The second-person point of view is designed to put the reader on edge, evoking the feeling of being stuck in an elevator with a coke fiend.
But if you do insist on going the second person route, there are a few pieces of advice to consider. Doing something for no other reason than to impress is the literal definition of pretension. We get the sense that the narrator is hiding behind a mask, perhaps to soften the shame of recalling an awkward experience. Sentences that take the imperative form rather than declarative: Look at the water. Chew slowly. Face the wall. This is perhaps common for two reasons.
If the aim of using the second person is to create an intimacy and immediacy, then using the past tense can soften that effect by adding a layer of detachment. We gain a special vantage point, a much closer lens than third person, and even closer than first, which is generally considered the gold standard for immediacy.
How can you grab your reader in a more powerful, existential way? Difficult enough to do well in a short story, second-person is exceedingly difficult to accomplish in a full-length novel. With the third person, I can stand aloof at times and share the consciousness of the character to the extent that the writer makes the character sufficiently compelling. Clearly we want to enter fully into a fictional world, but perhaps at some remove.
Some readers might resist the voice of the story or novel. And yet — having said all this — when this POV works, it can be quite compelling. It can be haunting, intense, and lyrical. Books that fall into this category include those that take the form of letters written by one character to another. The intention, in most cases, is to bring us closer to the characters, creating an almost conspiratorial relationship between narrator and reader.
This communication may not necessarily be in the form of letters, but rather speech. Cast in the story, we feel more involved in the discourse.
Is there a reason why this POV works best for your story, other than style and a desire to be literary with a capital L? So, there are a few of the major reasons you might want to consider writing in the second person. In the opinion of almost every editor we spoke with, writing a novel in the second person is a bad idea Here are some of the reasons they give.
Sometimes, it's actually an increased distance between the character and the reader that can cultivate the empathy you need. For this reason, you may find that a second person narrative works better for short fiction.
All that said, remember that this is your book. Maybe you intend to self-publish, or you don't mind limiting your potential audience, and are therefore less beholden to commercial expectations.
Maybe your story just can't be told in any other way. If that describes your experience, then, by all means, ignore the naysayers. Take a deep breath, and dive into writing from the second person point of view.
The very fact that this article encourages writers NOT to use the second person viewpoint gives me even more reason to do it. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Table of Contents Expand. Table of Contents. Examples of Second-Person Point of View.
Benefits of Second-Person Point of View. She is an editor, instructor, and award-winning writer with over 15 years of experience. Learn about our editorial policies. Second-person writing usually requires a good deal of practice and finesse. Key Takeaways The second-person point of view is a form of writing that addresses the onlooker or reader directly and usually makes them a character in the narrative.
It's not common for writers to use the second-person point of view, especially in longer fiction, because it can be difficult to do it well. Done well, the second-person point of view can be very engaging and immersive. The "Choose Your Own Adventure" series is a popular example of using second-person point of view.
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