Victoria Aveyard – Jean's Writing

Contrary to some critics first person point of view does work. I disagree with those critics (snobs) that argue writing in the first person is a sign of an amateur.

Writing in the first person is my preferred method. I know, I know, I’m not burning up the NYT Best Seller list. Well, not yet but give me time.

But there are many famous, and successful authors that have proved those critics wrong.

Dean Koontz, Saint Odd
Victoria Aveyard, Red Queen
Herman Melville Moby Dick
Sabaa Tahir, An Ember in the Ashes
Cynthia Swanson, The Bookseller
Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games
John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

And those are just a few!

I enjoy writing when writing in the first person more than third person and I seem to write better. Not sure why. Maybe it’s because I like to walk in the protagonist’s shoes, see through their eyes and feel what they feel. Age doesn’t matter to me. At least, I hope not.

However, on occasion, when I need distance between myself and the protagonist, I switch to the third person. In this instance, I don’t want to feel what my protagonist is feeling.

If you are like me maybe you need some tips on writing in the first person. I’m always working on improving my craft.

Today I learned a few dos and don’ts of writing in the first person:

Don’t just narrate how the character is feeling, involve the reader with the character’s environment.
Do put the reader in the character’s mind and body. What the character sees and hears so should the reader.
Don’t tell what is seen or heard, avoid words like I saw it puts distance between reader and story.

Do – write small. This has become my new mantra, meaning no detail is too small to develop.
Don’t skip the small stuff, it might prove important later. If not, you can cut it out and leave it on the editing floor.
Do avoid passive narration.
Do catch the reader up on past events up quickly and succinctly. Background of the character is important but no need to drag it out.
Do maintain a variety of self-expression that helps increase a sense that the character is real.
Do make sure the character’s personality is consistent with story background and class.

Want to know where here I got these great tips?

From Bridget over at Now Novel.

Click the link below to read her post for more.

First person narrative: 7 tips for writing great narrators

Which point of view do you prefer to write in?

Do you agree with the critics?

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