How to write compelling stories in first person point of view
Human beings are natural first-person storytellers.
Any time you’ve told the funny story of what happened to you the other day in the library, you’ve told a story in first person. Literally, all we mean when we talk about first person narrative point of view is a story that’s narrated from the perspective of the person it happened (or is happening) to. It’s comfortable and familiar, and that’s what makes this one of the most intimate and engaging narrative techniques in creative writing.
In this article, we’re going to explore the fundamentals of writing compelling stories from the first-person perspective. We’ll delve into the power of personal narration, examine essential elements that create authentic character voices, and look at practical strategies for crafting immersive first-person narratives.
Let’s get started.
What is 1st Person Point of View?
The first person narrative perspective immerses readers directly into the thoughts and feelings of a character. You can identify it immediately by looking at the pronouns used for the descriptive prose. First person POV uses “I” and “me” when telling the story, whereas third person uses “he,” “she,” and “they.” (There’s also second person narration, which directly addresses the reader as though they’re a character in the story, but that’s a much less common narrative technique.)
In the 1st person point of view, the narrator is a character within the story, sharing their experiences first-hand. This perspective allows readers to witness events through the narrator’s eyes, which may help to foster a deeper connection between the reader and your protagonist.
The Power of Intimacy in First Person Narration
Because the first-person perspective creates a direct line into the narrator’s emotions, readers get to fully experience their thoughts and feelings. That’s why this narrative perspective fosters a sense of intimacy. At its most effective, first person POV can draw the reader deeply into the narrative and make them feel as though they are living the story alongside the character.
Key Elements of Intimacy
- Personal Pronouns: Using “I” and “me” references time-honoured storytelling traditions among friends and family, in which recounting personal experience is used to cement group bonds and reinforce connections. As such, first person narratives can create a sense of closeness between the narrator and the audience.
- Emotional Resonance: First-person narration allows for deep emotional expression. We have a direct line into the narrator’s interior monologue, which lets readers directly experience the raw feelings and internal conflicts of the protagonist.
- Inner World: First person limited perspective enhances intimacy by confining readers to a single character’s inner world, creating a powerful sense of shared experience. Readers must discover and interpret events exactly as the protagonist does, sharing in their uncertainties, revelations, and emotional reactions.
Like sharing a secret with a close friend, first person limited perspective creates an exclusive relationship between reader and character that other viewpoints cannot quite replicate.
“Like sharing a secret with a close friend, first person limited perspective creates an exclusive relationship between reader and character that other viewpoints cannot quite replicate.”
A Quick Note on Unreliable Narrators
The very intimacy of first person point of view makes it an ideal vehicle for exploring an unreliable narrator, by the way. The fact that first person narration feels so intimate creates the illusion that everything is ultimately laid bare before the reader, even when this isn’t the case, so when an “I” narrator presents a distorted version of events through their biased perspective, it creates fascinating layers of complexity. Moreover, the conversational style of the narration means it’s very easy to miss an obfuscation, a lie of omission, or even just an outright lie.
It’s enormous fun to write, and—even better—since readers must piece together the truth by examining the narrators motivations and potential self-deception, an unreliable first person narrator has enormous potential to deepen engagement between reader and text.
Techniques for Effective First Person Writing
Writing compelling first-person narratives relies on maximising the intimacy and immediacy of this perspective. Here are a few key strategies to you can deploy to enhance your first-person storytelling:
1. Develop a Distinct Narrative Voice
Create a unique speaking pattern and vocabulary that reflects your narrator’s:
- Age and education level
- Cultural background
- Personal quirks and mannerisms
- Emotional state and personality
Ideally, you’ll want these traits to become visible through your character’s style of narration, their interaction with the story world, and their relationships with other characters. As ever, be wary of telling rather than showing.
2. Take Care With Internal Monologue
First person POV is most effective when you strike a balance between the following different types of internal narration:
- Direct internal thoughts (“I can’t believe this is happening”)
- Indirect observations (The situation seemed impossible)
- Stream of consciousness when appropriate
Pro tip: avoid overusing thought tags (“I thought,” “I wondered”), as these are often the beginning of a slippery slope into an exposition-heavy info-dump in first person POV.
3. Filter Everything Through Your Narrator
You’ve got direct access into your narrator’s personality in first person POV. Have fun with this! Exploring how your narrator’s character colours their perceptions is a fantastic way to keep yourself on the showing side of exposition.
- Include biases and prejudices that affect their interpretation of events
- Demonstrate how their emotional state influences what they notice
- Reveal their limitations and blind spots
4. Manage Knowledge Gaps
As with any limited POV (and, yes, first person omniscient is technically possible, but it’s rare), your information flow will be restricted in first person narration. This means you can only include information your narrator could realistically know. However, there are ways to manage — and make the most of — these knowledge gaps.
