I, I, and I

I prefer writing in first person. However, my plot involves two, possibly a third, main characters that I want to have expressing their points of view.

If it's made clear who the 'I' in each chapter is, would multiple first persons being used in a story work?

 

Sure, it can be done. Make sure the reader knows who's narrating. Also, try to make the characters different enough so that they have distinct narrative voices. Keep that in mind, and go for it.

 

Yes.

 

Excellent. One is a late teens boy, the other a late teens girl, and possibly a third as an older (say, mid 40s) veteran soldier, so they are all pretty different! Thanks!

 

do the classic:

"Huzah I won't have chapter names I'll just use the narrating character's name."

 

Check out As I Lay Dying.

 

This is what I've seen done and it works well.

 

I have a question for myself on this subject. I have two characters, one is a normal American woman, and another a loyal knight with fancy english. The writing styles might be different (though if I were to guess, the only place where the writing style should be different is in the dialogue). Would it be acceptable? Or would it seem inconsistent and interrupt the flow?

 

If the two characters are narrating in first person, absolutely, their style should be different in narration as well as dialogue. If the book is in third person, the style would probably remain consistent except for dialogue, though it doesn't have to be that way.

ChickenFreak

 

Thanks a lot man, I appreciate the speedy response!

 

The Pigman, by Paul Zindell (a classic young adult novel), was written with two characters in the first person. Each chapter was one or the other character giving their view on events.

 

thanks for the book titles, I'm going to take a look at them and see how they made it work.

Thanks for all the feedback guys