I need help writing in first person. Any suggestions on how to not make it sound akward????

Question

it comes out sounding strange when i say stuff like "my phone is ringing and i have to answer it" or "my phone rang and i answered it"

Answer 1

It doesn't matter what verb tense you use as long as you're CONSISTENT with it. Are you writing a story or a personal narrative or what? It's hard to give advice without more information.

Answer 2

As a person that wants to grow up to be an author, I have a lot of experience with this. DO NOT write like you're telling a story in first person... How many people do you know that just say (when telling a story verbally)- with no excitement: "Bob asked me out the other night and I said yes." They would usually say: "Guess what! Bob called last night at 7 and we talked for a while. Then he asked me out to the movies... I think we're going to see an Adam Sandler flick... I'm not sure... Anyway- I said yes!"
You have to put the character's feelings and soul into the story. First person stories aren't just a listed sequence of what happened; they are a person telling a story of what happened. Include great adjectives and suspensful sentence structure. In a longer story, the little moments that don't necessarily relate to the plot are also important- to dull down the rapid pace.
As for your sentence:
Underneath the rowdy noises of the television, I heard the phone ringing. Muttering and raving about the discomfort it caused me to get up from the couch, I slogged through my messy bedroom and picked up the telephone."

Answer 3

I was in the kitchen and dried my hands to answer my ringing phone. Susie was upset about Bill's dumping her, and naturally I was the first person she called.

My cell phone was playing "Yo' Daddy"(or insert favorite ring tone here). It was Susie calling to cry on my shoulder again about Bill.

You don't necessarily have to say both, we assume that if you know your phone is ringing you will answer it. Try using a conversational tone in your writing, you know, like you're telling the story to your buddies. Hope this helps. Good luck with your story.

Answer 4

Part of the trick is to avoid the step-by-step news account.

My phone rang and I answered. Monica told me to brush my teeth. I told her she should talk.


Booooring.

Monica called and after a conversation about hygeine, we decided to go mall for floss and an Orange Julius.

A little better.

First person is harder, but it can be done. The hardest part to me is remembering that the narrator doesn't know anything other than what he sees or is told to him. So instead of saying "Monica was wondering if this qualified as a date" you have to describe her being awkward about who should pay for the Orange Julius and how close she stands to the narrator. Your reader will get the hint but you could also have the narrator wonder about it, too.

Answer 5

Try writing like your writing in your diary


Today the phone rang, as I race my sister to answer it, The door bell chimed.
I tried to run for that but my little brother beat me on that one.
I wish I was an only child

Answer 6

My phone suddenly started ringing, playing John's funky little jazz ring tone. I groaned. I was just not in the mood for him. Reluctantly I dug through my purse.
"Hi, John. What's up?"

Answer 7

You don't always need to start your sentences with "I", or "me". That's what makes it sound awkward.

For example, "My phone rang and I answered it, " could be changed to, "The phone in my pocket rang, and I answered it."
This way, you still use "I" to make it first-person, but it sounds much better.