I have been writing 2 stories. One is about being disabled. The other is a fiction piece about a religious figure. In one I used a first-person voice, in the other a third-person voice.
Last week, another writer said writing in first person is more powerful, and makes a reader fall into the story, so that the reader sees themselves and their own feelings. Last night I found a website about essayists and the pros and cons of different "voices" in writing (1st, 2nd, 3rd person). I'm thinking of changing the voice I've used in the disability story. But I keep going back and forth on my decision. Wouldn't repetitive "I"'s in a story annoy readers? I-this and I-that. It sounds too self-centered. But, I hadn't considered the impact on a reader; I really would like a reader to be "in" the story.
So I copied my typed pages into a second file and started changing 3rd person words to I/my instead of first name/her/she. I guess I'll have to read both to see how each sounds. I "hear" my writing better when I read pieces aloud or to someone else. I catch mistakes and rough sections when I hear it read. But sometimes it just sounds like trash and I'm embarrassed to hear my own words.
I have learned that writing in pieces is okay, and not knowing when (or how) a story will end is okay too. It feels unsteady to write without a destination, but there are benefits to the process along the way. Terrific phrases just pop out, seemingly from no where - then I wonder "Who wrote that?!" And other times.... I struggle for words.
Not knowing exactly where these 2 stories will lead me, I do get impatient. I sometimes just want the writing to be done. Nothing more to say on the subject. Nothing forgotten. That will be an interesting day, I imagine....
And, I cannot imagine the 10 years it took for some authors to pen their work. Oh my God, 10 years. I don't think I could do it !
But, we'll see. At the rate I'm writing, it might take me years to finish one story! (Oh my, I hope not!)
Back to writing.....
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