- Create tension through your narrator’s limited understanding
- Use other characters’ dialogue and actions to hint at things your narrator misses
- Build suspense through your narrator’s uncertainties
5. Create Immediacy Through Sensory Details
Sensory details are another fantastic vehicle for character exposition in first person POV. In particular, by presenting your character’s understanding of the world through their experiences in that world, you have the opportunity to enrich the reader’s knowledge of your protagonist, weave expository detail directly into the narrative, and experiment with idiom and other language forms. Some of the ways you can achieve this include:
- Filtering sensory descriptions through your narrator’s unique perspective
- Focusing on details that would matter to your specific character
- Showing emotional reactions through physical sensations
- Using metaphors and similes that fit your narrator’s worldview
“By presenting your character’s understanding of the world through their experiences in that world, you have the opportunity to enrich the reader’s knowledge of your protagonist, weave expository detail directly into the narrative, and experiment with idiom and other language forms.”
Common Pitfalls to Avoid in First Person Narration
As with every narrative perspective, first person POV comes with a couple of specific pitfalls to be aware of and avoid. Ideally, you’ll want to steer clear of the following to get the most out of your first person narration.
1. Distancing Language
Avoid constructions like “I saw” or “I felt.” These phrases remind the reader of the distance between them and the protagonist, which undermines the immediacy of the POV. Instead, try wherever possible to avoid filtering the narrator’s experience and present it directly.
For example, instead of saying something like, “I’ve always thought lime jello tastes like misery in a bowl,” you could try, “Ugh — lime jello. Misery in a bowl.”
2. Over-filtering
Prioritise strong, vivid descriptions. This is an extension of the point above, but takes the idea a step further. For example, instead of saying “I heard a noise,” try “A sharp crack echoed through the silence.” This approach enhances immersion and draws readers into your character’s world.
3. Too Much Interiority
Readers want to be part of the action with your character. Unfortunately, “I” narration’s similarity to the kind of storytelling we do among friends and family means that it’s easy to slip into “recounting” mode rather than “active storytelling” mode. What this looks like in practice:
I’d run out of coffee that morning and, knowing Sarah and Emily were coming over for lunch, I decided to nip out quickly to the shop up the road. Standing in the aisle, trying to decide between Ecuadorian or Nicaraguan blends, I almost didn’t see Mrs Smith until she was right beside me.
The argument from last week was still very fresh in my mind but I couldn’t face another public display so I decided to ignore her. Clearly, she had the same thought. But just when I thought I was in the clear, her son, Michael, appeared and I could tell straight away that he would have none of his mother’s forbearance.
I steeled myself for the onslaught, and out it poured: he told me I was a terrible mother and that I ought to be ashamed of myself, letting Darren play outside so late. In between his ranting, I managed to slip in a quick riposte, telling him it was none of his business what my child does in my own garden. I would have liked to say more, but he hardly paused for breath.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Mrs Smith called her son to her, and it was over. Or so I thought: he couldn’t resist taking one last shot across the bows, and told me he’d call the council if it ever happened again.
With that, he was off, and I was left standing alone in the aisle, a bag of coffee in either hand, badly shaken. Goodness knows what I must have looked like, but it was bad enough for the cashier to approach me and ask if I was all right. She offered me a seat and a glass of water, and I let myself be led to the staff room…
…versus…
Coffee. Fiddlesticks. I lifted the empty jar from the cupboard, but it was no use. I’d have to run out to the shops before Sarah and Emily arrived for lunch. Glancing at my watch, I saw that it was still an hour and a half until they were due. Plenty of time. I grabbed my coat and bag and dashed out the door.
Ecuadorian or Nicaraguan, though? I stood in the aisle, a bag in either hand, uncertain how to decide. Lost in my thoughts, weighing up which would pair best with the pecan tarts I planned to serve for dessert, I didn’t notice Mrs Smith until it was almost too late.
The air seemed to freeze between us. Clearly, the argument was as fresh in her mind as it was in mine. Not today, though, I thought. She wouldn’t goad me into another repeat performance. I sucked in a breath, straightened my shoulders, and returned to my coffee conundrum.
Perhaps she hesitated. Perhaps she drew breath to speak. I can’t say. All I know is that, after a moment, with a faint clearing of her throat, she passed by me on her way. I waited until she was out of sight around the corner of the laundry detergent aisle before I allowed myself to relax again.
Too soon, alas. For before I could return the Nicaraguan blend to its shelf, a large figure loomed around the biscuit display, and my heart sank. Michael. Her eldest son.
He pulled up sharply, glowering. “You’ve got some nerve,” he said after a moment.
I hoped the trembling in my hands was not apparent. “I’m just–”
“Where’s that brat of yours now, eh? Off tormenting some other poor pensioner?”
An Intimate Narrative Perspective With a Heap of Possibility
First-person narrative perspective has a kind of cosy familiarity to it, but don’t let that fool you: this is a powerful POV with a lot to offer. If you’re looking for an access point into crafting intimate, emotionally resonant stories that connect directly with readers, you could do a lot worse than giving first person point of view a try.
The success of first-person narration lies in the delicate balance between authenticity and craft. Consider your character’s voice, the story’s emotional impact, and the level of intimacy you want to achieve with your readers. Remember that effective first-person narration requires consistent attention to voice, careful management of knowledge gaps, and skillful handling of sensory details.
Ultimately, the decision to use first-person point of view should serve your story’s purpose and enhance its impact. But when you get it right… it can create an immersive reading experience that resonates with your reader long after the final page.
What’s your favourite narrative perspective to write in? Let me know in the comments!
