What Is First-Person Point of View? Tips & Practical Examples

• Aug 10, 2024
• 5 min read

• Tags: Fiction, Fiction Writing, Writing Tips

Have you ever felt like you’re an intimate part of a story and that everything in the story is happening from a personal perspective? That’s the magic a writer adopting the first-person point of view can create! Authors writing in the first-person take their readers through the experiences of interesting characters in engaging stories. 

From thrillers, horror stories, and drama to heart-pounding mysteries, the first-person perspective brings a story intimately close to the readers. Dive into the world of first-person writing and learn how to write in the first person with this article!

The three points of view in writing

While stories usually unfold through different lenses, the first-person point of view wields immense power in writing! Let us learn more about the various points of view (POVs) writers can use when they know how to start a story in the first person. 

• First-person point of view: The first person puts you in the narrator’s shoes, with “I” and “we” used to develop a story. It tells readers the story from the narrator or author’s standpoint. 
• Second-person point of view: The second person point of view puts the reader in the driver’s seat, where the second-person subject pronoun “you” makes you the protagonist.
• Third-person point of view: The third-person POV is entirely an outsider’s view. The words “he”, “she”, or “they” are used to signify the third-person point of view. 

Each POV offers a unique lens and builds a picture in the readers’ minds. It talks about characters, their motivations, and the world in which they operate.

Top 3 reasons to write using the first-person point of view

The top 3 reasons to use the first-person in writing originate from the fact that the first-person POV can considerably impact how your readers perceive your content. Let us discuss these reasons and decode what is the first-person point of view further.

• Makes content sound unique and authentic: The definition of the first-person point of view establishes that this POV underscores the importance of sounding genuine while writing in the first person. It also lends a sense of immediacy, and readers feel connected with the narrator’s experiences and emotions. The biggest advantage of this POV lies in its ability to make any story relatable.
• Supports the narrator’s personal opinions: Narrators who know how to write a book in the first person can beautifully express their ideas, thoughts, and feelings through their content. It enables them to share their stories in a way that feels natural. This style is commonly seen in opinion pieces, memoirs, blogs, social media posts, and personal essays, where the writer’s voice is central to the content.
• Creates mystery and enhances drama: Using the first-person point of view can add suspense, mystery, drama, and intrigue to a story. Since readers only see the world the narrator shows them, plot twists and secrets are gradually revealed amidst quivering excitement. This is what makes books, short stories, and thrillers unputdownable!

How to write using the first-person point of view?

Learning how to write a story in the first person can go a long way in strengthening your skills as a fiction writer. It is useful even for writing social media posts. Here are some steps to help you write effectively in the first-person point of view:

• Choose a narrator: When you have an interesting story, determine the narrator. Who will be the best character to tell readers the story—the protagonist or some other character? 

• Stick to the narrative: Upon adopting a narrative, keep the voice consistent with the character’s personality, background, and experiences. This ensures credibility.

• Share thoughts and feelings: Share the character’s thoughts, fears, emotions, and reactions to enable readers to connect deeply with them.

• Describe events: Write about events that the character experiences. This includes describing what they see, hear, and feel.

• Employ effective dialogue: By learning how to write dialogue in the first person, you can create an environment where readers know how their narrator speaks. They can identify the narrator’s style through vocabulary, tone, and speech patterns.

• Share knowledge in installments: When you adopt a first-person perspective, logically reveal information based on the narrator’s current experiences and knowledge. Be careful about inadvertently revealing information the narrator would likely find out later in the story.

• Build personal connections: To effectively use the first-person POV in writing, include anecdotes, memories, and reflections. This helps build a connection between the character and the reader.

• Engage the senses: Describe sights, sounds, smells, and tastes to make the narrative vivid and immersive. This weaves a detailed picture in the readers’ minds and prompts them to read till the end. 

• Ensure consistency: You can tell your story in the present, or narrate it as a flashback. Whatever you decide based on your writing style, stick with it till the end.
• Edit and modify: Make an editing checklist and review your work to ensure the first-person POV is evident consistently in your writing. Also, verify if the language suits the narrator’s moods, dialogue, thoughts, and feelings throughout the story. 

Here are some examples of writing in the first person, each conveying different emotions:

Things to avoid while writing in the first-person point of view

It is possible to make mistakes while writing in the first person, especially if you are writing for the first time. Here are some guidelines on how not to write in the first person:

• Avoid overusing “I”: Using “I” at all times can make the writing dull and monotonous. Instead of starting every sentence with “I”, vary your sentence structures to communicate actions, thoughts, and experiences differently each time.
• Prioritize subtlety: First-person writing can sometimes lead to excessive telling instead of subtly showing a story’s many aspects. So, show, don’t tell! Instead of frequently describing a narrator’s feelings, talk about actions, dialogue, and body language that vividly depict emotions.
• Plan your reveals: A first-person narrator only knows what they have directly experienced or learned. Avoid including information that they do not know or cannot know. Such gaps can disrupt the story and make readers question its credibility.
• Limit inner monologue: Though a narrator’s inner thoughts and reflections are important for an effective first-person narrative, excessive introspection or inner monologue can lower readers’ interest.
• Acknowledge other characters: While the first-person POV is about the narrator, neglecting the overall setting can be risky. Describing different character types and environments enriches the narrative and helps readers visualize the story.

Which point of view should I choose?

Whether you should choose writing in the first person depends on several factors. Let us discuss them. 

• Story type: The nature of your story can help determine whether you will benefit from first-person writing. The first-person POV may not be suitable for complex stories and diverse narratives. 
• Intimacy and proximity: If you want your readers to be close to the narrator or protagonist’s thoughts and feelings, the first-person POV might be the way to go. If not, a mix of perspectives will serve you better.
• Narrative limitations: While the first-person narrative can effectively cover a single character’s journey, this POV may not be suitable when sharing multiple perspectives.
• Reader experience: Consider the experience you want your readers to enjoy. For an immersive and personal touch where you want to talk to your readers directly, adopt the first-person POV.
• Story-level complexities: Intricate stories with multiple subplots may require a combination of POVs instead of just the first-person perspective.

The first-person point of view enhances the reading experience in many ways. Whatever genre you wish to explore as a writer, understand the nuances of first-person writing before you begin working on your manuscript. 

For professional assistance, explore PaperTrue’s story editing and proofreading services. 

Here are some other articles you might find interesting: 

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Rashmi

Rashmi is a versatile writer with a passion for developing engaging long-form content. With a keen interest in both academic and business spheres, she enjoys creating comprehensive content pieces that readers find informative and interesting. She endeavors to exercise her intellectual curiosity, explore new perspectives, and consider different possibilities through her writing.