2nd Person Point of View

[Maze_Runner]

I've been debating if I should write a book in the 2nd person point of view. As fellow writers, is it easy or hard, or somewhere in between to make a 2nd person point of view? And for readers, do you enjoy reading 2nd person point of view books? And again writers, do you have any tips about how to write 2nd person point of view if I do decide I'm going to?

 

[BlackKnightX]

I've been debating if I should write a book in the 2nd person point of view. As fellow writers, is it easy or hard, or somewhere in between to make a 2nd person point of view? And for readers, do you enjoy reading 2nd person point of view books? And again writers, do you have any tips about how to write 2nd person point of view if I do decide I'm going to?

Never write one before, but it looks very interesting. As for reading, I freakin love it. It gives off that experience of playing game.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I personally find 2nd person's point of view to be a pain to both read and write in fiction. Now, there are some examples of good 2nd person point of view writings but they are few and far between. I can't even think of a good one off the top of my head. The biggest issue is that people who try and write this way will throw in some 1st and 3rd person point of view without realizing it and ultimately ruin their narrative. However, that is just one of the issues I have with it. This is just my opinion though so others may enjoy it.

 

[DarkeReises]

I have mixed feelings about it. Tbh, I'd prefer it if a narrative of that style was written in first person but with the usual second person's lack of description for the MC. Like, having a story say "you" instead of "I" and such breaks the immersion for me, but if it was first person and the MC was reader's self-insert, it feels like that'd make more sense to me? It'd be like reading a journal written by myself. Maybe the plot can be I lost my memories and woke up in some room and am reading through the diaries of my own adventures. Idk, maybe my logic is flawed.

 

[CadmarLegend]

I've been debating if I should write a book in the 2nd person point of view. As fellow writers, is it easy or hard, or somewhere in between to make a 2nd person point of view? And for readers, do you enjoy reading 2nd person point of view books? And again writers, do you have any tips about how to write 2nd person point of view if I do decide I'm going to?

Just my opinion, but... well... I find most books in 2nd person POV to be quite stale.

"You just became a human. Congrats, you!"

^
|_ _ _ _ In that case, who even is "you"? There's no name. Thus, the author just tends to describe the protagonist as "you", and repetition occurs.




"You see a turkey."

^
|_ _ _ _ Sentences like that, with no sentence structures that are different, pop into existence everywhere. Reading them gets tiring.



"Oh no, you just lost your father!"

^
|_ _ _ _ It seems like emotions get rather dulled out.

 

[Maze_Runner]

I have mixed feelings about it. Tbh, I'd prefer it if a narrative of that style was written in first person but with the usual second person's lack of description for the MC. Like, having a story say "you" instead of "I" and such breaks the immersion for me, but if it was first person and the MC was reader's self-insert, it feels like that'd make more sense to me? It'd be like reading a journal written by myself. Maybe the plot can be I lost my memories and woke up in some room and am reading through the diaries of my own adventures. Idk, maybe my logic is flawed.

That's honestly a great idea ?

 

[Echimera]

Certain topics can be extremely intense in 2nd person.
I would have to look through my list, but thereiis a story with mind control/alterstion in that perspective on SH, which I found pretty intense.

In the end, the execution is the hard part, and plenty of stories fail that even with 1st and 3rd person perspective.

 

[bulmabriefs144]

2nd person POV is usually heavily frowned upon by the elites in writing.

In my opinion, there are two instances where you write in second person:
- Choose Your Own Adventure
- A book that is heavily modeled after an RPG.

It's a format that lends itself well to the narrator basically telling the audience what they are seeing, which typically works best if you're inside a game/video/song or something. Other than that, it's very awkward, because the reader doesn't really get it.

Correction, I thought of a few more:
- Reminding an amnesiac of their past ("You used to tease me, remember?")
- An onlooker account of a famous person ("You looked so majestic on that cross as you died...")
- A stalker type scenario, where the romantic suitor is secretly watching the life of their beloved. Hopefully, this eventually moves out of creepy terrain, though.

 

[AliceShiki]

Seems extremely clunky to say the least. I honestly can't even imagine why anyone would ever want to write on 2nd person.

