which is better?

Unleash your creative writing skills here.

which is better?

Postby Nia-chan » Sun Sep 28, 2003 3:58 pm

First or third person?
User avatar
Nia-chan
 
Posts: 362
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2003 12:23 pm
Location: *mumbles something*

Postby Razgriz » Sun Sep 28, 2003 4:12 pm

Depends, I generally prefer third person as you can see the story from different perspectives rather than just one. Plus, one of my previous English teacher said it was more "realistic" in third, whatever that's suppose to mean.
Razgriz
 
Posts: 1186
Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2003 10:00 am

Postby inkhana » Sun Sep 28, 2003 6:43 pm

I've read good stories in both perspectives, but third person is my preference. It's a lot easier to write and offers more flexibility. ^^ So I guess neither is better, it's just whatever makes you feel most comfortable.


BOOSTER: Hey, No.1! Where's my cake?!
SNIFIT 1: Booster, Sir! There's a 70% chance the object you're standing on is a cake.
BOOSTER: What? THIS thing's a cake?

You have the power to say anything you want, so why not say something positive?
- Frank Capra

(in response to an interview question "Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?")
People who write below their abilities in order to crank out tons of books and make a buck. Especially Christian authors who do that. Outsiders judge us for it, and make fun of us for it, and it makes Jesus look bad. We of all artists on earth should be the most concerned with doing our best possible work at all times. We of all people should write with all our hearts, as if writing for the Lord and not for men.
- Athol Dickson


Avatar by scarlethibiscus from LJ.
User avatar
inkhana
 
Posts: 3670
Joined: Fri May 30, 2003 10:00 am
Location: meh.

Postby TheMelodyMaker » Sun Sep 28, 2003 7:33 pm

I'd say it depends on how much of the surrounding circumstances you'd like your readers to know. A story in the first person restricts your readers to only knowing what the narrator knows and sees and hears (etc.); a third-person story allows you to tell what's going on anywhere in the world at any given point in time, so to say.

Like everyone has said already, the choice is yours. ^_^

(Edit: I just realized that everyone else has already said exactly the same thing that I did. :red: )
[color=RoyalBlue]@)}~`,~ [/color]Carry this rose in your signature as thanks to Inkhana, for all she has done for us in the past.Even though she is no longer a moderator, she has done an awful lot for us while she was and she deserves thanks. ^_^
TheMelodyMaker
 
Posts: 1904
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2003 10:13 pm

Postby ShiroiHikari » Sun Sep 28, 2003 7:47 pm

I prefer third person, but depending on the character, first person can be fun too.
fightin' in the eighties
User avatar
ShiroiHikari
 
Posts: 7564
Joined: Wed May 28, 2003 12:00 pm
Location: Somewhere between 1983 and 1989

Postby Rashiir » Mon Sep 29, 2003 1:09 am

Rashiir thinks that third person is always better for talking about yourself, although first person can be good for talking about other people in helping you to put yourself in their place. Er, that is, to put Rashiir's self in my place.
"Be joyful always." - 1 Thes 5:16
User avatar
Rashiir
 
Posts: 961
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:28 pm
Location: California/New Haven, CT

Postby Blewin » Mon Sep 29, 2003 4:01 am

i prefer third person too, but writing in first person seems to be better at bringing across the person's thought imtimately. For me, i like writing and reading in third person, not sure why though, just like it. :)
User avatar
Blewin
 
Posts: 93
Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2003 2:53 am

Postby EireWolf » Mon Sep 29, 2003 7:05 pm

It depends on what angle you want to portray. (Basically I'm saying what everyone else has already said.) :)

An example of a very good story written in first person is "Crown Duel" by Sherwood Smith. It's written in such a way that you can "see" more of the story, at least more of the main character, than she herself does, but she is still only telling you her own thoughts and feelings. It's hard to explain, so you just have to read it. :) It's a good read, especially if you like somewhat humorous mildly romantic fantasy.

You have to be a really good writer to effectively pull off first person, in my opinion.
User avatar
EireWolf
 
Posts: 2496
Joined: Thu Jun 26, 2003 12:00 pm
Location: the forests of northern California

Postby uc pseudonym » Mon Sep 29, 2003 7:11 pm

uc must give Rashiir internet confections for that.

Personally I strongly prefer third person, as I like to shift from character to character. Also, there is much good to be gained in scenes that the main character has no part in. First person can work very well, but I believe that most of its benefits can be accomplished relatively easily in third person.
User avatar
uc pseudonym
 
Posts: 15506
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2003 4:00 am
Location: Tanzania

Postby Rashiir » Mon Sep 29, 2003 10:54 pm

I had another idea: you can do both! You can switch right in the middle of a sentence if you like! Just make a change right in the middle of the story. Good times.
"Be joyful always." - 1 Thes 5:16
User avatar
Rashiir
 
Posts: 961
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2003 1:28 pm
Location: California/New Haven, CT

Postby uc pseudonym » Tue Sep 30, 2003 5:25 am

You think that second person is a better idea. Considering first and third person seems to be pointless to you, because you think it is obvious that second person is a great cross between the two.
User avatar
uc pseudonym
 
Posts: 15506
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2003 4:00 am
Location: Tanzania


Return to Writing

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 57 guests