First Person Point of View: A Beginner's Guide to Character-Driven Narration

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 21 June 2023 6 min read

Writing a story can be an exciting journey, and one of the key decisions you'll make is choosing the right point of view. Opting for a first person point of view can create a captivating, intimate experience for your readers. In this beginner's guide, we'll explore the ins and outs of character-driven narration to help you create an engaging story from the first person perspective.

Understanding First Person Point of View

Before diving into the techniques of writing in first person point of view, it's essential to understand what it is and its advantages and disadvantages.

Defining First Person

First person point of view is a storytelling approach that uses the pronouns "I," "me," "we," and "us" to narrate the story. The narrator is either the story's protagonist or a character close to the protagonist. This perspective allows readers to see the world through the character's eyes, experiencing their thoughts, emotions, and actions directly.

Advantages and Disadvantages

When using first person point of view, consider the following pros and cons:

Advantages: First person narration can create an intimate connection between the reader and the protagonist, making it easier to evoke empathy. It also provides a unique voice and allows for a deeper exploration of the character's emotions and thoughts.
Disadvantages: Limited to the narrator's perspective, first person narration may restrict the scope of the story. It can also be challenging to convey information the protagonist doesn't know or share other characters' thoughts and feelings without making the narrative feel forced.

With these considerations in mind, you can decide whether first person point of view is the best choice for your story, and then you can learn how to create a strong narrator, immerse readers in the narrative, handle dialogue and interaction, and overcome challenges specific to first person POV.

Creating a Strong Narrator

When writing in first person point of view, your narrator is the heart of your story. To create a strong and engaging narrator, focus on developing their voice and tone, while also ensuring believability and authenticity.

Voice and Tone

A distinct voice is crucial for a compelling first person narrative. Consider these tips to develop your narrator's voice and tone:

Personality: Reflect the character's personality in their narration, using language and expressions that are consistent with their background, age, education, and experiences.
Variety: Mix up sentence structures and lengths to make the narration more engaging. Don't be afraid to use dashes, colons, or semicolons for variety.
Emotion: Convey the character's emotions through their voice, showcasing their feelings and reactions to different situations.

Believability and Authenticity

For a first person narrative to resonate, readers need to believe in the narrator. Keep these suggestions in mind to create a relatable and authentic character:

Consistency: Ensure that the character's voice, actions, and emotions remain consistent throughout the story to maintain credibility.
Flaws: Give your narrator imperfections, as no one is perfect. A flawed character is more relatable and engaging.
Internal Conflicts: Explore the character's internal struggles, which can add depth and complexity to the narrative.

With a strong narrator, you'll have a solid foundation to immerse readers in your first person narrative. The next step is to focus on the language and details that bring the story to life.

Immersing Readers in the Narrative

To fully engage readers in a first person point of view narrative, you'll need to use descriptive language and "show, don't tell" techniques. Let's explore how to achieve this immersion for your audience.

Descriptive Language

Using vivid and detailed language helps readers visualize the story and feel connected to the narrator's experiences. Keep these tips in mind for incorporating descriptive language:

Sensory Details: Describe sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures to paint a vivid picture of the setting and emotions.
Specificity: Be specific in your descriptions, using concrete details and examples rather than vague or generic phrases.
Figurative Language: Employ similes, metaphors, and other figurative language to add depth and interest to your descriptions.

Show, Don't Tell

"Show, don't tell" is a classic writing principle that encourages writers to reveal information through actions, emotions, and experiences, rather than simply telling readers what happened. Follow these guidelines to effectively use this technique in your first person narrative:

Action: Use action to reveal character traits and emotions, showing how the narrator reacts and responds in different situations.
Internal Thoughts: Share the narrator's thoughts and feelings, allowing readers to understand their motivations and emotions on a deeper level.
Subtext: Convey information through subtle hints and implications, encouraging readers to deduce meaning from context and inference.

By incorporating descriptive language and "show, don't tell" techniques, you'll create an immersive first person narrative that captivates your readers and keeps them engaged until the very end.

