First or Third?

Before a single word is typed, you have to decide from what point of view you are going to write: first or third? There are pros and cons to both. I began writing in first person until I read a book written in first person and couldn't stand the main character. Needless to say, I didn't read the entire series, and barely finished the first book.

First person, in my mind, is the easiest POV to write. You have your main character and all the action is through that character's eyes. You follow that character alone, so there is no need to worry about side characters, other than how the main character views, or interacts with, them. If the main character isn't interacting with the side character than that character doesn't exist. The BIGGEST downside is that if your main character is unlikable than it will be hard for the reader to connect with the story. As I stated above, this has happened to me on several occasions. Now, I have read many books written in first person and thoroughly enjoyed them, like The Princess of Mars series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Another writer who does a good job at this is Rick Riordan with the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. While he writes in first person, he gives you viewpoints from several of the characters by titling the chapters with the character's name. The other downside with first person POV is that no one will know what else is happening outside of the main character's knowledge. If something happens outside of the main character knowledge, then you have to either a) have the other character state all the information to the main character, or b) have the main character somehow figure it out and fill in the audience with how the character came to that decision. First person is easy to write, but you are taking a gamble that your readers will like the main character.

When I started writing my fantasy series in first person, the words flowed, but then a strange thing happened. Not only did reading other books in first person steer me away from that POV, but I started to fall in love with my other characters. I thought to myself, "what if a reader likes character B instead of character A?" I wanted to share my other characters' stories and lives with my readers as much as I wanted to share my main character's story and life with them. I decided third person was the way for me.

For third person, there are two ways to go: limited or omniscient. Both types of third person are written from a narrator's POV. In third person omniscient, the narrator knows all that goes on and all the thoughts of all the characters at all times. This means that in the same scene you can jump from as many different characters' inner thoughts as you want. This POV allows you total and complete freedom. You are not bound to any character as a writer. Lord of the Rings and The Ranger's Apprentice series are both written in this POV.

The other Third Person POV is limited. In this POV, you write in third person but from only one character's view at a time. This is the POV I usually write in. In fact, I am rewriting the first four books of my fantasy series to change them from first person to limited third. This is a monumental task when each book is over 200,000 words. In limited third, you stick with one character at a time. It can be a little difficult, especially when your mind is engrossed in a scene and all the characters are screaming at you at the same time. You do have to be careful not to slip into omniscient with third person limited. This is the second most popular POV for writers it seems. First person being, well, first (this is especially true for MG or YA novels).

Writing in third person also has a benefit for the reader. With this POV, they are not stuck with one character's thoughts. They can get a feel for the other characters and find a favorite. Imagine if LOTR was written in first person and everything was from Frodo's POV. While Frodo is a great character, he may not be someone's favorite. We would lose all the wonderful characters and their stories/struggles. Imagine LOTR without knowing what happened to Merry and Pippin or Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, or Boromir until they are reunited at the END of the book. That would be a very short book.

Third person also allows you to show the side quests and how the other characters are helping, or harming, the main character. You can also have as many subplots as you want as each character has their own story in a small way. Third person is usually limited to about four different characters...usually.

I know what you are thinking: what about second person? I attempted to read a novel in second person and it was mind-numbing. I did not finish it, despite it being a requested reading for a writing conference I attended years ago. There is a very good reason First and Third person POVs are the standard views.

First or Third? The choice awaits you before you ever start writing, but beware, for your choice will set the tone for your entire book, or series.