BE MY GUEST: How to choose a Point-of-View for your novel: Bonnie Trachtenberg

These days, I see 90% of novels written in first person. It makes me wonder is it because this way is easier to convey the story to readers or writing in 3rd person makes the novel boring? Which is better: writing in first person POV or third person POV for novels? While I was looking for an answer to my question, I came across Bonnie whose first novel is in first person POV while her second novel (under editing) is in third person POV. 
So, I thought what would be better than asking someone who has the experience of both styles. I was delighted by her wonderful response and want to share it with all my readers and aspiring authors. 

Guest Post:

First Person vs. Third Person Point-of-Views 

By Author: Bonnie Trachtenberg 

I’m thoroughly convinced that one of the biggest reasons would-be authors never make it through page one of their would-be novels, is the daunting and confusing first step of choosing a point-of-view. It’s something most book readers aren’t even consciously aware of, despite the fact that it hugely determines how they will relate to the characters and to the story as a whole.

First person offers a single-eye view of the world through the perspective of one character, who is also the narrator of the story. In third person, the author tells the story in an “anonymous” voice, and is afforded the advantage of tapping into more than one character’s head to convey thoughts and feelings.

For my debut novel, "Wedlocked", I did not have to struggle with the decision of which view to choose. Wedlocked is based on my own true experiences, namely my impulsive, brief and disastrous marriage after years of struggling through singlehood. Telling the story through my main character’s point-of-view was a natural choice, since Rebecca is really me with a few tweaks. But I soon learned of the great disadvantage of choosing first person: the story could only go as far as my protagonist’s own eyes, ears and experiences. Rebecca had to be in every scene!

Luckily, I overcame this obstacle easily, as the story had Rebecca remembering the events of her life from a future place and time. Her perspective was enough to convey what I needed to, and her vibrant and witty personality carried the story with ease. However, there is something else writers of first person stories need to look out for. It’s important to make sure your tale isn’t bogged down by “I” this and “I” that. It requires some creativity to make sure you don’t fall into that annoying trap, but it’s surely doable.

In my second novel (as yet un-named and in the editing phase), I knew first person wouldn’t work nearly as well as third person. Why? Because I had two characters whose heads I intended to pry into, and they weren’t even going to meet until about one hundred pages into the book. Thus, I chose third person, even though the thought of it worried me. I’d never written that way before and wasn’t sure what obstacles I’d face. Would I be able to make it as funny as Wedlocked? Could I convey the distinct personalities of the main characters as clearly? Happily, the answer is yes!

As the “anonymous voice” telling the story, I could still communicate the characters’ colorful personalities and humorous thoughts (albeit third hand). Dialogue wasn’t an issue because it’s the same in both point-of-views, and the advantage of not having to have my main character in every scene was a liberating adventure for me.

Now, to complicate matters, a writer’s decision regarding point-of-view doesn’t stop there. You are also required to choose either present voice or past voice. Is the action happening “as we speak” or are the events being told from a time in the future? Most novels use past voice and it’s a good thing. It is not common for authors to successfully employ present voice, as it can be quite jarring to the reader if not used adeptly. I briefly considered using present voice for Wedlocked, but luckily after a few arduous and uncomfortable pages, came to my senses.

Now, let’s say like most authors you choose third person, past voice. Guess what? You’re still not done making point-of-view decisions. Now you need to determine if your story is going to be told in limited, objective or omniscient view. (See why so many writers give up before they start?) In limited view, the reader is limited to just the perspective of one main character (although it can be modified, as my second novel takes you inside the head of two main characters.) In objective view, the reader doesn’t see any of the character’s views, thoughts or feelings, but instead observes the story only from actions and details. And in omniscient view, the reader is privy to every character’s thoughts and feelings in the scene, a prospect that scares off many new writers.

Just remember, you don’t have to make a final decision that’s set in stone before you begin writing. I learned that it’s okay to make an educated guess as to the best view to take and if you run into serious problems you can always go back to the beginning and change it. Trial and error is not against the rules and can be a great way to figure out the best mode of telling a story.

I think most authors still use third person because it allows for more versatility and complex storylines. Nowadays though, the use of first person seems more prevalent than ever before. Maybe that’s because a whole genre was founded on the basis of it. I am referring, of course, to Chick Lit. Ever since Bridget Jones began scrawling in her diary, millions of female readers have been swept into novels with the aid of that personal, intimate voice that speaks so well to them. Now the prevalence of first person has stretched beyond Chick Lit into other women’s fiction too. For example, I have been told by several readers of Wedlocked that it was Rebecca’s wit and exasperation at her circumstances that made her so much fun as a narrator and so easy to relate to. That says a lot about the appeal of first person, but ultimately it’s your unique story that will determine which point-of-view is best.

About the Author:

Bonnie Trachtenberg is the author of Wedlocked: A Novel. She was senior writer and copy chief at Book-of-the-Month Club and has written seven children’s book adaptations. She has also written for three newspapers and penned countless magazine articles. Visit her website at http://www.bonnietrachtenberg.com/

To buy her book, “Wedlocked” on Amazon, click here. 

Are you writing/written a novel? Which POV you opted for and why? Or if you are someone who loves to read novels, tell me which POV you enjoy more? Share your experiences in the comment section below.