Get Intimate With First Person Point of View
How to Write a Book Using the "I" Narrative
Sep 9, 2009
In a novel with first person narrative, the main character acts as the narrator and speaks in such a way as to refer to him- or herself. By using this type of point of view, authors can help readers feel like they are the main character, which can foster a more intimate relationship between the main character and the reader.
Use First Person Singular Pronouns
Using first person terms identifies what type of narrative an author is using. First person singular is a term used to define the use of personal pronouns utilizing forms of “I.” These include the use of the following terms:
- “I” is a first person singular subject that acts as a personal pronoun.
- “Me” functions as a personal object.
- “My” shows the writer is using a possessive adjective.
- “Mine” works as a possessive pronoun.
- “Myself” is a reflexive pronoun.
Indicate More Than One Person With First Person Plural
Sometimes writers need to include additional people in the story while staying in the first person point of view. To do this, an author can use first person plural pronouns. These include the following choices:
- “We” is a first person plural subject acting as a pronoun.
- “Us” acts as a personal object for plural first person.
- “Ours” is a possessive pronoun.
- “Our” indicates a possessive adjective.
- “Ourselves” acts a reflexive pronoun.
Incorporate First Person Writing into Novels
Once a writer understands how to use the proper language to indicate first person, he or she still needs to work within the rules for writing first person. In order to keep the story in first person, the author can only use one point of view character per scene.
All of the information given to the reader needs to be things the main character knows, feels, tastes, smells, sees, hears, or touches. If a writer incorporates information the main character doesn’t know first-hand, then the writer has either jumped point of view or introduced an omniscient narrator. Both of these can hinder a reader’s ability to connect to the story.
Determine Whether First Person is the Best Point of View
Some people in the writing industry feel using the first person point of view indicates a lazy writer, but the success of stories like Percy Jackson & the Olympians or Twilight helps disprove this theory. Still, an author should consider other points of views including second person, third person, omniscient, and deep point of view. To see examples of pronouns used in other forms of narrative, writers can visit Syque.
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