If you are planning to write a novel or a short story, one of the first decisions you will need to make is what type of point of view you will use. Once you commit to using either first person, second person or third person, this choice will carry through your entire work. Therefore, making the right decision and sticking with it is crucial. Once you are halfway through writing your book, you don’t want to be regretting your decision! Many authors find that writing in the first person is not only easier, but is more beneficial overall.

In case you aren’t already familiar with what it means to write in first person, this is the type of book that is narrated by a character. In many books, a story is told in first person by a character that is not the main protagonist, and this can definitely be an interesting literary choice. In a work written in first person narrative, the reader is able to experience everything that the character experiences and knows. Through this means, you can convey many of the character’s deepest and most personal thoughts and feelings. When you write in first person, you will end up using the words “I” and “me” a lot. A book that is in the genre of autobiographical fiction is also told in the first person.

Let’s take a minute and compare what it means to write in third person. If you were to select this point of view, the story in your work would be told through an observer as opposed to someone who is experiencing the chain of events firsthand. As a result, objective reality is described and subjective reality is also described. In this case, you would end up using the words “he” and “she” when you refer to the characters.

There is also a second person point of view, but it is not used very often in fiction. The second person is when you describe characters as “you.” One of the places you may have seen this exemplified is in the Choose Your Own Adventure books that you might have read as a child. Chances are that second person isn’t ideal for your book or short story, as it would likely end up being very awkward. Second person has been successfully used in some books that have a fairly experimental style and tone like Jay McInerney’s Bright Lights, Big City and Tom Robbins’ book Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas.

You may already have a strong preference in mind when it comes to first person versus third person. Some writers just have a gut feeling that a certain type of point of view is exactly what their story needs. Other writers have only experimented using one type of writing and don’t plan to diverge from this norm.

If you are confused about whether you should write in first or second person, the fact of the matter is that your reader will gain additional intimate details about the main character if you write in first person. Additionally, writers frequently find it easier to write in first person. If you really plan to explore the voice of one of the characters in your book, first person may be better suited. Plus, you can get very creative with a certain character’s storytelling style.

There are a few drawbacks, however, to first person books that you might want to consider before getting started. First of all, if there are subplots taking place that don’t involve the main character, it may be difficult to figure out how to work them into the story. Again, with first person books, everything must be seen or experienced by the main character. Another issue is that if you are writing a mystery or suspense book, it can be tricky to write in first person. Your main character, of course, will only know what he experiences, so it can be more difficult to establish tension by writing about things taking place outside his or her world.

Another benefit of writing in the third person is that you can easily switch between what different characters think or feel. However, keep in mind that writing in this manner can also end up being confusing for the reader. If you want to switch between different character’s perspectives, it is imperative that you adeptly handle this to eliminate any potential confusion.

As it turns out, many books that written in third person don’t have very extensive character development. When it comes to fiction, readers tend to be drawn into a storyline when they really get involved with the characters. Books that only cover events and don’t have strong characterizations often end up being boring to readers. After all, the reader never really gets to know anyone in the story.

The bottom line is that quite frequently writers who are just starting out in their careers simply find it easier to write in first person. This type of writing often just lends itself to easier storytelling. Plus, when you choose to write in first person, you won’t have to worry about covering what different characters are thinking about. You can just explore the mind of one of your characters. On the other hand, you may feel that writing in second person is easier, and that is perfectly acceptable. The fact of the matter is that neither of these selections is going to make your work vastly superior. The ultimate quality of your book will depend on your story, characters and writing ability.

If you are still having trouble making a final decision about what point of view to select for your work, take some time to consider the kind of story that you are telling. If it is important to you that your reader feels intimacy with one central character, first person may very well be the best choice for you. If it is important that the reader understands the thoughts and feelings of many characters, than you likely will want to select third person.