First Person Point of View Continued: Narration

We discussed the types of First person point of view and now we will consider the various styles of writing this point of view.

Interior Monologue. This involves writing as if the narrator is inside the main character's head at the time of writing. The author writes as if they are experiencing all the character thinks, lives and reflects on. This style of writing draws the reader into the character's journey.

Example. "I think I will take the day off. It's too nice a day to go to work."

Diary or Journal Entry. In this style of writing the author writes as if making a private entry into a diary or journal. It can become a personal record revealing more about the character than other viewpoints would.

Example. "Dear Diary: Today I took the day off. It was too nice a day to go to work."

Letter. This style calls on the author to write as if the main character knows someone will read their words. Consider if the letter is being written to a loved one as a private correspondence or to family or colleagues.

Example. "Dearest Friend, Today I took the day off. I have to tell you that it was too nice a day to go to work."

Public journal. Blog. This style would involve the main character expecting the public to read their words. An example of this viewpoint is an explorer's journal, a captain's log entry. The timing of the narrative would not be immediate in this case.

Example. "Have you ever wanted to just take the day off? Today was too nice a day to go to work. So I did just didn't turn up."

Literary Recollection. In this style the narrator becomes the storyteller. Think of a grandparent retelling family history, or dictating a novel.

Example.  "Let me tell you how it happened. A perfect day dawned. Work wasn't on my agenda, so I took the day off."

Dramatic Monologue. If the main character is addressing the reader, this device can be effective.

Example. "I said to myself, this day is too fine to spend indoors at work. At this stage, I made the decision to take the day off."

Notes to Self. Or Mental record. This style of narration involves the main character telling the story to themselves.

Example. "Today I will take the day off. I couldn't possibly work on a day like to day."

Take a few moments to write a paragraph or two using each of these styles. Avoid using â  too much. Allow the narrator to talk about other characters more than themselves, to prevent this common mistake. Don't limit your fiction writing to these styles. Use what suits your voice, genre and theme. Consider how they affect the intimacy between the author and the reader. Do they offer the style needed for writing your Fantasy novel?