My romance writer self, Janis Susan
May, just released a new book, a traditional Gothic romance entitled FAMILY OF
STRANGERS. While I was doing the publicity for it, a fellow writer – who had
bought the book and gushed over how good it was – then asked me a serious
question. Since the book was written in first person (which is pretty standard
for traditional Gothic romances) did I think there was a return to first person
as an acceptable narration? She was hoping there was, as were a number of her
friends. According to the universal ‘they’ who know everything, first person
narration has been ‘out’ for a number of years. News to me.
Disclaimer : I personally love the
first person narrator and find it the easiest to write, so perhaps I might be
just a little bit prejudiced.
There’s a couple of sure ways to
start a good round of verbal fisticuffs among writers, and one of them is the
question of first/third narration. Proponents of first will wax lyrical about
how it brings the reader closer to the protagonist and makes the reader a part
of the story, that it gives a feeling of intimacy and immediacy to the story.
Proponents of third say third gives a well-rounded picture of the story and the
varying points of view allow the reader to see all sides while first is
stultifyingly narrow.
And they’re both right.
Without meaning to wiffle-waffle, I
say that the story itself should dictate the choice of first or third, or in
these modern times, sometimes a combination of both. Some stories just cry out
to be written in first, others in third and the choice isn’t always the
writer’s. My own historical mystery THE HOLLOW HOUSE was never even thought of
as being in anything but first person, but my contemporary cozy BEADED TO DEATH was from the beginning
written in third. As to how I knew this when starting out, I can’t tell you – I
just know that when I sat to write, that’s how it was and I couldn’t change it.
I don’t know if other writers
experience this ‘semi-automatic’ declaration of first or third, but then all
writers are different. Certainly every writer – if they can legitimately call
themselves a writer – should be equally as facile with either point of
narration. Having a favorite is one thing; having an inability is another!
I’d be curious to know how other
writers settle the first/third question. Do they choose it, or does it choose
them?
But – as long as it’s done well –
does it really matter?
