Can you write in the first person and third person in the same story ?

Answer 1

YEP. I do it all the time. So do many authors like James Patterson. You just change chapters and POV. Very often, it is better to write chapters with the protagonist in third person omniscient so you can get everyone in the scene's thoughts into the picture. But when you write chapters featuring your antagonist, it is very cool to switch to the first person and really allow yourself to get inside his head. I also sometimes write both characters in third person, but with different POV. You can write both in first person with different POV as well. James Patterson does this a lot, too. So do many other well known authors. It works exceptionally well in a novel that is character driven rather than plot driven. It helps you really get into your character's minds, very useful in the mystery genre. Pax - C

Answer 2

I'm sure anything can be done if it's done correctly...for instance, you start a story in third person where someone, like a brother, finds his brother's diary, starts reading it, and then the story switches to first person, and then at the end of the diary, you show the book being closed and it switches back to third person.
Almost anything can be done, but you have to make it believeable for the reader, and not too complicated.

Answer 3

There aren't any rules against it, but my English teacher always would get on my case for things like this:
A) Switching past and present tense often
B) Giving dialogue to characters who I didn't introduce
and C) Speaking in narrative (first person) and third person alternately.

If you do, it is a little confusing, unless you are targeting higher-education level readers who can keep the plot clear while you are doing that.

Answer 4

YES!!! read the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Johnathan Stroud. He does it quite effectively.

book 1- The Amulet Of Samarkand
book 2- The Golem's Eye
book 3- Ptolemy's Gate

Answer 5

You have to be able to pull it off with style and yet at the same time make sure the readers still understand. An excellent example of this would be the Bartimaeus Trilogy. Very easy to read, yet it switches back and forth.

It's generally frowned upon though, so you might want to play around with it and see if you can use it before attempting it.

Answer 6

Definitely! when I'm writing I switch from second person view of one character to first person view or second person view of another and it's not confusing for me one bit. So it can't be that complicated, but whatever you do don't give away what every ones thinking and feeling it takes all the fun out of it.

Answer 7

It does make for a compelling book when there are POVs of other important characters. Especially if there are many main characters instead of just one. Diana Gabaldon's Outlandish series uses 2 POVs: 1st person for her main heroine Claire, and 3rd person as narrator. Her books are New York Times bestsellers. :)

Answer 8

A) maybe some friendship issues that puts the writer in a difficult position? suicide? arguments? D) Ben tells his friend who is in a relationship with Jane to sort out some relationship problem. Ben could be Jane's bestie or something. E)....Ruth had pre-marital sex?(;

Answer 9

If you write in the third person it might confuse people. Just a suggestion.

Answer 10

yes book like that interst me like switching which charactor is telling the story, as long as you make it clean you mean to do this and it has a good effect on the book you'll be good to go