Topic: Is 1st person the go-to pov now for middle grade?

[Andibabe]

I submitted the first page of my WIP to a critique at a conference. The editors there said that they liked my first page, but it needed a stronger voice, and I should switch to first person pov. Now, all of their examples that they used throughout the conference were always, always in first person for both middle grade and YA. So their advice made me wonder. Do they just personally prefer 1st person? Was 1st person really the best way to make my voice stronger? Is first person what's popular now with editors the way it seems to be with YA (from my observations, anyway).

I'm experimenting with writing new chapters in 1st person, and I like what I'm doing. But I liked it in third person too. So now I'm wondering if I should just stick to 3rd person and try to make that stronger or go ahead with 1st person.

Thoughts, anyone?

[MysteryRobin]

With any crit, they're identifying a problem (need a stronger voice) and proposing a solution (switch to 1st person), but it's really your job as author to address the problem with the solution of your choice. Switching to 1st person often makes the voice stronger because you can't get as much distance from the MC. However, you can accomplish the same thing by just dialing up the voice in 3rd if you prefer that. Most YA I'm reading now has 1st person, but I don't think that's the case for MG - although I'm seeing more and more of it. Right now, I'm writing a YA in both 1st and 3rd and it's really the 3rd person voice that's stronger because I know that character better (for now). So I'd say it's not an automatic fix, and you can fix the problem another way if you'd prefer. Good luck!

**edited because I can't spell today

[Karen Bly]

I agree with Robin that it's just one possible solution to the need for more voice. First person is an easy way to get a voice stronger because you're really in their head.

As far as MG, I've read a mix of close third person and first person from recently published stuff.

[Kurtis]

I like what Robin said.

[Dianna Winget]

Yes, first person is extremely popular in both YA and MG, but that does't mean those are the only books that are selling. Maybe your story works best in third person. Continue to experiment like you're doing and you'll figure out what's most natural to you and your characters.

[217mom]

It's the 'Voice de Jour,' not a must.
But then, only you can tell if it is the right voice for *your story*. Regardless of fashions, which come and go, it might be right for yours.

[Andibabe]

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't sure if it was my imagination or not that it was the "voice de jour" or not. I guess I'll just try experimenting some more and see what grabs me. I like first person pov a lot, but I also like 3rd person a lot. Oh well, back to work.

[PStarz]

I have a younger middle grade novel that I originally wrote in third person, but I'm revising it in first person.  I felt like the main character wasn't the star of the story.  The supporting cast had somehow taken it over.  I'm hoping that if I write it in first person, the main character can wrest the story away from them - and the readers wil get more of a sense of who she is.   I could probably do the same thing in third person, but now I've developed a fondness for her voice.   

[HDWestlund]

I would say that the middle grade books are about half and half right now, with the adventure/fantasy books more often in third person and the classroom/real-life books more often in first. But, to echo advice you've already gotten: It's your story. You get to tell it in the voice you prefer. That said, there's no harm in trying out your options. Play with viewpoint, verb tense, etc. Rewrite scenes in a variety of ways. Choose what seems to work the best for you.

[HaroldU]

Do not choose voice based on your perceptions of the market. Use the voice that works for your story. That said, if you DON'T have strong feelings one way or the other, it's my sense that 3rd person is more common in MG, and 1st person in YA--if only because YA tends to be more internal/psychological. But of course there are exceptions...

[deblyfe]

In my view, it depends what your goals are with your work. But, even more so, in my view - you need to be proud and comfortable with what you create.