Questions tagged [grammatical-person]

Questions about the point of view of the narrator of a work.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
5 votes
4 answers
1k views

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 ...
ratKING27's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
137 views

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 ...
Nando Florestan's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
137 views

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 ...
Reverent Lapwing's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
129 views

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 &...
ZDL's user avatar
  • 56
2 votes
2 answers
102 views

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 ...
Busspotter Penguin's user avatar
0 votes
4 answers
114 views

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 ...
user54394's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
101 views

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 ...
Bill's user avatar
  • 127
2 votes
2 answers
187 views

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 ...
A. Kvåle's user avatar
  • 4,033
8 votes
4 answers
5k views

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 ...
therobyouknow's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
96 views

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. ...
Grace's user avatar
  • 1,006
4 votes
3 answers
564 views

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 ...
Jay G's user avatar
  • 51
1 vote
1 answer
69 views

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?
Nour Fourti's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
53 views

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 ...
pauline butcher bird's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
757 views

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 ...
user191110's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
79 views

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 ...
PlutoThePlanet's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
144 views

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 ...
Kit Haley's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
316 views

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 ...
Caspian's user avatar
  • 1,475
1 vote
2 answers
104 views

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 ...
Aidan Gagnier's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
150 views

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 ...
user43588's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
188 views

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 ...
Kendall's user avatar
  • 113
-1 votes
1 answer
63 views

How do I avoid using to many "I and My in first person narratives [duplicate]

To give you a little context below. "Yesterday, I was smiling, and tomorrow, I will try to hold my head up high. But today, tears welled up in my eyes, as my worst fear looked me in the eyes as my ...
Rbrown's user avatar
  • 23
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

How to write in the first person showing that someone is drunk?

So I want to write a scene from a teenage girl in 1st-person present tense. She's drunk. I've never been drunk before, so I can't tap into personal experience to make this relatable and/or realistic. ...
Tasch's user avatar
  • 1,780
3 votes
4 answers
243 views

Multiple First Person Narrators: how should I differentiate?

I am writing a novel (it will eventually be a series of five novels) and there are multiple first-person narrators. Each chapter starts of with the character's name in parentheses after the chapter ...
user88888's user avatar
  • 219
5 votes
2 answers
222 views

When am I using "I" too much?

Chuck Palahniuk is an author quite well known for writing first-person stories. He has a simple piece of advice for others who wish to do so as well: "Have your narrator say 'I' as little as possible."...
thanby's user avatar
  • 356
2 votes
2 answers
84 views

First or third person [duplicate]

I'm sitting with a bit of a dilemma. I'm writing a novel and I'm struggling with the decision of whether I should use first or third person. I prefer third person, also prefer to read novels written ...
Liezl Doman's user avatar
15 votes
13 answers
4k views

How can I portray a character with no fear of death, without them sounding utterly bored?

Imagine a fantasy hero with a 'time reset' ability like the protagonists of Groundhog Day or Edge of Tomorrow: they can 'rewind time' up to a few hours, resetting their own physical state and the rest ...
Stephen's user avatar
  • 251
31 votes
16 answers
9k views

How do I portray irrational anger in first person?

Characters (and people) get angry at all sorts of things that might not make sense to the outside observer: Marty McFly and the word "chicken," words that are terrible slurs to one population but ...
TMuffin's user avatar
  • 1,998
5 votes
4 answers
203 views

1st person addressing a narrator

I'm writing a story in first person, but with a third person narrator for the secondary character. I was wondering if there were any books or stories to research how the first person character could ...
Jack Woods's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
117 views

Should I write in a style that is more conducive to a situation I am describing or write it the way I normally write?

I am writing a short story that describes a dream that I had as a child. I wrote a first rough draft and had my girlfriend read it to give me some feedback. One thing she criticized is my writing ...
user3661841's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
157 views

In one book can one narrator be in present and the other in past?

I'm currently planning a book series that is told from the first person perspective of 5 different characters. I have a different voice for all of the characters, but I think that 2 of the characters ...
user88888's user avatar
  • 219
1 vote
4 answers
10k views

How would you write dialog in a 1st person story?

I'm a novice writer working on my first book. I've made the story 1st person from the perspective of the main character. The way I've been writing dialog goes as such: C1: "So, where are you guys ...
Couch Mango's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
271 views

Describing Pain in First Person Present Tense [duplicate]

Just a scene I pictured- (Character receives a syringe in the chest but doesn't feel the after pain until a moment later) Ex: Johnny begins to feel a burning like sensation in his chest that's more ...
york's user avatar
  • 41
16 votes
6 answers
3k views

Is using first person in academic/technical essays always bad?

