Post by Valkyrie on Jul 29, 2013 9:25:17 GMT -7
I see this all the time on Wattpad. So many people write in first person, and then change the POV character. I've seen it in a small handful of stories on other sites, but it seems to be a Wattpad thing to me. What I don't really understand is why. Why use first person and not third? You can get just as into the character's head in third person as you can in first, and when you switch POV characters, it's a far smoother transition.
When they say "X's POV" in big bold letters, I find it interrupts my reading. I'm just reading along, and all of a sudden, it hits me like a wall of something is changing and I'm going to scream it at you. Of course, if you don't do that, it's just downright confusing, because when you switch POVs in first, you're still using "I" so how would you know the switch has happened? If they were given very distinct voices, that might work, but even then, if you don't catch on immediately, it's still confusing.
Every time I read a book in first person, I expect to really connect with that character, and I find I don't connect with them in particular when the POV is switching all the time. I actually find it harder to connect with multiple characters in first person than I do connecting with multiple characters in third. I've read great stories in first person, and I could really connect with that single character, and that's what I like about it. Switching POVs ruins that for me.
What does everyone else think about this? Do you mind when authors switch POVs? Do you do it yourself? If so, is there a reason you don't use third?
When they say "X's POV" in big bold letters, I find it interrupts my reading. I'm just reading along, and all of a sudden, it hits me like a wall of something is changing and I'm going to scream it at you. Of course, if you don't do that, it's just downright confusing, because when you switch POVs in first, you're still using "I" so how would you know the switch has happened? If they were given very distinct voices, that might work, but even then, if you don't catch on immediately, it's still confusing.
Every time I read a book in first person, I expect to really connect with that character, and I find I don't connect with them in particular when the POV is switching all the time. I actually find it harder to connect with multiple characters in first person than I do connecting with multiple characters in third. I've read great stories in first person, and I could really connect with that single character, and that's what I like about it. Switching POVs ruins that for me.
What does everyone else think about this? Do you mind when authors switch POVs? Do you do it yourself? If so, is there a reason you don't use third?
I think the reason I use first person is because I find it easier to get into that person's head and make it more realistic. I also find it's easier to share the person's thoughts using first person 
