Feb 8, 2011

Through My Alter-Ego's Eyes: Thoughts on First-Person Narrative

The first first-person narrative prose I've read was Twilight. Since then, two years ago, I've been traumatized to read another first-person. The Magic of Recluce healed the wound a bit (I was forced to read it, buying it and realizing later that it was FPN, and already too late in returning it.), but I was still scared. Every story I read from Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Clarkesworld, etc. that was in the FPN, I turned the other cheek.
Until Saladin Ahmed.
I've said this so many times, but his story "Mister Hadj's Sunset Ride", was written in the FPN, and I absolutely love it. I've read some works by Nnedi Okorafor, and I loved it. Soon, I started reading, and eventually writing in the FPN.
Trying to write poetic lines in the Third-Person Narrative is hard. Even after writing in the TPN for years, it's hard. When writing FPN, it's easier, fun, and my lines come straight from the heart.
Yes, it is limiting to one character, but using the FPN can give other characters a sense of history and mystery. This too, is why I love FPN.
When writing in the FPN, first, be familiar with it. Just don't write about "I" and "Me", have the character talk, think, move, act, and share his or her philosophy. Read Saladin Ahmed, Nalo Hopkinson, N.K. Jemisin.
Writing in the FPN can be so rewarding, especially when it comes to characterization.
Alright, that's the end, now either comment or get off my blog!
Kudos!