When writing in first person, what are some ways you can reduce using the word I?

Question

I am writing a story and have the constant problem of using the word I. For instance: I said. I was amused. I opened the door. I rolled down the window. I looked at him.

It seems like the only way to affectively write in first person is to create new ways to write sentences, which also means finding new ways to say what your doing with out using the word I.

All answers appreciated. Internet sites would be helpful too. Anybody answer.

Answer 1

He was amusing. Upon opening the door he waited for my arrival. we glanced at one another....its called being creative and flip the acted upon object to being the subject of your sentences.

Answer 2

You are trying to write in first person narrative. There's no way to avoid using I when you write in that point-of-view. The sentences you used for examples, though, are very flat and telling the story rather than showing it.

'Laughing at him and his humor, I shook my head, then said "I can't believe you said that."

He just looked at me.

"C'mon, you can't be serious. That is the most pitiful joke I've ever heard."

"Then you tell one."

"Uh-uh," I said as I rolled down the window. "I'm not falling into that trap."

Don't try to avoid using the word "said." It disappears into the woodwork when people read better than any substitute.

If you are still uncomfortable with using first person narrative, take down three novels from your bookshelf and see what they use in place of it. Chances are they use third person limited which is the most popular point-of-view.

For more information, you might want to pick up CHARACTERS & VIEWPOINT by Orson Scott Card. It's the best and most readable book on the subject.

Answer 3

the way i would write those sentences that you had is like this..

I was amused, so I opened the door, rolled down the window and looked at him..

I know it only cut down on two of the "I" but you could just put ur words into different form

Answer 4

This is something you need to discover for yourself. If you don't know how to write in the first person, take a writing course or invest in a book on creative writing. Read a few first person stories. If you want to be a good writer, you can't be lazy. Explore the internet for writing sites. Put some effort into your writing. YOU do the work, and don't expect others to do it for you. No respectable writer does that!

Answer 5

Check out some book written in first person from the website below.

Example of Books Written in First Person
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (gothic)

The Lying Tongue by Andrew Wilson (mystery)

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (mainstream)

The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond (mainstream, mystery)

The Meaning of Night Michael Cox (confessional)

Answer 6

Try changing the number of sentences you use .Combine the above sentences into one. For instance you could say Amusingly I opened the door,rolled down the window and looked at him.

Answer 7

You could write in passive tense ("The window was rolled down"), but too much of that, and your story will sound like a police report.
Describe your actions through the other characters' eyes, using I only to describe internal.
For example:
The door opened, and the crowd gasped as Jocelyn entered the room. Jimmy especially found her choice of gown amusing and attractive.
"Wow," I thought. "I am going to get lucky tonight!"

Answer 8

The easiest way to tell you is for you to go to the library and look for a book that is written in 1st person. You can see how the author changes his sentences around in order to keep from using "I". It is a sound reason to write in 3rd person!!!

Answer 9

You're using the world "I" at the beginning of each sentence, which gets very repetitive. You want to show the reader, through sight and sound, what's going on. Instead of saying "I opened the door," you can say "The metal knob was cool on my hand as the door creaked open."

I looked at him --> My eyes flitted across his features, trying to take them all in at once

I was amused --> Despite the best of intentions, laughter bubbled up unbidden at the sight before my eyes.

Or whatever.

While you're at it, doublecheck when to use "affect" and when to use "effect"

Answer 10

Since the narrator is telling what he or she witnesses as well as experiences, much of the narrative should be in the third person, anyway. But I agree with Grandma--see how other authors do it. Maybe, like me, you first enocuntered first-person naration in Huckleberry Finn and Treasure Island, and I doubt that you remember either of them as too "I"-centered.