Need help with my story?

Question

Okay, well I'm planning out a story at the moment. It's a post- apocalyptic/ steampunk/ futuristic/ supernatural story. I have the plot or well some of it. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out if I should write in first or third person.

Here's the summary (*of what I have so far): On the night of Blue Moon Solstice, 10 year-old Soran Windlass and her family head to Minor, one of several Environs of the Solitary, a massive junction of deserts that are plagued with sandstorms and other unknown dangers. During the night of the festival, Hellions, creatures of the sands, attack the city. Soran and her family are seperated during the commotion and she is under attack. An mysterious helps Soran in her time of need but she looses her left arm in the struggle. But there was one good outcome. Soran discovers she is a Mancer, a user of magical properties. 6 years past, and a mysterious drifter passes through, on the anniversary of the attack.

Inhabitants of the town are wary of the traveler but Soran seems interested by the person. She startes to tail the drifter, mesmerized by the eerie person. Soran soon discovers who the person is.

BQ:
- Should I write in 3rd or 1st person?
- What could happen for Soran to discover the drifter's identity?

Answer 1

You can't do steam punk and futuristic.

Answer 2

When I can't decide, I generally pick a key scene (something pivotal to the story) and write it out twice, once in each POV. Usually it'll be obvious to me which one works better and which one I find easier. It also helps me see how much information the reader needs to know, since 1st Person is limited by what the MC knows. I'd suggest writing the scene where she loses her arm and discovers her abilities.



As to how she discovers the drifter's identity, that's pretty much asking us to figure out the rest of your plot, as well as your characters. Really think about who your characters are because who they are will influence how they go about doing certain things. For example, if Soran is straightforward, she might just walk up to the stranger and ask. Someone observant might notice the drifter carries gambling dice, and challenge them to gamble for the knowledge, and if they were sneaky, too, they might cheat. Someone with resources might ask one of their contacts for information, while someone without resources might have to follow the drifter until they find out more. You would also have to factor in the drifter's personality. If they are trying to hide who they are, they might block Soran's attempts. If they are cruel, they might even hurt her to keep the secret. If they are kind, they might just dodge her as much as possible. If they don't really care, they might just tell her the info to get her off their back. You also have to figure out why everyone else is wary but she is not. Is she just stupid or is she enamored with intrigue because of her boring life or is she attracted to them, etc, etc.



Every event in your story should be planned out carefully to show who the characters are. Really get into their heads and think hard about what they would do, not what the story needs.



Good luck!

Answer 3

Hey, I think I can help. Most novels are 3rd person, but you got to think about what way you want to present your ideas to the world. Do you want the audience to put themselves in the main character's place (1st person) or connect with all of the characters in some way(3rd person). If you want something in between there are different types of 3rd person. And about the plot, do whatever feels right go with your heart. I'm saying this because the only way your story is going to touch our heart is if it touches your heart first.

Answer 4

3rd person all the way.



He feels someone looking at him, staring at the back of his head. He turns around and looks right at her and smiles. "Hey I remember you.. " he doesn't think he did anything special, there's safety in numbers. "Even I can get overrun by that many foes" "the way I remember it you saved me, not something just anyone can do. " mentions her power. "I didn't realize you'd been hurt that bad, I should have stayed. Not that I had a choice."



Blames himself for her getting hurt. Feels he owes her, and he doesn't like to be in anyone's dept.

Answer 5

The easiest way to decide which person to use is : Which do you like better? As for my opinion, I would say third person, because I prefer third person and many readers do, too.



Is the drifter wearing a mask or cape? In losing this, the identity would be revealed. Or, if another character knows the drifter's identity, then they could accidentally, or purposefully, reveal it.

Answer 6

Write in 3rd person. Also, make sure the characters all have posh middle names. Don't forget to spend several weeks pestering random strangers on the internet to come up with posh middle names for the characters. All 230 of them.