Third person narrative is the most used narrative style for fiction and works fairly well for any story, allowing for good character growth and plot development. The first person narrative, however, can be a great way to write a good story and develop interesting characters. First person narrative allows for a style that does not work as well with the third person, and this can make a good story even better.
A Protagonist’s Viewpoint
First person narrative is interesting to readers because it can easily give the personal thoughts of the protagonist who narrates the story. The readers can learn so much about the protagonist and see other characters through the protagonist’s viewpoint. It can also be freeing to the writer to write in the first person. It gives the author a chance to more fully explore the character’s personality and to infuse a bit more of his or her own viewpoint into the writing.
A downside to the first person narrative is that it only allows readers into the thoughts and experiences of one character. The rest of the characters are perceptions that the narrating character has. However, there are ways an author can write in the first person and reveal characteristics of more than just the protagonist.
Tips on Writing Fiction in the First Person
Consider these ideas for developing characters through the first person narrative.
- Characters other than the protagonist can be developed through the mannerisms described by the narrator. These descriptions should be written with the narrator’s point of view in mind. This viewpoint may be jaded or biassed. It can be presented with the protagonists humour, positive or negative outlook or interesting vocabulary.
- A great way to develop all important characters of the story while writing in first person is to change viewpoints from one character to the next throughout the story. This is a way to keep a reader’s interest and to allow the reader to know more than one character while still using the first person narrative.
- First person narrative is a good opportunity for developing characters with dialogue, as the entire story can be like a monologue from the protagonist.
As characters experience the plot and bring the readers into the events of the story, the plot of a first person narrative can be much affected by the protagonist.
Creating a Good Plot
Developing a good plot through first person narration becomes an enjoyable task for a writer when the plot is seen though the character’s eyes. In the third person, the plot can be experienced through the characters, but in the first person, it is the protagonist himself who reveals the plot. This can make for an interesting take on the plot twists and may help to develop a better plot.
The downside to writing a plot through the first person is that the reader only has privy to the events that happen to one character. This is reason why changing viewpoints from one character to the next may be a good idea. However, the protagonist may also interact with characters who reveal the plot events that effect them through dialogue.
Writing in the first person narrative is a stylistic change for an author who might normally write in the third person. It can be an enjoyable experiment and may lead to better writing and great stories.
Michelle Wright - Michelle is an avid reader and writer, with a focus on book, film and music reviews, gluten free recipes, and fiction writing "how-tos."
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