First Person Narrative
In Fiction Writing
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
When it comes to writing a novel, one of the most important decisions you can make is point of view (POV), and the two most likely contenders are first person narrative or third person narrative. Both techniques have their advantages and disadvantages, and deciding which one to use can be tricky. In this article, I’ll take a closer look at the various attributes of first person narrative, its limitations, and how you can weigh the pros and cons to decide if it’s right for your story.
Attributes of First Person Narrative
First person narrative is written from the perspective of a single character (typically the protagonist) who is telling the story as they’re living it. If you use first person present tense, we’re basically getting the story at the same time as the character is. In past tense, you can have a bit more of a reflective tone (also called narrative distance, but this is tough to do in first person because you’re still in the character’s experience).
Since there is only one point of view character with first person narrative, readers get a more intimate look into that character’s thoughts and feelings, otherwise known as their interiority. First person narrative gives writers greater access to their character, and could make it easier to define their writing voice.
Limitations of First Person Narrative
While there are advantages to using first person narrative (immediacy, relatability), there are some drawbacks, too. One limitation is that readers are only getting information from one source: the protagonist. As such, they may not have all the information needed to fully understand what’s going on in the story, because they can’t know what the narrator or protagonist doesn’t know.
Additionally, because readers are confined to one point of view character’s thoughts and feelings, they don't get that kind of close access view into other characters' motivations or stories. We can only know other characters via their actions and dialogue, which can be easy for them to fake. It’s impossible to know what they’re truly thinking, which can limit a writer’s ability to develop those characters in depth.
Lastly, since first person narrative relies heavily on voice and interiority from the protagonist, if something like the voice doesn’t work, it really affects the entire manuscript.
Weighing Pros and Cons Of First Person Narrative
It’s important to consider the advantages and limitations of first person narrative so that you can make an informed decision that best suits your story’s needs. If you want your readers to gain a deeper understanding of your protagonist while having access to limited knowledge about other characters’ true intentions and any elements of your plot that your character isn’t privy to, then first person narrative could be a great option. On the other hand, if you need more freedom with developing multiple layers within each character, then third person point of view (close third on one character or multiple, or even omniscient narrative) may be better for your project.
A word to the wise: make your narrative decisions sooner rather than later. Yes, it’s possible to change your POV from first person narrative to third (and vice versa) later on, but it’s a huge pain in the butt to revise POV in a long manuscript. Also, if you're really having trouble choosing, write your first chapter in first person narrative and in third person and see which one reads better.
Click here to purchase Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters, my book on interiority and character creation. Explore your protagonist’s thoughts, feelings, reactions and interpretations, expectations, and inner struggles to create a rich, immersive experience. This guide will empower you to create characters who live and breathe on the page, fostering an unbreakable bond with your audience.