge assumptions, and add layers of depth to their stories.
Done effectively, writing in first-person can submerge readers into the narrator’s world, forging a bond that keeps them reading to the very last page.
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