The Underused, Misunderstood Second Person
I was at dinner at a Beijing Pizza Hut last night when something huge suddenly struck me regarding this new project of mine. I was attempting to write a three-way first person narrative from the points of view of an American pot dealer, a burnt out schoolteacher who was slowly losing her mind, and a confused Chinese college student on the run from the government. I was writing a spy novel as if it were "Rules of Attraction" or something.
But the best spy novels are usually written in third person, I noticed. The cold, collected thought process of a government agent told through the eyes of an unfeeling, omnipotent narrator--it makes sense. So I had to bail on dinner and run home. I've been toying with the third person game lately anyway, since I just finished my first short story told from that angle. I also thought it would be a lot of fun to try a third person novel.
Here's what I did: instead of three different "I"s in the new book, I thought I would now employ two third person stories, and keep one first person. It made sense in regard to the characterizations, and if I kept one of the storylines in my usual style, I wouldn't alienate any fans and I would also keep that comfort zone nearby whilst writing this thing. You'd have this American guy and a Chinese girl, two polar opposites with totally opposite issues (or so it would seem), and each story would be backed away a bit from the protagonists via the third person. Then you'd have the immediacy of a first person narrative in the way of this burnt out schoolteacher character.
But what about the second person? I've taught my writing students that second person is underused in fiction, and it really shouldn't be. So why not heed my own advice? I could do a second person narrative as well, could I not? Then I'd make use of all three styles. The problem is that when I played around with second person present tense, it seemed too fake and gimmicky. I don't know why.
Any advice? Should I stick with the two third persons and a first, or try my hand at one of each narrative style?
How about second person past tense? As in "You made your way across the street and met your friend." Has anyone seen that before?
I need you guys on this one. Thoughts?
But the best spy novels are usually written in third person, I noticed. The cold, collected thought process of a government agent told through the eyes of an unfeeling, omnipotent narrator--it makes sense. So I had to bail on dinner and run home. I've been toying with the third person game lately anyway, since I just finished my first short story told from that angle. I also thought it would be a lot of fun to try a third person novel.
Here's what I did: instead of three different "I"s in the new book, I thought I would now employ two third person stories, and keep one first person. It made sense in regard to the characterizations, and if I kept one of the storylines in my usual style, I wouldn't alienate any fans and I would also keep that comfort zone nearby whilst writing this thing. You'd have this American guy and a Chinese girl, two polar opposites with totally opposite issues (or so it would seem), and each story would be backed away a bit from the protagonists via the third person. Then you'd have the immediacy of a first person narrative in the way of this burnt out schoolteacher character.
But what about the second person? I've taught my writing students that second person is underused in fiction, and it really shouldn't be. So why not heed my own advice? I could do a second person narrative as well, could I not? Then I'd make use of all three styles. The problem is that when I played around with second person present tense, it seemed too fake and gimmicky. I don't know why.
Any advice? Should I stick with the two third persons and a first, or try my hand at one of each narrative style?
How about second person past tense? As in "You made your way across the street and met your friend." Has anyone seen that before?
I need you guys on this one. Thoughts?
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I like the idea of using each of the narrative styles. If it doesn't turn out how you want it, it's just a matter of changing a few pronouns and verb tenses.
Try reading Italo Calvino's absolutely wonderful If On A Winter's Night A Traveler for an example of gorgeously done second person narration.