Last week, we looked at preferred length of the MM romances you guys read. The results showed that for most of you, the middle is the best. Few preferred shirt stories or novelletes, few preferred super long books. Most readers said anywhere between a novella and a long book, though quite a few also indicated it depends on their mood, which makes sense.
It’s time for our nest question! This week, I’m really interested in what point of view you prefer to read. Or if you even have a preference! Vote below and let me know!
[crowdsignal poll=10517643]
First person present is by far my least favorite fur a couple reasons. First, it’s uncommon, so it takes me longer to get adjusted to it. Second, it seems that it’s hard for most authors to maintain, and when they break out of it, the English major in me cringes.
I find that a lot of MM romances are written in first person present these days.
I don’t have a preference as I think it depends on the character and the story as some flow better from one perspective or another.
Truly?? I don’t mind! But 3rd person past is easier to read IMO 🙂
I actually don’t mind 1st person present – as long as it’s NOT historical!
But, thank you!
I don’t know why, but I despise books written in first person present. 😊
Ditto! I don’t always catch it right away (I think I usually translate it to past tense in my head) but when I do I keep getting distracted by it.
I’m actually experimenting with my writing. I usually write rd person past, but I’ve been trying to mix up some rd person present, and sometimes I try some 1st person pov to see if I can do it or not. Still playing and experimenting to see which one i feel better with. However, I have no preference while reading, all kinds of pov are a way for me to take notes and take them as reference in the future.
I’m wary of first person for two specific reasons. Some authors are bound and determined to give you that porno character introduction where the main character describes themself as if they are applying for Bel Ami. It’s really off-putting because most people don’t talk about themselves that way and the ones who do are not people I want to hang out with (exception for characters actually IN sex work, like the Cocky boys, or modeling or acting, of course.)
The second issue is when the characters’ choices are too similar. If I can read three paragraphs and not be crystal clear on which character’s internal monologue I’m reading, the author either doesn’t have the skills to write two first person POVs, or their characters are too similar (like kid next for grown up or longtime friends to lovers) for it to work
I actually agree with this. I find first person harder to write than third. My solo books are all third, but my cowritten ones with K.M. Neuhold are first person present, and those are harder for me to write. Getting the character voice right takes effort.
I prefer first person past as it allows for a broader perspective, but it’s by no means a deal breaker. Any perspective, even the rare and weird second person can work for the right story.
I’m a no rules kind of guy.
I don’t have a preference for one over another, but I do prefer consistency. I’ve read some where it was changed during the story from I to he then I got confused on who we’re talking about.
I rarely read 1st person present as I dislike it so much. If I open a book and see it, I will generally discard the book. 3rd person past tense is my preference.
To me 1st person present gives me a better idea of that character’s way of thinking. It feels much more personal to me.
I like first person past best when it’s done right and doesn’t have more than two or three main characters at most. Any more and it gets confusing, even two can be hard if their voices are too similar. Obviously it tends to be harder for an author to create an individual tone of voice for a character than tell a third person view, so the latter done well can be preferable to a poorly executed first person view. But first person view books tend to make me feel closer to the characters.
Present tense books are a pet peeve of mine, I’m always wary of those. I have read good ones where it didn’t bother me at all – I think I first thought it was really well done in The Hungergames – but mostly it keeps pulling me out of the story. Most authors have trouble keeping tenses straight in a book like that as soon as flashbacks or memories happen and it annoys me to no end.