For many, writing in first person comes naturally. And for memoir writers, it’s the only choice.
First person has some advantages over third person.
But it comes with its own challenges.
In this episode, we’ll cover the advantages of first person, and 5 common challenges that restrict the full scope available to you with first person. And I’ll give you techniques to overcome those challenges.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Episode at a glance:
[02:31] What does first person give the reader that third person doesn’t, or that third person doesn’t do as well? Learn 4 advantages of using first person narration.
[06:34] Challenge 1: Character Voice. There’s a difference between your voice as the author, and your character’s first person voice. Learn how to access your character’s voice, and what elements create a distinctive voice that makes your character unforgettable.
[10:05] Challenge 2: Repetitive Use of “I”. This is an easy, mechanical fix. Learn with examples, how to give the scene directly.
[12:33] Challenge 3: Limited Narrative Scope. First person isn’t as limited as most writers think. Learn how to bring more range to your first person narrator.
[17:57] Challenge 4: Awkward Descriptions of The Familiar. How do you slip in essential details – like the character’s own appearance, and the house where they live? Learn how to bring the unfamiliar to the familiar with an example from Jeanette Wall’s memoir, The Glass Castle.
[21:01] Challenge 3: Spending too much time inside the character’s head. We do need their thoughts, but being inside one person’s head all the time can be suffocating. Learn how to balance action with thought.
Link mentioned in this episode:
Episode 69: How To Create Plot Continuity With Character Thought
Room by Emma Donahue
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
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