Handling Dialogue and Interaction

Dialogue and character interactions are essential components of any story, especially in first person point of view narratives. Let's explore how to effectively manage dialogue and portray other characters in your narrative.

Writing Dialogue

Dialogue can bring your story to life by showcasing your characters' personalities, emotions, and relationships. Keep these tips in mind when writing dialogue in first person point of view:

Natural Speech: Write dialogue that sounds like real conversations, using informal language, contractions, and sentence fragments as appropriate.
Character Voice: Give each character a distinct voice, considering their background, age, and personality when crafting their dialogue.
Pacing: Use dialogue to maintain story pace, breaking up lengthy descriptions or internal monologues with conversations between characters.

Portraying Other Characters

In a first person narrative, the reader only experiences other characters through the eyes of the narrator. To effectively portray these characters, consider the following:

Biases: Remember that the narrator's perspective may be biased or unreliable, so other characters' actions and motivations should be portrayed through this lens.
Body Language: Describe characters' body language and facial expressions to help convey emotions and reactions without directly stating them.
Relationships: Develop relationships between the narrator and other characters, using dialogue and shared experiences to reveal their connections and histories.

By crafting engaging dialogue and realistically portraying other characters, you'll create a dynamic and believable first person point of view narrative that draws readers into your story.

Overcoming Challenges of First Person POV

While first person point of view offers many advantages, it also presents unique challenges for writers. Let's discuss some common issues and how to tackle them effectively.

Maintaining Consistency

Consistency is crucial in first person narratives to maintain the reader's trust and immersion in the story. Here are some tips to help you stay consistent:

Narrator's Voice: Keep the narrator's voice and tone consistent throughout the story, reflecting their personality and emotions in every scene.
Timeline: Ensure that the sequence of events remains logical and clear, avoiding any confusing jumps in time or inconsistencies in the plot.
Perspective: Remember that the narrator can only share their own experiences and thoughts, so avoid revealing information they couldn't possibly know.

Avoiding Info Dumps

Excessive exposition or "info dumps" can disrupt the flow of your story and disengage readers. To avoid this issue in first person point of view narratives, consider the following approaches:

Dialogue: Use conversations between characters to reveal backstory or important information in a natural and engaging way.
Internal Monologue: Allow the narrator to reflect on their past experiences and thoughts, providing context and insight without overwhelming readers with details.
Gradual Discovery: Reveal information slowly throughout the narrative, allowing readers to piece together the story and maintain their interest.

By addressing these challenges, you'll create a captivating first person point of view narrative that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

Popular Books in First Person POV

First person point of view has been used to great effect in many classic and contemporary novels. Let's explore a few notable examples that showcase the power of character-driven narration.

The Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is a prime example of first person narration, told through the perspective of the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. The novel delves into Holden's thoughts and feelings as he navigates a tumultuous period in his life, giving readers a raw and intimate look at his struggles with mental health, identity, and the challenges of growing up.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is narrated by Scout Finch, a young girl living in the racially divided American South during the 1930s. Through Scout's eyes, readers witness the injustice and prejudice that pervade her community, as well as the moral growth of the characters as they confront these issues. The first person point of view allows readers to experience the events of the story alongside Scout, deepening the novel's emotional impact.

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby employs first person narration through the character of Nick Carraway. As an observer and participant in the story, Nick offers a unique perspective on the glamorous yet ultimately tragic lives of the novel's characters. The first person point of view provides readers with a sense of intimacy and immediacy, making the events of the story feel both vivid and authentic.

These beloved novels demonstrate the potential of first person point of view to create compelling, immersive narratives that resonate with readers. By applying the techniques discussed in this guide, you can harness the power of character-driven storytelling in your own writing.

If you're looking to enhance your understanding of perspective in your creative work, don't miss the workshop 'A New Perspective on Perspective' by Roberto Bernal. This workshop will provide you with fresh insights and techniques to help you see and approach perspective in a whole new way.