The Marathon of “I”: Challenges of First-Person Narration in Long Novels
Have you ever wondered why most authors choose third-person narration for their novels? As an avid reader and writer, I’ve often pondered this question. We’re drawn to stories that resonate with our personal experiences, yet we find most books told from the external perspective. What makes the intimate “I” challenging to maintain throughout a novel?
The first-person narrative is like a conversation with the protagonist, inviting us into their mind as they describe their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. While this perspective offers a deep connection to the character, it becomes increasingly difficult to sustain as the story progresses. Many authors find that the effort required for a first-person novel doesn’t always yield the desired payoff when compared to third-person narratives.
In this article, let’s dive into the challenges of writing a novel in the first person and explore why authors often shy away from this seemingly personal yet intricate narrative style.
Three Disadvantages of First-Person Writing
1. Limited Scope and Scale
Have you ever seen a successful million-word first-person novel? Or even a first-person novel over 300,000 words that became a bestseller? Typically, first-person novels that people read are around 150,000 to 250,000 words. The 300,000-word mark is often a breaking point for first-person narratives.
Writing beyond this limit becomes exponentially harder compared to third-person narratives. This difficulty arises because when a novel is written entirely from an “I” perspective, the reader’s experience is confined to what the protagonist sees, hears, and feels. This restriction makes it impossible to describe events or scenes where the protagonist is not present.
While an author can use narration or inferences to fill in these gaps, this technique is more suited to mystery novels. In long novels, maintaining a single point of view can easily bore the reader.
The longer the story goes, the harder it becomes to maintain quality, leading to increasing plot holes and both the author and reader feeling exhausted by the end.
One of the most common mistakes in first-person writing is the “omniscient perspective” error:
“I turned away, unaware of the sinister smile that played on his lips.”
“I didn’t realize he was pretending to be innocent, completely fooled by his act.”
Authors often realize these unintended mistakes only after completing their first-person novel.
Tip: To maintain the integrity of the first-person perspective, use words like “almost” to express the narrator’s uncertainty or near-awareness of a situation.
2. Narrative Immersion and Limited Character Development
In first-person works, the author’s attention and emotions can become too focused on a single perspective. This often results in a lack of momentum in the plot and underdeveloped supporting characters. Some classic novels use first-person narration effectively, but often, the “I” is not the main character but a secondary character or observer, like Dr. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes stories.
When the entire narrative is seen through one perspective, developing rich, varied characters and maintaining an engaging, dynamic plot becomes challenging.
3. Difficulty in Depicting Downturns
Another notable challenge of writing a long novel in the first person is the difficulty in depicting downturns. When readers identify with the “I” character, they may find it emotionally taxing to experience the protagonist’s crises directly. As a result, authors might be tempted to make the protagonist’s journey too smooth, potentially leading to a predictable and tension-lacking story. Writers need to be aware of this issue and find ways to maintain a balance between reader empathy and dramatic tension.
Can First-Person Novels Be Successful?
Despite these drawbacks, first-person narration can work well for shorter stories. It allows authors to focus on psychological and emotional depth, enhancing the sense of immersion. For new writers, first-person narration can simplify the writing process since it eliminates the need to manage multiple viewpoints and shifts in tone.
Additionally, if an author can successfully write a first-person novel of around 200,000 words, it can be a valuable learning experience. It encourages attention to perspective, scene transitions, character development, and narrative structure.
Here are some my personal experience if you decide to write a first-person novel:
1. Avoid using first person for novels with grand, expansive settings.
2. First-person narration is not ideal for stories with overly verbose protagonists.
3. Be cautious using the first person for long novels over 150,000 words.
4. Avoid the first person if your story involves many characters and frequent scene changes.
As we’ve explored, writing a long novel in the first person comes with its own set of challenges. However, understanding these hurdles can empower you to craft engaging and authentic first-person narratives.
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