First person Narration Involves Readers
Allows Connections With Characters, But Beware of Mistakes
Sep 28, 2009
In journalistic writing, you write to inform not entertain. Journalists are supposed to be objective, and using the word “I” is most often used in editorial pieces to state opinions. Fiction however, is used to entertain and the word “I” is often used for first person narration.
When Carefully Planned, Authors Display Wit, Creativity
First person narration often allows authors to display their own wit, and creativity. Using the word “I” gives the author a chance to develop their own style, and better connect with their character.
One author who effectively does this is the extremely successful Charlaine Harris. The popular HBO show True Blood is based on her Southern Vampire novels. That series of books centers around the telepathic barmaid Sookie Stackhouse. In Stackhouse Harris has created, a smart, funny, witty character that very often responds to situations the way a reader might. The novels are quick reads, and Harris displays a flair for blending drama with humour.
That’s one example of an author who does it right. But when writing in the first person it’s important to remember that the story must be carefully planned. Authors who don’t can possibly trap themselves into a corner and find themselves with characters that aren’t relatable for readers. A detailed plot outline avoids this problem because the author knows where their characters are supposed to be at what point in the story.
Historical Fiction Using First Person Narration
Historical fiction is another genre that uses first person narration. Often it increases readers’ understanding of a particular period as well potentially changes minds over the perception of a personality. Authors who use it include Sandra Worth, and Phillippa Gregory.
Gregory is the author of The Other Boleyn Girl, and The Other Queen. In The Other Boleyn Girl, Gregory tells the story of the doomed Anne Boleyn, second wife to Henry VIII. The twist is, she tells it from Anne’s sister Mary’s point of view. Through the story readers get a sense of Mary’s story, as well as a more benevolent picture of Anne as a sister and mother.
Sandra Worth is another author using first person narration in historical fiction. Her book Lady of the Roses takes place in the War of The Roses. It’s told from the Isobel’s point of view, a fifteen -year old royal ward as she marries Sir John Neville for love. It follows the ups, and downs of their life together in civil war England. It gives readers a good feel for the times, and through Worth’s writing, the reader feels great sympathy for Isobel as she bears life’s triumphs, and hardships.
Writing with first-person narration is a challenging prospect. But with a lot of planning, and research it can produce imaginative stories with relatable characters.
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