On Fri, 7 Nov 1997, Andrew Huang wrote:

	Yep. As has been analyzed by several others here, first person is
just very difficult to do.

	Speaking for myself, I have never found this to be the case.  It is
actually easier, on the whole, for me to write from the perspective of a
single character than from the perspective of an omniscient narrator.  If I
didn't have an absolute loathing of "special editions", I'd go back and
rewrite "None of Your Business" as a first person story to make it match its
two sequels.

	There is probably no better writing tool for getting into a
character's head and exploring his/her emotions than first person narration.
The hauntingly beautiful Maison Ikkoku story that was released here during
Hallowe'en is a great example, as is the Dunsany-inspired Ranma tale told
by Gosunkugi that came out awhile back.

	Also, telling a story from one character's perspective allows you to
twist what is happening according to his/her biases.  (In other words, lie.)
When this is done poorly, the character will come off sounding obviously
delusional, but when it's done well, it is possible to persuade the reader
that the character earnestly believes that his/her biases are the reality.
For example, take Shampoo seeing Akane quietly talking to Ranma:

	"It was obvious that my husband wanted nothing to do with the
violent pervert.  You could tell from the way he was looking so bored and
casual -- so different from the alert, awake demeanor he always presented
to me. I had seen her acting like this several times before, and always --
always! -- she ended up responding to some harmless comment he made with
violence.  I decided to hold her off by making my presence known."

	"`NIHAO!!'"

	See what I mean?  Shampoo twists the fact that, yes, Akane *does*
often violently respond to Ranma's conversational gambits with violence as
an excuse to intrude on them as they have a conversation *without* violence.
(Note also that she rationalizes Ranma's mild fear of her as an alert and
awake demeanor, and his comfort with Akane as boredom.)

	It's worth remembering that much of the greatest literature in
history was written in first person.  Dante's Divine Comedy leaps to mind,
as does many of Edgar Allen Poe's short stories.  First person is an ideal
mode for mysteries, as Arthur Conan Doyle's career as John Watson's literary
agent will testify.

	I encourage people to try first person.  Yes, it can be difficult,
but it is also very rewarding ... and after all, isn't improving and testing
our skills as writers one of the reasons that we're here?

Chris Davies.