Any writers out there that can give me First-person narrative advice?

Question

I'm currently trying to finish a novel idea for myself, and
I've been reading Jack M. Bickham's fiction writing books and they've been a big help and encouragement. however, i haven't seen anything from him about first-person narrative. he stressed "points-of-veiw" a lot, but it all seems to be from a third person form of narration. Anyone out there know why, or where he (Bickham) talks about it at all? Anyone out there with advice on it, or that can give me advice about it that'd be great.
either answer here or email me.

[e-mail]

i'm not interested in the opinions of who is a writing guru. i already wrote about 90 percent of y current story - in first person. I am just looking for techniques, advice, suggestions, places where it as worked and failed.

that sort of answer.

Answer 1

First-person tends to be repetitive with "I did this. Then I did that. I said" too much "I" that's why I think writers shy away from it but I personally like it. I think it allows the reader to get into the narrators mind and also sets up a relationship with the reader. The best way to figure out if this is right for your character and book is to experiment with it. Write a couple chapters and see how it works out. You also might want to try reading Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway.

Answer 2

The best way to write in the first person narritive is to allow yourself a role in the book or be the future self of the main charecter or better still be an outsider that secretly loaths the main person and tell the story form a pinistrutive point.

Answer 3

I was thinking about this question and wondering just how I would kill the messenger...

In many ways, your question answers itself. Regardless of whom YOU perceive as a guru of writing, that is all his 'subject' is: writing per se.

It's YOU who creates the milieu in which your characters live - BUT - and that's a very big but(t) - first person narrative can create more problems than it at first seems to solve.

How do you introduce other characters' perspectives/voices?
You, as first-person narrator, cannot hear/see/feel or, indeed, comprehend, your pro- or antagonists.

Hmmm..............................

Well, it's your choice. The limitations ARE bookish: on stage all is different and strange.

Paul