the Words of a Story

All writers usually have a preference when it comes to how they tell their stories.

Do they allow the central protagonist to tell the story (first person -example: Twilight-), or do they get a narrator to tell the story (third person -example: Harry Potter-)?

Or maybe second person (though this is rare)?

If you use third person, do you use third person limited or Omniscient?
Do you feel certain stories need to be told in certain modes? meaning it has to be told by the main character in order for it to be understood. Or the story is happening around them and not through them.

Tell me what you think and what preference you have!

For the most part, I enjoy writing in first person. Not only does the reader get to learn the story from a witness who saw it all, but I get to learn a lot about whichever character is narrating. It's a great way to learn about the character: how he/she thinks, his/her impressions on others, etc.

Occasionally I've done a third person short story here or there, but I definitely prefer writing in first person. I usually write in third person omniscient for roleplays, but I prefer writing my own novels in first person, since I feel that 3rd person omniscient leaves no mystery and excitement if you know what everyone's reasons are for doing things. It's hard to think of a villain as a ruthless predator when he's only getting revenge on his brother because his brother was mean to him as a child, you know?

I've read second person occasionally and I feel that it really has to fit the story in order to be used correctly. It just doesn't seem to fit a lot of the time, to me.

Agreed and good point. It is easy to get most people in the mood with first person. Third person is more a movie kind of thing. seeing the people and actions around you. Second person is just random ^^

David Klass' You Don't Know Me was a really good example of second-person. The whole book is a mystery, trying to figure out who the narrator is since he believes his mother does not know him. He narrates, directing the story to his mother ("you"). It's a really good book, actually. :]

I've read books that are actually written like a movie, like Monster by Walter Dean Myers. It explains the lighting and everything, like a real movie, but from the teenager's perspective. ^^

haha yah i've read You don't know me before. and Moonster is good too ^^

I agree with you, second can be good but it can also be weird OOOoooOOO haha

all forms of writing change depend on who is writing them anyway!