9 Tips For Writing in First Person POV

If you're a writer who wants to master first-person storytelling, then this article is for you. 

In this article, you'll find 10 tips that will help you nail your first-person stories. 

Some of these tips are conventional, while others are a little more advanced or off the beaten path. Regardless, they will all help you to create compelling and engaging stories.

Key Takeaways:

• Have a reason for using first person point of view
• Establish who the first-person narrator is as soon as possible
• Bury the 'I'
• Make your narrator's voice clear, consistent, and well-defined
• Decide which tense you're using
• Decide whether your story needs to be told through a narrative device
• Can your story benefit from having an unreliable narrator?
• Avoid too much introspection
• Balance introspection and action
• Use narrative devices to enhance your story

Reasons for Using First Person POV

If you are planning to tell a story in first-person point of view, it is important to have a specific reason for doing so. 

There are many reasons why you might choose to use first person, such as liking the personal style or conversational tone it provides, portraying a unique character perspective or thought process, or creating suspense by having events happen to the character they are unaware of. 

By being aware of these possibilities and using them strategically, you can effectively convey the story you want to tell.

It is also important to establish who the first-person narrator is as soon as possible. 

Within the first page or two, readers should know who the narrator is and have a clear understanding of their identity, including their age, appearance, and other relevant details. Failure to do so can create confusion and distract readers from the story.

To strengthen your first-person story, it is recommended to bury the use of the pronoun "I" and find new ways to start sentences and paragraphs. This will prevent the story from becoming too self-centered and annoying to readers.

In addition, it is crucial to make the narrator's voice clear, consistent, and well-defined. Voice is a critical part of first-person storytelling; it can grab readers and pull them along. 

If you have multiple first-person narrators, it is important to make their voices distinct.

Deciding whether to use past or present tense is also important. Past tense creates emotional distance and perspective, while present tense is immediate and high-energy. It is important to choose the appropriate tense for your story.

Narrative devices such as diary entries, notes, letters, and emails can also be used to tell a first-person story. Mixing and matching these devices can add depth and interest to your story.

An unreliable narrator can also be an effective tool for creating suspense and intrigue. However, it is important to consider the accuracy and biases of your narrator.

Finally, it is important to avoid too much introspection and to ground the story in the external world. Focusing too heavily on the character's thoughts can cause the story to lose its grasp on reality. 

By grounding the story in the five senses and external events, readers can stay engaged and invested in the story.

Establishing the Narrator

When writing a first-person story, it is important to establish who the narrator is as soon as possible. Within the first page or two, the reader should know who the narrator is, how old they are, what they look like, or anything relevant to the story. Without this information, the story can become confusing and distracting.

Chuck Palahniuk, author of "Consider This," suggests "burying the 'I'" and avoiding using the pronoun "I" when telling the story. While it is not necessary to completely avoid using "I," using it less can make the story stronger. If every sentence or paragraph begins with "I," it can become a distraction and annoying for the reader.

Making the narrator's voice clear, consistent, and well-defined is critical in first-person storytelling. The voice should be distinct and grab the reader's attention, pulling them along and making them feel like they are sitting with a friend. 

It is also important to keep in mind that if there are multiple first-person narrators, their voices should be distinct from one another.

Choosing whether to tell the story in past or present tense can have different strengths and weaknesses. If the story is told in past tense, there will be emotional distance and perspective, depending on how much time has passed since the events of the story. 

On the other hand, if the story is told in present tense, there should be no emotional distance, and the narrator should have an appropriate reaction to the events that occur.

Burying the "I"

Chuck Palahniuk's book, Consider This, offers a great piece of advice for first-person writing: bury the "I." 

This means that you should avoid using the pronoun "I" as much as possible when telling your story. While it's not necessary to eliminate it, the less you use it, the stronger your story becomes.

