Should I write in 1st person ot 3d and I need help with quotes for my short story.?

Question

I have to write a short story for my 8th grade class.
My short story is basically only about the main character and barely any reaction from minor characters.
I am currently writing it in 1st person with everyting happening in real-time.
Do you reccomend this?
Also should I use quotes?
My character says and narrates a lot of thing with only a few phrases from any other characters.
E-mail me at [e-mail] if you have any questions.

Answer 1

When I write, I tend to prefer 3rd person, simply because I often have many characters and it's easier to jump from character to character that way. If you only have one character that is being focused on, it's really about what makes you more comfortable.

When you say in "real time" do you mean you are using present tense? (ie. I am walking into the room. I look around and see no one that I recognize)? This tense tends to get on my nerves. I far prefer reading something in past tense (ie. I walked into the room and didn't recognize anyone.) But that is just personal preferrence.

The important thing to remember is that when you choose a tense you stay there. Don't slip from present to past or from first person to third.

Quotes should be used any time someone is speaking.

Answer 2

If you feel more comfortable with this style , then proceed. The first person would be more applicable in in your case, because you would be able to express freely what you feel. Allow some dialogue to spice up your short story and not so much on quotations, because it may end up being an essay.

Answer 3

What you have sounds fine to me. You can use a few quotes, but not too many. The important thing is that the story have a beginning, plot, and conclusion.

Answer 4

Third-person. 85% of stories are third-person, because it's a lot easier to write. If you have a lot of charactures, it's easier to do it third person.