Going straight to the source--YOU! A question.

[Erin]

Third-person past. I really dislike first-person, especially first-person that changes perspectives and the author indicates who the narrator is by name, instead of "showing" the reader who the narrator is.

[Varied Books]

I prefer 3rd person past

[Erica]

3rd

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I don't care for 1st person with romance. It just feels odd to me. Plus I like being in both characters' heads.

[Flip]

Danielle The Book Huntress (Self-Proclaimed Book Ninja) wrote: "I don't care for 1st person with romance. It just feels odd to me. Plus I like being in both characters' heads."

I feel the same way as you do.

[Arch , Mod]

I do not like first person stories.

[Felicia]

I don't either first person stories.

[Justine]

First person perspectives are never done well. I suggest you steer clear

[Pygmy]

I've read plenty of first-person past (usually YA), but first-person present is a pain. 3rd person past is always safe. I usually gravitate towards 3rd person past limited, but plenty of books are written in 3rd person past omniscient too.

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears]

When it's done well, first person is great. I especially like it when both MC's share alternating viewpoints. Third person is fine except when there's info-dumping or head-hopping.

[[deleted user]]

I think age category matters. NA is big on 1st person. Maybe its why traditional romance readers dont enjoy it. YA is big on 1st person, and because I read way more ya, I prefer it, so it depends on the reader. I know 3rd person doesnt connect with romance readers, but 3rd person doesnt always make me feel like I'm there. Like a story is being told to me, versus experiencing it.

[Gisele]

I prefer to read/write 1st person alternating povs,but i can usually get into 3rd person just fine. If icant connect to a story or characters, it usually isnt about the style so much.

[[deleted user]]

Every reader is different. Every editor is different. Traditionalists usually rule out, especially if you're marketing to them, and not wide.

I know the opinions here rule, but an editor actually told me, despite voice, I shouldn't leave it to a reader to guess(and my characters had way different voices from one another, so it would've been obvious).

It depends on who you're marketing for, who you intend on reading it, what category it'll be in. Someone will like and dislike your style no matter what you pick. So I'd stay go with whichever style feels natural to you.

[Delka]

I totally agree that sometime 3rd person voice makes me feel as if there is a narrator standing between me and the story. But I also think that 1st person is easiset to write. It really depends on the characters in the story. Guinevere wrote: "I think age category matters. NA is big on 1st person. Maybe its why traditional romance readers dont enjoy it. YA is big on 1st person, and because I read way more ya, I prefer it, so it depends o..."

[Delka]

Book Name Wanted! I'm working on a title for my new IR book and want as many suggestions as possible for the book's name. The book's about a white scholar who falls for a divorced mom. What should I call it? I have two lame names so far, they are "The Preppy's lover," and, "The Scholar's Woman," plus variations of both. I'd really appreciate any and all suggestions. What would you name such a book?

thanks
Delka

[Gisele]

out of the 2, I like The Scholar's Woman

[Delka]

thanks for your suggestion Gisele. You've given me something to start chewing on.


Gisele wrote: "out of the 2, I like The Scholar's Woman"

[Justine]

The first person narrative books I have read gave me the impression that the author was simply uneducated. The tenses kept fluctuating between past and present and the subjects verbs agreements were horrendous mess

[Gisele]

G.L. Tomas does 1st person extremely well, no subject/verb disagreement. I of course think I do a good job too, but I'm biased. ;)