This week: Second Person, Anyone? Edited by: Carol St.Ann  
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It's been said writing in Second Person is best suited for advertising and marketing. It connects with the audience and shares (as it informs) content such as blogs, social media posts, and email campaigns. This may be true, but that doesn't mean it cannot make for a compelling story, novel, or poem. Indeed, If it’s done well, it's a riveting, unforgettable true-to-life experience.
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| ASIN: B07YJZZGW4 |
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Amazon's Price: Price N/A
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It's been said writing in Second Person is best suited for advertising and marketing. It connects with the audience and shares (as it informs) content such as blogs, social media posts, and email campaigns. This may be true, but that doesn't mean it cannot make for a compelling story, novel, or poem.
Let's get to it.
A second-person narrative is a story in which writers express the main character's actions and thoughts using the personal pronoun "you" to address the reader. This style is unique in that it insists the the reader become the main character in the story. Literary novels written from this point of view are rare, primarily because it's difficult to maintain for a whole story. We writers are selfish; we want to inhabit the soul of our main characters. Second Person demands we give up the personhood. It's more common to see this type of writing used in immersive role-playing video games, self-help books, marketing materials and advertisements.
Second-person narratives stand out among novels written with a more common point of view. The primary way to identify a text written in the second person is the regular presence of the word "you" outside of dialogue. When using the second-person point of view, the author addresses the reader directly and doesn't use other pronouns to refer to the narrator.
REASONS TO USE 2nd Person
• Immediacy
• Intimacy
• To stand out
CHEAT SHEET:
• Use present tense
• Use the pronoun sparingly
• Be consistent
• Write a sympathetic character
An example from a story I’m writing. The main character “you” is terrified of networking events, but she needs them to succeed and advance in business.
(This is a rough draft.)
Why didn’t you just say no?
You know how this is gonna go. You’ll torment yourself for days about what you’re going to wear and how you’re going to do your hair. No matter what you pick and choose you’re not gonna be happy with it. Heck, you're self-conscious even when you love your outfit, and nothing that you brought with you on this trip is something you love. What were you thinking?
How hard would it have been to simply throw out an excuse and beg off the invitation. People do it all the time. Why can’t you.
You know how this is gonna go. You’ll arrive. People will look at you and smile, maybe nod or say hello. And then turn back to one another and continue their conversation. Exclusion will make you panic and the urge to turn and leave will send you to the protective isolation of the restroom.
Well, it’s for sure nothing will go well, if you arrive with this attitude. You’ve defeated yourself before this thing even begins.
Pull yourself together. This time it’s different. You’ve made the effort and read two books on how to start a conversation and mingle in a group where you don’t know anyone. You practiced in front of the mirror.
You tell yourself to stop whining. The past is not the future. Last time you hadn’t prepared. This time you have. Now, put your lipstick on and get out there and be amazing. You’ve got your conversation starters, and you know your product better than anybody. Just remember to smile and ask open ended questions. You got this.
You look in the mirror, and you smile. Yeah, you’ve got this. You throw your shoulders back. The doorbell rings. That’s the driver here to pick you up. You take a deep breath. It’s time to go.
Hope this has been helpful.
To read a much better example, check out the 2 novels I’ve listed below. Both are available to read excerpts on Amazon. You may find yourself suddenly compelled to give this type of writing a try.
Next month a deep dive into the most common type of writing: Third Person. |
Example of First Person:
Example of Second Person: poem by a WDC colleague!
| |  | Take Hold (E)
A poem about keeping your dreams alive no matter the odds.
#1126310 by Jessie  |
Novels: The following two books are masterful examples of Second Person Narrative. They may be purchased from Amazon. Parenthetical statements are my opinion as a reader of mysteries and lover of well crafted novels and stories.
“Spill Simmer Falter Wither” by Sara Baume
(Singularly THE perfect example of excellence in Second Person Narrative)
”Apple Tree Yard” by Louise Doughty
(Masterfully written Second Person psychological-thriller)
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Mystery: July 10, 2024 Issue [#12634]
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