An “I” for Detail: Crafting Your First Person Narrator

So, you’ve chosen the first person. Your story has an “I.” But who exactly is this “I”? What do they sound like on the page? How are they different from you, the writer? Why did this story need to be told this way, from their perspective, and how can we hone in on that unique point of view? How can we get in their heads? How can we be a good vessel for their voice? Even if it felt like the most natural start of your story, choosing the first person is a craft choice. Together, we’ll take a look at some of the great first person narratives—what works and why—and do a little free-writing with prompts to get to know your narrator better. Please come to this in-person workshop as your narrator. We will mingle for a few minutes at the start, so you can get to know the other narrators, too. You’ll introduce yourself as your narrator. Other things to consider: What is your narrator like in a new situation? Is your narrator the kind of person who introduces themselves to other people first, or hangs back? When they talk to other people, what kinds of descriptors do they go for? What do their sentences sound like? What would they wear? Don’t worry: we won’t stay in character the whole time, but this will (hopefully) be a fun way to get in the head of your first person. All attendees will receive a Summit Books [https://www.summitbooks.com/] tote bag. Katie Yee is a writer from Brooklyn. She has received fellowships from the Center for Fiction, the Asian American Writers' Workshop, and Kundiman. Her work has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, Los Angeles Review of Books, Joyland, No Tokens, The Believer, the Washington Square Review, and Literary Hub. By day, she works at the Brooklyn Museum. By night, she writes, usually under the watch of her judgmental rescue dog, Ollie. Maggie; or, a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar [https://www.lizsbookbar.com/item/gQpiPqSJBXgETcsoabjm1g]is her first novel.