My point of view on point-of-view

When I wrote the first draft of my novel, I used the third person point-of-view (POV). I felt the story would be less convoluted if I retold it in the first person POV. Now, over a hundred and fifty pages into my second draft, I realize I miss telling my story from in third person. I left out many scenes, but I am thinking I’m going to go back.

Writing in first person creates an intimacy with the character that I’ve enjoyed. I’m a big fan of Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresdon urban fantasy series, and I emulated Butcher’s first person narrative. It doesn’t work for me. My protagonist lives life much differently than Harry Dresdon. First person POV presents many challenges, mainly for me: what about action that takes place in scenes where the narrator isn’t present?

I believe the story I’m writing happens to be closer to another series also written by Butcher, the Codex Alera fantasy series. In this six book tale, Butcher uses the third person and dedicates each chapter to a specific character. That seems like a better fit for my story.

So, I’m seriously thinking of rewriting my first draft in the third person and abandon the first person POV, as fun as it was. I’m still going to simplify the plot like I did in my second draft, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time.

Here’s some articles on POV that I’ve collected:

• Should your novel be first person? by Randy Ingermanson
• First Person Boring by James Scott Bell
• Don’t even think about using first-person unless . . . by K. M. Weiland