Comments on: Question For Writers and Readers: Urban Fantasy

By: kathy mcclanahan

kathy mcclanahan — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:37:03 +0000

Speaking as an amateur writer, I like to write in first person because it immediately draws the reader into the action, allowing you to put your own life away for just a short time and transport you to a world where your normal cares are forgotten. If a book is written in 3rd person, and it falls even a little short of interesting, the reader has a tendency to let things simmer in the back of their mind and can’t fully immerse themselves in the work. Of course, that can happen with a poorly written 1st person book as well, but it at least helps to counter it somewhat.

By: FantasyGirl

FantasyGirl — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 23:45:32 +0000

Until you asked the question I’d not really made a distinction between books written in the 1st or 3rd person. In thinking about this, I agree with what some others have said: it simply makes it easier for readers to identify with the main character.

By: gav (nextread)

gav (nextread) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:27:44 +0000

I gotta say that I haven’t given this a lot thought but as we’re often seeing our world with a twist to it it might be easier for the writer to show us those alterations through the eyes of one person rather than using a overseeing eye

Plus a lot the recent UF is series based it’s easier to follow a series with a strong central character as you get closer to them.

By: SolShine7

SolShine7 — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:55:41 +0000

Angela, I really like the new site design!!! It’s the best one yet. As far as urban fantasy goes, 1st person just seems help the reader “feel” the setting and scenes better. And I especially like those witty narrative voices that give you a real sense of the character in a short time.

p.s. I added a banner of your site at the bottom of my Think Virtue! blog. Keep up the good work!!!

By: scifidavid

scifidavid — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:29:17 +0000

Whoops SciFiChick just beat me to the punch. A lot of Urban Fantasy seems modeled on private detective fiction. This is part of what drew me to The Dresden Files in particular and Urban Fantasy in general. Well, that and the wizards and demons and magic.

By: SciFiChick

SciFiChick — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:03:55 +0000

Good points with a lot of Urban Fantasy having a definite noir detective feel as well.
And it does seem that YA Urban Fantasy has been the exception (to both the detective and 1st person narrative).