Just out of curiosity ...

[sholio]

Yeah, I'm using radio buttons so you have to pick one. *g* This doesn't mean that you'd never read something written in first, or rotating third -- just what you're most comfortable reading, or what might tip the balance if you had to choose between two very similar-looking books or stories. (I'm leaving off second entirely ...)

[Poll #1600796]

Feel free to elaborate on your answer in comments, if you like!

Comments

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

*nods* Yes, I agree totally about 1st-person canons. Also, for that matter, 1st-person OCs, which zillah975 mentioned above. A couple of my favorite SGA fics are 1st-person OCs narrating an outside POV of the characters. But once you take it inside the characters' heads ... my brain has a lot of trouble coping with that.

I think another exception is letters and diaries, especially if they're interspersed with regular narration. I can think of fics that have used that to great effect (and I've written some myself). But just straight-up 1st-person narration ... I think it's incredibly hard to pull off for a TV canon.

[trobadora]

Yes, zillah975 definitely has a point with OCs. And it fits with my theory - we have no expectations about those OCs' thoughts that could be disappointed.

With letters and such, I think it works better because it's generally only small sections. For one, it's easier to maintain a distinctive voice. And in addition, you have a clear situation they're speaking from, instead of the nebulous narrative situation of many first person stories (where I generally have trouble imagining any situation in which that character might tell that story in such detail and with such honesty about their innermost thoughts and feelings, which doesn't help the suspension of disbelief.)