Which do you prefer, first-person POV or third-person POV in fictional narratives?

[RepresentingCaution]

Second person is always best.

 

[LuciferVermillion]

Definitely 1st POV. Because it felt like I was diving into the story.

 

[SwordSong]

As someone who used to read/write in RPF (roleplay forums), I'm most comfortable with limited third-person POV.

 

[Wenlock]

First person only works if the main character has many complex emotions that cannot be conveyed through third person pov. It could be yearning, terror or rage. Or sometimes they can just be eccentric to the point where if I weren't reading the first pov, I wouldn't have guessed wtf they were thinking. Another good use is the 'unreliable narrator' in which you think you know the mc but they betray you, the reader in the end which is awesome. Mostly, I like the third person pov. We have more polished works in that pov. Another honorable mention is Second person pov. Yes. You won't know what it is unless you read it. It will blow your mind.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I've only seen second person work in horror stories (Ramsey Campbell had some great ones), Choose Your Own Adventure type stories, or role playing games myself.

 

[Rezcore]

3rd. Make sense, I'm reading the narrative of someone else's story

 

[PancakesWitch]

That depends, one of my close Prof. who's also a webnovelist somewhere in the internet, First person POV is favorable for mystery side as its not omniscient and 3rd person is more for the lore heavy ones. Though of course this is a generalization

Well, if you're the author of the Epic of Caterpillar, they should care about what you say, not the other way around. That being said, hello, Pancakeswitch-Sensei, I'm a fan, though I can only read your free books in webnovel because I don't have the money to support your contracted works

I am also writing three free books you can read on any page.
Also, you have to first write for yourself and then the readers, if you only write for an audience you're not going to enjoy what you do.
Readers suggestions are fine, but you shouldn't let readers dictate what you have to do, you're not their slaves, you are simply creating something and letting others read it.

 

[ChristopherMartinsen]

Third person, hands down.

 

[Golden_Hyde]

both, or I'd say depending on what type of scene you wanted to write

 

[Nolff]

Fifth person.

 

[Max02]

Second person.

You were there, you did that, etc.

I actually posted two stories here written in second person. I'll write more in the future.

But I can write in each of the three and in first plural too (we did this, we know that...)

I've only seen second person work in horror stories (Ramsey Campbell had some great ones), Choose Your Own Adventure type stories, or role playing games myself.

Read above.