For as long as I can remember, my teachers have taught me never to use first person in an essay. Yet, some of the examples we read in classes, or older writings we have to annotate, are written in ...
user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

What point of view is best to write a visual novel in?

I am currently working on a visual novel, and I am wondering if I should write it in first or third person. Which method is better to show all the characters’ experiences but keep the player engaged ...
DragonChampion7's user avatar
-1 votes
4 answers
174 views

In a first-person web novel, how to make the reader aware of a motivator the POV is unaware of?

In my novel, the MC (and POV character) spares an enemy. He spared the enemy because he empathized/identified himself with them, but he was not aware of it. Later on he will understand his feelings ...
Mindwin Remember Monica's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
142 views

How to best develop a history based on characters POV, reflections and experiences

I have several monologues of 6 characters. Each monologue starts with a little reflection, then tells an experience or an event the character had to deal with, and finally, concludes with something ...
edgarmtze's user avatar
  • 141
1 vote
1 answer
131 views

Point of view switching

I want to write a story mainly in third person, occasionally switching to first person. How would I do that most effectively?
DMHubble's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
105 views

Switching POV from First to Third [duplicate]

I have written a complete book. However, as I was revising, I noticed that what I have in first person does not work entirely. I also noticed that I constantly invade the thoughts of the other ...
Aaron's user avatar
  • 11
4 votes
4 answers
377 views

first point of view and the problem of opinion

Is it better for first person POV to be treated in the same way as third person POV meaning that the POV person withholds opinions? (So the reader can form them?) Or is it okay to establish conflict ...
Penelope Smith's user avatar
22 votes
7 answers
7k views

Is head-hopping always bad?

The general consensus nowadays seems to be that being in the head of more than one character is bad. We should be "on the shoulders" or "in the head" of one character, and one character only, if not ...
Galastel supports GoFundMonica's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
101 views

First person, third person [closed]

So I'm writing a novel myself and the main character is called Jasper. Whenever he falls asleep, he goes into the dream world type thing. Same dream, same characters, same scenes. When he falls asleep,...
Tomboyhorse123's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
163 views

Can I state a fact in a first person story?

If I have a sentence such as this: Footsteps were heard coming down the alley. Can I use that in a first-person story? I don't think it's technically third-person, but it sort of feels like it's ...
Jared's user avatar
  • 11
-2 votes
2 answers
320 views

How can I avoid repetition of "I", while keeping present tense in first person? [duplicate]

I'm writing a first-person fantasy novel. I can't exactly figure out how to avoid the repetition of "I" when explaining the actions of the character. Any way I have ever seen makes the story seem like ...
Keith Cronin's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
126 views

Dialogue in First Person Fiction (Detective Mystery) [closed]

Karl is my detective protagonist. His girlfriend, Jenna, is with him. He is hospitalized, and his boss, Rob Tucker, shows up for a visit. Which example of dialogue is correct? In true first person, ...
Peter's user avatar
  • 3
2 votes
5 answers
2k views

To what extent can a first person narrative tell someone else's story?

I've recently been working on some stories written in the first person from the point of view of what, in the grand scheme of things, would be called minor characters. Examples include a junior bridge ...
Ash's user avatar
  • 10k
4 votes
6 answers
244 views

Can I assign actions to broad concepts?

Whenever I write, I run into the problem where I have to assign human actions to subjects that, when I contemplate about it, cannot realistically perform those actions. A teacher told me years ago ...
user3776022's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

Is there such a thing as using too Many "I's" in a first person novel?

For example, would you say this section of copy has too many "I's" or even "my's"? I woke in a daze. A drug induced daze. I recognized it instantly, the feeling of being disconnected from my ...
Elise Carver's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
73 views

Using terms for clarity in first person

When writing in 1st person POV, if your story's universe or your main character uses made up values of measurement or doesn't have a term for something like eyeliner or traffic lights, how do you ...
user31475's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
215 views

My life story is in first person, does it have to have dialogue?

I have started a story of my life in the first person. Do I have to have dialogue? Or would it be very boring without it?
Leigh's user avatar
  • 41
3 votes
3 answers
14k views

Is there a term for a narrative where you are speaking to the reader?

I know that a first-person narrative is written from the point of view of the narrator, relaying events from their own point of view using the first person (i.e. I or we, etc). Is there a name/term ...
ƬƦƖƝƛ's user avatar