First Person vs. Third Person

First person isn't everybody's favorite read. I get it. We aren't used to it. We grew up reading Dick and Jane and Cat In the Hat. Our text books were all third person, informative pages we crammed in our brains.

First person is a different way to read and process a story. It's not something we are used to. It takes time to open up and let all of the rules of third person leave our conscious mind and allow first person to enter. 

I like getting into the mind of a character and focus on feelings and emotions. Yes, describing a tree swaying in the breeze brings imagery to your mind and can be written beautifully, but my story isn't about a tree. It's about the person sitting underneath it or the girl who walked by it. Why is she crying? Are they happy or sad tears? Did she have an argument? I love that part. I like my readers to be right there in the story with my characters. I want them to feel angst, anger, love, happiness, satisfaction, and all emotions within her story. 

First person is a challenge. I love that more and more writers are trying it. I hope that readers continue to support us and understand that while it might not be their favorite way to read a story, there is a story there that needs to be heard.