When it comes to writing there is a lot to consider. There is so much more than putting a story on paper. This week I am going to talk about voice, and no not the singing show, though I love that!
Every author has a voice. That is there dominant writing style and what attracts readers. Is it serious? Tinged with humor or wit? Always angsty? There voice is what draws you in and keeps you coming back for more and usually is the same throughout all of there writing.
There is more than just one type of voice. This is more POV or Point of View and a technical writing term. There are four points of view. First person point of view. First person is when “I” am telling the story. …Second person point of view. The story is told to “you.” …Third person point of view, limited. The story is about “he” or “she.” …Third person point of view, omniscient. Most books are first or third person, third seeming to be a favorite.
Third person is popular because it is easy to switch from one character to the other and show more than one viewpoint and what is happening. First person is more limited since the main character is speaking more directly. Though if an author is good they can write in both characters view but that gets tricky.
First person is my voice. I have tried third but It becomes stilted and seems stale. I tried writing This WIP in first person Present which is as things are happening but have changed to past tense. I am not sure how happy I am with this. I also had both Annie and TJ’s view which I prefer reading getting both characters, however as I was self-editing I noticed his view repeated a lot of what was happening in hers, just with a a slight twist to it or a few things added that I could put in hers. so I am now redoing the story in one POV and it does seem more interesting. I just hope I can pull it off.
Do you like first person stories or third? what draws you into a book?
2 responses to “Whose Voice is That? #POV #Voice #awriterslife”
I prefer to read third person. (And write romance in third person Deep POV). As a reader, I want to feel what is going on in both hero and heroine heads…and bodies. 🙂 This is one thing that draws me to a book first. Many first person authors will still switch back and forth with their hero and heroine POVs by chapters like you said you tried. Some use first and third by chapter. Maybe first for one character and third for another. Good luck with yours. Don’t overthink it. 🙂
Thank you Mary!