Do you think writing a story/novel in first person is self-centered and...

S

smackxgarden

New member
...egocentric for the author to do? This past year I took creative writing for the sake of taking it, and the teacher was very persistent that writing in first person is what self-centered and egocentric teenagers and people do, especially when they first start writing.

I did write my first novel in first person, but only after first writing it in third person. I decided to write it in first person because it just made more sense to write it that way, and I felt it would put the reader in the character's situation a lot better so they could experience the novel in a more personal way.

Now I'm working on my second and third novels, one of which I'm trying to write in third person first. It's getting frustrating because I feel like writing in third person doesn't do the story justice, but I'm also remembering what my creative writing teacher told me, as well as what else I've read.

Does anyone else think writing in first person is as described as above?


P.S.,
I do know I should write in the way I feel most comfortable in and what would be best for the story; I'm just wondering how others felt on this subject.
I can tell you I do know what creative writing entails; I have written many short stories in third person and they've turned out great.
 
No. Look at Jane from Jane Eyre: she was a very likeable and humble heroine.

Compare her to Philip Pullman's annoying and arrogant protagonist Lyra Belacqua from His Dark Materials trilogy.


The former (Jane) is 1st person, while the latter (Lyra) is 3rd person.


It truly depends on the character, not the point of view.
 
I don't find it egocentric at all, unless the character narrating is egocentric, obviously. I believe it gives the author the power to better explore the mind of the narrator because readers always will be seeing how things play out from their point of view. As somebody already said, it also lets readers relate to the situations that said character is put into, and sometimes emotion felt by that character can be better conveyed in that way. I use third person more, though, just because that's the way things come to me usually.
 
I have heard this opinion about first-person narration as well. However, I don't really agree with it. I think that both first person and third person narrations have their place. If first person fits the story, do that and have fun!
 
The key to being a good "creative" writer is diversity. I don't think writing in first person is a reflection of your ego, but not being able to write in third person could definitly be a stumbling block when you are trying to keep your fans interested. I have read thousands of books, anything from newsstand paperbacks to Gone With the Wind and other classics. One thing that keeps me going back to an author for his/her next book, is their ability to change it up. I never want to feel like I am reading the same story again just in a different book.
 
My creative writing teacher said the same thing, but I could never really agree with her. Like you, I thought it helped the reader get more into the character's situation and I tend to like my first person stories better, as do other people. I think it really depends of the author if it turns out ok. If the author lets themselves become the character too much, then it doesn't work, but if they can really take on the character and understand their mindset, then it works beautifully.
 
forget about i teacher i think that writing in past tense makes it easier for me
 
I wouldn't call it self-centered. For most it's just easier to write. It also depends on the novel. Sometimes you need to write in first person for it to make the most sense to the reader.
 
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