All Questions
Tagged with first-person or grammatical-person
249 questions
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Using tenses in a fictional journal
I'm writing a fictional story through the journal of a main character. It's in 1st POV and each chapter/entry recalls the events of the day. He's writing the story day-by-day as it's happening, rather ...
- 11
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2
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65
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Is it correct to refer to a group (3rd) and transition to 2nd person in a paragraph
I'm writing a business document. Is it ok to introduce a concept in the 3rd person and then transition to 2nd person to be more personable? For example:
"Full-time employees may take up to 6 ...
- 3
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2
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1k
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How do you convey that an action is subconscious when writing in first person?
My protagonist had a traumatic experience that means she keeps her distance from men. Sometimes, if she genuinely feels in danger, all her actions will be calculated and thought-through. However, most ...
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2
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2
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300
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How do I write dual POV (probably in first person)?
Thinking about certain scenes in my book and the messages/themes I want to convey, it seems best to write from two different POVs: the young adult female protagonist and the older male protagonist.
In ...
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3
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107
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How/when do you reveal a big secret to the reader using first person or third person viewpoint?
How and more importantly when do you reveal a major secret about the character?
My character is a mythical species, highly valuable for both intel and magical properties, however she is humanoid and ...
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4
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4
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556
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How do I figure out which viewpoint is best for my writing?
Thanks to the many many questions about viewpoints on this site, along with added research, I know a lot about many different ways I could do things. First person, first person multiple povs, third ...
- 902
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2
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70
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Changing viewpoint styles in a short story collection?
I have just started working on a collection of short stories that I may or may not attempt to publish in the future (it is currently a side project while waiting for agents to reply to my novel ...
- 13
3
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1
answer
480
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Blending First and Third Person: A Wording Question
I'm writing a book with a blending of first and third person, and it switches whenever I need it to and not across chapters. The third person follows every character until the perspective changes to ...
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2
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176
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Me, myself, or I? Which should I use?
In sentences such as the following, which is the proper pronoun to use and why?
All crew members other than me/myself/I should evacuate immediately.
Which pronoun is the appropriate one when it ...
- 187
2
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2
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372
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Writing from the First Person Singular vs. Plural
I encounter non-fiction books written by a single author who uses the first person plural to disclose findings:
"we found that this and that happened"
or
"we already discussed such and ...
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4
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1k
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To rewrite or not to rewrite?
so basically, i am writing a story where there are two main characters. every chapter, the perspective swaps between the two main characters. the thing is, i'm writing the story in third person past ...
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0
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278
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What's the origin of the third person limited viewpoint?
I have searched for the origins and earliest instances of the third person limited viewpoint (TPL), but almost nobody talks about that. I got tired of seeing articles saying "Harry Potter is an ...
2
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1
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168
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I'm so angry! How can I show that in an interesting way?
This is in a sense a part two to my question on English Stack Exchange about replacement for word "bullshit", which I decided would better fit on this site.
A bit of background
Optional ...
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1
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2
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201
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How to write Man vs. Self conflict?
CONTEXT: The action of my story takes place in a typical dystopian world, where society is harshly indoctrinated and restricted. The main character, who needs to raise money for his family, joins the &...
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2
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2
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127
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I'm writing short stories in first-person view. How to include dialogue where there main character is not present?
I've started to write a book of short stories about a quirky nerdy guy and his growth into an adult man (see here for a description). I got a recommendation to use first-person narration.
While about ...
0
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4
answers
157
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How do I reveal the character identity from a first person point of view?
I am writing a book, and I'm trying to figure out how to reveal the main character's identity. It is a crime book set in modern day and is a story told in the perspective of a serial killer. I plan ...
3
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1
answer
107
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Does the title of a work have to be in the same person as the work?
In a recent work I wrote, the body of it is, as in most of what I write, in the third person. However, my title is in first person, using the word “we.”
Is this is an acceptable thing to do? Does the ...
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2
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2
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271
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Sudden diary entry within a 3rd person limited story
I'm writing a 3rd person limited multi-pov Sci-Fi. The thoughts of whatever POV is being followed at any point are sometimes shown in italicized writing. Suddenly, 42K words in, starting off chapter ...
- 4,053
1
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2
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2k
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Using multiple first-person narrators, should I do it or avoid it?
I'm writing a novel. My main character - Bob - is the first-person narrator. However the 2nd character - Larry, his travel buddy - has a few deep conversations with Bob.
Bob tells anecdotes. They ...
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3
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2
answers
503
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I want to write a story in stream of consciounsess style. Everything comes up wrong, can you suggest good examples to imitate?
I've been trying to write stream of consciousness style but I just tend to get too plain and boring. And so I bore myself reading what I write, hardly a way to move forward.
For example:
"Today I ...
user51625
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4
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When the main character talks to the camera, is that 3rd person or another technical term for point of view?
When the main character in Fleabag and Miranda TV series, talks to the camera, is that 3rd person or another technical term for the point of view?
It's often used in TV adverts I notice too.
They talk ...
- 183
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2
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250
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In YA fiction, how many words should each chapter be? How consistent does chapter length need to be?
I'm writing a YA sci-fi/post apocalyptic type novel with two view point characters. The book is all written in third person and so far every time I switch between view point characters use a chapter ...