When every sentence or paragraph begins with "I," it can become a distraction and even annoying. Instead, try finding new ways to start your sentences and paragraphs to avoid overwhelming your audience with the constant repetition of "I."

By burying the "I," you can make your story more engaging and immersive for your readers. It also allows you to focus more on the events and characters in your story, rather than constantly drawing attention to the narrator.

Narrator's Voice Clarity and Consistency

When writing a first-person story, it is essential to make your narrator's voice clear, consistent, and well-defined. 

Voice is a critical element of first person storytelling, and it can be a selling point for your story. 

It is important to nail the voice and make it distinct because it can grab the reader and make them feel like they are sitting with a friend.

If you have multiple first-person narrators, you need to ensure that their voices are distinct. 

It is also crucial to make sure that the voice is convincing. If you are writing a first-person story from the perspective of a 90-year-old Korean war vet, for example, that vet should not be talking like a 23-year-old MFA student.

Keep in mind that the first person point of view is perfect for certain genres and styles of storytelling. 

For instance, if you're telling a humorous story, a first person narrator might be the best way of doing it. Books like Catcher in the Rye or American Psycho are just enhanced by having a funny narrator.

Choosing the Tense

When writing a first-person story, it is important to decide on the tense you will be using. There are two options: past tense and present tense, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

If you choose to tell your story in past tense, there will be emotional distance from the events. This distance will depend on how much time has passed since the events occurred. 

For example, if your narrator is telling a story that happened 50 years ago, there will be a lot of emotional distance and possibly even nostalgia mixed in. On the other hand, if your narrator just experienced a particular event, there will be less emotional distance.

If you choose to tell your story in present tense, there should be no emotional distance. The story should feel immediate, with higher energy and emotion. Keep in mind that your narrator should have an appropriate reaction to the events that occur.

Ultimately, the choice of tense depends on the story you want to tell and the effect you want to create. It is important to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each tense and choose the one that best suits your story.

Using Narrative Devices

When writing a first-person story, it's important to consider the use of narrative devices to enhance the storytelling experience. 

Narrative devices such as diary entries, notes, letters, and emails can add depth to a story and provide a unique perspective. 

For example, the book "Gone Girl" uses diary entries to provide insight into the thoughts and feelings of the main character.

Mixing and matching narrative devices can also be effective. However, it's important to use them strategically and not overuse them. The use of these devices should enhance the story, not distract from it.

When using narrative devices, it's important to ensure they fit seamlessly into the story. They should not feel forced or out of place. Additionally, it's important to establish the purpose of the narrative device early on in the story to avoid confusion.

Unreliable Narrators

One of the tips for writing a great first-person story is to consider using an unreliable narrator. 

An unreliable narrator is a character who tells the story but whose perspective may not be entirely trustworthy. This can create suspense and intrigue for the reader, as they try to piece together what really happened.

When considering using an unreliable narrator, it's important to think about why you want to use this technique. Is there a particular reason why your narrator might not be reliable? 

Perhaps they have a mental health issue, or they are biased in some way. Whatever the reason, make sure that it serves the story and doesn't feel like a gimmick.

If you do decide to use an unreliable narrator, make sure that you establish this fact early on in the story. 

Readers need to know that they can't necessarily trust everything that the narrator is telling them. This can create a sense of tension and uncertainty that can keep readers engaged.

Balancing Introspection and Action

When writing a first-person story, it can be tempting to focus heavily on the character's thoughts and introspection. However, it is important to balance introspection with action and keep the narrator grounded in the external world.

To achieve this balance, remind yourself to incorporate the five senses and bring the narrator back into the external world.

For example, the character can strategize events while looking outside the window and worrying about the enemy. Or, they can bite their lip too hard and draw blood, forcing them to spit it out.

By avoiding too much introspection, you can keep the reader engaged in the story and prevent it from feeling too inward-focused.

Remember, the goal is to create a well-defined and consistent narrator voice that pulls the reader along and makes them feel like they are sitting with a friend.