 

[Ai-chan]

I've been debating if I should write a book in the 2nd person point of view. As fellow writers, is it easy or hard, or somewhere in between to make a 2nd person point of view? And for readers, do you enjoy reading 2nd person point of view books? And again writers, do you have any tips about how to write 2nd person point of view if I do decide I'm going to?

You must understand one thing though, 2nd person is a completely different animal altogether. You as the author, is not the narrator. You are the accuser. You accuse the reader of something when you write in 2nd person.

For example, the reader/protagonist is grabbing an apple from the fridge.

1st person:
I grabbed an apple from the fridge. It was green and probably not ripe, but it was fucking delicious.

3rd person:
He grabbed an apple from the fridge. It was green and probably not ripe, but yet he found it delicious.

2nd person.
You grabbed an apple from the fridge. You noted that it was green and probably not ripe, but you found it delicious.

As you can see, all three are the same sentences, but there are differences between each. Just like there are differences between 1st person and 3rd person, there are also differences between 2nd person and 1st person and 3rd person, so you need to change your methods when you do want to write in 2nd person instead of assuming that it is the same as the 3rd person pov.

 

[georgelee5786]

I've been debating if I should write a book in the 2nd person point of view. As fellow writers, is it easy or hard, or somewhere in between to make a 2nd person point of view? And for readers, do you enjoy reading 2nd person point of view books? And again writers, do you have any tips about how to write 2nd person point of view if I do decide I'm going to?

From what I've heard, it's a bit hard, but, if done right, stories from 2nd person are quite enjoyable

Just my opinion, but... well... I find most books in 2nd person POV to be quite stale.

"You just became a human. Congrats, you!"

^
|_ _ _ _ In that case, who even is "you"? There's no name. Thus, the author just tends to describe the protagonist as "you", and repetition occurs.




"You see a turkey."

^
|_ _ _ _ Sentences like that, with no sentence structures that are different, pop into existence everywhere. Reading them gets tiring.



"Oh no, you just lost your father!"

^
|_ _ _ _ It seems like emotions get rather dulled out.

Why did I make the mistake of clicking each of the messages marked as spoilers?

 

[Deleted member 57675]

imo, am avoiding 2nd view bc
1. Its hard
2. If character going through deep turmoil, do not want pull reader into to feel that deep. Maybe make reader feel like they are traveling with character on a quest. But not want reader feel what character goes through if character goes through traumatic stuff. But this is assuming you can even make good 2nd view. Probably will fall at 1 before 2.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

I recommend reading "Visits to the Confabulatorium" by Soramimi Hanarejima. It's my favorite second person book:

Amazon.com

 

[CadmarLegend]

Why did I make the mistake of clicking each of the messages marked as spoilers?

hehe... my gif pile... hehe.... another one bites the dust...

 

[InfantryTerminator]

Second person narration doesn't exist, it's complete bullshit. It reefers to how communication happens: there are two people talking, while third is looking. Second person would be the same person as first one since both engage in the conversation and can describe it.

First person narration means that the narrator is inside the events, while third person refers to someone/something that does not participate in the events. There is nothing in between, and what people call as "second person" is a version of third person, or first person narration of character describing events around main character

 

[Echimera]

Second person narration doesn't exist, it's complete bullshit. It reefers to how communication happens: there are two people talking, while third is looking. Second person would be the same person as first one since both engage in the conversation and can describe it.

First person narration means that the narrator is inside the events, while third person refers to someone/something that does not participate in the events. There is nothing in between, and what people call as "second person" is a version of third person, or first person narration of character describing events around main character

Have you ever read something like a Choose your own Adventure book? Because those are often written in second person perspective.

 

[InfantryTerminator]

Have you ever read something like a Choose your own Adventure book? Because those are often written in second person perspective.

It's either game which is different medium than book, or reader insert technique that uses puppet character disguised under words like "You"

 

[IDKWtWrite-San]

2nd person is just similar to many RPG games or interaction game where writing things can be almost emotionless if pointed by your main character but it also feel like it really needs more when writing.

Giving 2nd POV an emotion will be a pain in the ass, and hard. It's also that you either flop or success but are you willing to risk it? Chances of you abandoning the said work might have a higher chance than continuing unless you're really devoted to that work.