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1
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114
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Questions in third person narration
I'm writing in the past tense, and in third person. Is it appropriate to include questions, like this?
A spell to conceal her would be helpful. If there was such a spell, of course. She turned back. ...
- 1,006
4
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2
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120
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My Fantasy Series POV
I am a young author writing a fantasy series. In my series I have six main characters. If you have read my most previous question, I explained that I have six main characters and want each book to put ...
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3
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103
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Is it okay to switch narration styles towards the end of a story?
I'm writing most of my book in third person omniscient, but I think it would be better if I put the last few chapters in first person, that way the readers can better understand what's happening at ...
4
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3
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590
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Switching Between First and Third Person
So I've started writing a book. It's set in present time, but is going to be interwoven with flashbacks to a few years ago to explain how the character(s) got to this scenario in present time. I was ...
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2
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245
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How to switch between characters in a first person story?
I know you can switch between the 3rd and 1st and vice versa but how from one character to another both using the 1st person. I know chapter breaks would help but I only want to make a small story (1....
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3
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160
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Is it poor technique to use a different characters POV for only a short scene in a novel length piece of work?
Basically what I'm wondering here is if it's distracting or poor technique to switch the view point character to one of the bad guys just for a few pages or a very short scene in a novel.
I'm working ...
- 197
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3
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192
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Writing a good flashback
I am having the main protagonist find their imaginary friend that they had previously forgotten. How would I make some flashbacks without making the plot too confusing or sounding choppy and forced? ...
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4
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4
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171
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Should I change my point of view?
I am not very familiar with "point of view". From my understanding, (correct if I'm wrong, but I looked it up so I think I'm right) 1st person is from the perspective of "I ate ice ...
- 1,664
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1
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74
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Describing unrelated events in first person viewpoints
How can I describe a scene in a short story with the first-person point of view, when the main character isn't taking part in the action, or even viewing the event?
- 946
1
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1
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54
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Are there rules related to tense used? [closed]
I started my novel in third person, past tense, then I changed it to third person present tense, then I changed it to first person present tense, and now I've changed it to first person past tense. I ...
4
votes
3
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2k
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Can the first-person narrator use both past and present tenses?
My first person narrator is telling his story in the past tense but there are present tense realities too that get me confused what tense to use.
For instance, here are two paragraphs:
When I came ...
- 225
2
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1
answer
945
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Is There a Term or Description For When the Narrator Inserts their Own Personal Perspective Into a Third Person POV?
Occasionally I have read stories where the third person Omniscient/Limited POV Narrator will describe a scene and feelings from a characters POV, but sometimes it seems like the narrator is presuming ...
- 155
3
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2
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256
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Can a writer change the perspective of a story?
Is it a bad thing if someone writes a story in the third point of view, then he changes the whole story into the first point of view where the protagonist himself tells the story?
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2
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88
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Does first-person have to be "recounted" after the fact?
I'm writing a horror short-story, and at the end the main character dies and his partner is whisked away forever. I had intended to write it in first-person, because the narrative becomes more ...
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3
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1
answer
211
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How Should I Write my Character Discovering Superpowers? [closed]
Does anyone have any tips on introducing your m/c's superpowers? My novel is set as a supernatural teen flick playing on the roles of the cliche. My m/c is told she has powers and as it's written in ...
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4
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2
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361
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How to write the thoughts of a character in a drunken POV scene?
One of my POV characters is an overthinker. Partly because she wishes to stop thinking so much, and partly because of peer pressure, she gets super drunk... and ends up doing something that she would ...
- 1,475
1
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2
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109
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Im wondering if for a unique writing tactic, could i shift from first to third person?
As a way to show exposition of my characters background,In a dream sequence could I use third person POV? Just wondering if this could work, as Im an aspiring writer and i'm looking for a way to make ...
1
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2
answers
129
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How do I refer to an unnamed protagonist in third-person narration? [duplicate]
I am writing a story about a man who doesn't know his past, or his name. I have to reveal his name later in the story. Until then, how do I refer to him or narrate his dialogues? My story is in third-...
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3
votes
1
answer
178
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Tense change when referring to how protagonist currently is while he is describing events
I have written a novel that I want to send out to agents, but I'm now having doubts as to whether it is polished enough to do so yet. A big problem for me right now is tense.
My novel is written in ...
- 31
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1
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110
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How much of a Novel's Point of View should be from the Narrator
I am writing a Novel.
How much of the story should be from the Narrator's Point of View.
For instance, Narrator knows that person A was engaged to person B decades ago.
But Narrator does not know ...
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2
votes
1
answer
114
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How to present a 1st-person Narrator with a 3rd-person account of the same incident
I am writing a Historic Fiction novel.
The story is being narrated by someone.
The entire story is from the Point of View of the Narrator, based on information she knows.
What is the best way to ...
- 627
1
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1
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509
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What is this writing style called and how can I remove pronouns?
Some background. I am currently in the editing phase of my dissertation and I have no clue what 'tense?'/'personage?'/writing 'style?' I have used.
For example consider the sentence, "In this ...
- 113
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2
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92
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How to quickly change people in first person view?
So, I'm trying to write a book in first person, but have trouble when there's any form of action involving in groups. After all, it's about multiple people, and I want to make sure each get their time ...
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