Comments on Writing Styles

[MDPthatsme]

What writing style do you prefer to write in? Read?

I, myself, prefer first person in writing and third person in reading (but I don't read much).

[dinuriel]

In terms of POV, I can go either way. There are certain stories that just wouldn't work in first, and others that wouldn't work in third. I guess it boils down to a certain gut feeling.

In pretty much everything I've ever written, though, the POV character changes from section to section. I can't imagine doing a whole novel from a single point of view. Not only would I get bored, but I also think that the best narrator for any given scene isn't necessarily the main character. I pick POV characters based on a few things:

A) Reader knowledge. What do they need to know at this point? What should be kept in the dark a little longer? What can be hinted at without being explicitly stated?

B) Emotional response. If I want the audience to view the scene with an objective lens, I'll use an even-headed, logical character without much emotional investment in the situation. If I want to invoke a certain emotion, I'll pick a character that will allow for that.

That's just me though. There are a few things I've heard that are accepted as hard-and-fast "rules" that probably go against everything I do, but all I can say about rules is that there are none. Do whatever works


As for tense, I prefer past. I don't really like present tense in fiction at all. I never write in it, or at least not as the main stylistic tense of the story. I can force myself to read it if the story is otherwise awesome and grabs me from the start, but I still find it irrationally annoying. Actually--I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but oh well--a couple times I read present-tense novels I really loved, but reread with a pen in hand and converted all the verbs XD

[jennifer]

I'm not really sure on this one. lol

I definitely write in third person though. I just sort of fell into writing this way, though it is probably the most common, yeah?

As for reading, I don't mind either way. I can read both, but I think it would harder to write in first person.
You know what comes to mind when I think of first person, a legacy. And not to bag any legacies but some that are written in first person are not very good. Actually majority of legacies are written in first person, aren't they?
Some of the authors seem to lack imagination or something. So and So did this, So and So went here. It just kind of bores me. It feels like they haven't put their heart and soul into their writing and they haven't pushed themselves to be more creative.
Anyone can write a sentence saying, So and So ate their dinner, then went for a walk down town....or something.

This is just my opinion though. I do not consider myself worthy of giving writing advice as I am a total amateur at writing myself.

[Kiri]

I tend to mix between 1st and 3rd person. If I want a stronger emotional response, then I tend to write in 1st person. If I'm trying to get more than one point of view, then I'll go for 3rd person.

1st person story (Last Sunrise)

3rd person story (Raga)

I agree with Van about past tense.

[MDPthatsme]

I like past tense too.

Actually awhile back (with the latest rewrite of The Gang prose-style and frustration of third person) I started an experiment writing in 1st person and in every chapter (or every other one) I switched to a different character. It's actually working pretty well. I'm pleased. I've only read one other book that's done this particular style...I guess it would be considered 1st person omniscient form? HA HA.

Any ways, that style is really helping getting more "in-depth" with characters that I considered "minor," but still important.

[lilymayrose]

I prefer third person and past tense in both reading and writing. Though I often enjoy a *first person read* far more than I imagine I will.

[Rad]

I quite like a mixture - not all in the same story, but I've read great stuff in 1st and 3rd, and in present and past. I probably write more in 3rd and past but have experimented with all of them.

[simslia]

I suck at staying in the same POV when I write.

I dont know why.... any ideas on that one? I find I flip between third and first.. a lot. Never in the same chapter though. Its bizarre to me.

Reading wise I like first but find it limiting in some aspects (like what other characters are thinking) and liberating in others.. although I guess that's true for third too -- sorry for the rambles guys aha.

[bunnylita]

I prefer to write in third person, past tense.

I am partial to third person when I read too. Not a big fan of first person.

[joseph]

I prefer to write in third person but I have been known to dabble in first person occasionally. However I prefer to read in first person. Still don't really know why.

[hrootbeer]

I can read either POV. I used to only like 3rd, but recently I've come to enjoy quite a few authors who only write in 1st.

simslia If you are switching POV between chapters it might have something to do with the emotion of the story. 3rd person provides more distance between the reader/writer and the characters. 1st person is more immediate. It might also have to do with plot points that you want to include, but if you were limited in perspective, you couldn't include them. 1st person limits what a reader finds out because only one POV is shared by the author. However, 3rd person can be limiting, too, if you are only focusing on one character instead of doing a more narrative author-omniscient.

I read an interview once where JK Rowling was talking about what she wanted the audience to find out in her books. Since everything was limited to Harry's POV (3rd, limited) then anything that happened around him or he needed to find out, she had to find someone or something to reveal it to him. She said Hermione was great for this because she was a know-it-all. The newspapers and owls were another way for Harry to find things out.

When I'm reading a 3rd person story, I like a limited perspective. I don't like having an all-knowing author telling me everything.

[Thai]

Yes... I much prefer to read and write in third person, it helps me overall when setting up scenes, creating plots etc. I prefer to read in past tense because it makes it feel more... story like? I don't know. xD

[navyninja]

It depends on the story for me. One of my Power Ranger fanfictions is written in 1st person.