Main Points (Once again, Tanya B = Rocks)
- First person is seen a lot in children’s fiction because there is often only one viewpoint, the reader can get to know the character and build an attachment quickly, it is simpler, and gives away that the character lives.
- It lets you have an untrustworthy narrator.
- First person lets you cheat on info dumps because you can make it interesting with the character’s voice.
- Style tools for first person are epistolary and character reflecting.
- Limitations of first person: Multiple viewpoint characters make it tougher for the reader to distinguish who is who, the untrustworthy narrator puts doubt into the truthfulness, the personality of the character dominates, it is hard to be epic, and it gives away that the character lives.
- When you choose between first and third viewpoints, it’s not about the disadvantages you’re avoiding, but the advantages you’re choosing.
Book Examples:
- Dracula by Bram Stoker – First person epistolary
- Sorcery and Cecilia by Patricia C Wrede and Caroline Stevermer – First person epistolary
- Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb – First person reflecting on young self
- Wikihistory by Desmond Warzel – Modern epistolary told in forum posts
- Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss – Third person framing around a first person narrative
- A Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin – Interesting use of first person narrator
Next up: Third person viewpoints
http://www.tor.com/stories/2011/08/wikihistory
Thanks for the link Antti!
So much win in this!
Thanks for the link btw.
* First person is seen a lot in children’s fiction because there is often only one viewpoint, the reader can get to know the character and build an attachment quickly, it is simpler, and gives away that the character lives.
* It lets you have an untrustworthy narrator.
* First person lets you cheat on info dumps because you can make it interesting with the character’s voice.
* Style tools for first person are epistolary and character reflecting.
* Limitations of first person: Multiple viewpoint characters make it tougher for the reader to distinguish who is who, the untrustworthy narrator puts doubt into the truthfulness, the personality of the character dominates, it is hard to be epic, and it gives away that the character lives.
* When you choose between first and third viewpoints, it’s not about the disadvantages you’re avoiding, but the advantages you’re choosing.
Book Examples:
Dracula by Bram Stoker – First person epistolary
Sorcery and Cecilia by Patricia C Wrede and Caroline Stevermer – First person epistolary
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb – First person reflecting on young self
Wikihistory by Desmond Warzel – Modern epistolary told in forum posts
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss – Third person framing around a first person narrative
A Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin – Interesting use of first person narrator
Fantastic website guys, but whoever is handling the camera deserves some basic tips…
Do not follow your subject around with full zoom, it gives people a serious headache and is taking focus away from what he is saying! Zoom out, pick a central viewpoint and stick to it!!
(wow…glad I got that of my chest.)
Thanks Jonas – there’s a wicked amount I still don’t know, especially about filming. Sadly, the lectures have all been filmed and just warning you that it doesn’t get a whole lot better except for around lectures 12 and 13 where I become more consistent and smooth on the camera (albeit still zoomed up). Sorry in advance man! But I would like to film the lectures next year (I think) and I find your comments really helpful. Please let me know whatever other issues you have although it probably would be preferable if you emailed it to me at Scott@writeaboutdragons.com just so you don’t incite the less sensitive of your fellow writers to suddenly realize how annoying they also find the things you mention, which they had previously overlooked
Thanks again!
I love Brandon’s sideways note-taking in this video :p
Every time I watch these videos, I want gummy bears.
I can think of another disadvantage to first person. It gets annoying. If a book is very long, the narrative voice becomes irritating and redundant. Since children’s books are shorter, it’s not as bad. But something like Great Expectations really grates on some readers by the end.
What does it mean when Brandon says the voice of the character? I do not get that. Can anybody help?
So the voice of the character is the general “feel” you get from the character when you read their dialogue and thoughts. Are they spunky? Depressed? Etc.