I'm wondering if I'm the only one who finds in all but impossible to read stories written in 2nd person (e.g. "You walk into the room, brush back your copper-red hair, and whip out your giant boobs.")?
I just can't get into these stories at all, no matter how well written. I try, but after about three sentences I'm too distracted by the fact that I'm simply not the 'you' in the story.
Is it just that I lack the imagination, or is anyone else put off by this style?
-Kinkybelle
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2nd Person Perspective
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Divine Rapscallion
No, you're not the only one; I find second-person narratives somewhat off-putting as well. While I do think that viewpoint can work in a short story or poem, the idea of reading a full-length novel in written in second-person is rather daunting.
~ Rascal
~ Rascal
Maggie R
Thanks for posting, as I started a story last week I started in 2nd person just experimenting, but then I went into First person - so now I have to sepperate stories and I was wondering which one to persue. You've helped me make my mind up, still gonna keep the 2nd person narrative because its a good challenge. But I will continue writing my original story in First person. Thanks 
Active Ink Slinger
i think the author wants you to get into the story and believe it is you that everything is happening to , instead of a fly on the wall aspect of it
Her Royal Spriteness
My own opinion... i'm not fond of this perspective. it really has to be well done to be effective, and i usually find that it pulls me out of the story when it is supposed to be addressed to me, but it's obvious the writer knows nothing about me or how i would react to something. just my 1.5 cents 
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.
Alpha Blonde
I only enjoy this perspective when the story is written about me... 
Joking. Okay, not really.
Actually this style works very well if you're a good writer, and know how to effectively pull this off. I'd like to try it one day, but I do think it's one of the more challenging perspectives to write from. Having said that, it does provide a level of intimacy that works particularly well in the erotica genre, in my opinion. It easily lends itself to fantasy in that the reader can put themselves into the story quite easily, and it can make the experience of reading a story a lot sexier.
Joking. Okay, not really.
Actually this style works very well if you're a good writer, and know how to effectively pull this off. I'd like to try it one day, but I do think it's one of the more challenging perspectives to write from. Having said that, it does provide a level of intimacy that works particularly well in the erotica genre, in my opinion. It easily lends itself to fantasy in that the reader can put themselves into the story quite easily, and it can make the experience of reading a story a lot sexier.
Her Royal Spriteness
*giggles* reminds me... have to finish off my story about Doll this week... ;)
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.
Alpha Blonde
Quote by sprite
*giggles* reminds me... have to finish off my story about Doll this week... ;)
Her Royal Spriteness
Quote by Dancing_DollQuote by sprite
*giggles* reminds me... have to finish off my story about Doll this week... ;)
( she thinks i'm kidding, obviously... ;) )
sorry for the derail! to add to the actual thread, i tend to copy and paste stories that i find worth re-reading (my online library is scary!) and i can't remember a single second perspective written story that has made the cut. this may be just my own prejuidices, admittedly, and, as Doll said, it is THE most difficult perspective to write from.. hmm.. that said, i am wondering if i should toy with it, just to see what happens.
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by gypsymoth
It is incredibly difficult, and hard to do well.
The second person voice is very intimate, and suited to poetry and letter writing.
Well said Gypsy, as usual.
"Whoa, lady, I only speak two languages, English and bad English." - Korben Dallas, from The Fifth Element
"If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must man be of learning from experience?" - George Bernard Shaw
"If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must man be of learning from experience?" - George Bernard Shaw
Quote by spriteQuote by Dancing_DollQuote by sprite
*giggles* reminds me... have to finish off my story about Doll this week... ;)
( she thinks i'm kidding, obviously... ;) )
sorry for the derail! to add to the actual thread, i tend to copy and paste stories that i find worth re-reading (my online library is scary!) and i can't remember a single second perspective written story that has made the cut. this may be just my own prejuidices, admittedly, and, as Doll said, it is THE most difficult perspective to write from.. hmm.. that said, i am wondering if i should toy with it, just to see what happens.
Not even "Wedding Day"?
Her Royal Spriteness
Quote by DamonXQuote by spriteQuote by Dancing_DollQuote by sprite
*giggles* reminds me... have to finish off my story about Doll this week... ;)
( she thinks i'm kidding, obviously... ;) )
sorry for the derail! to add to the actual thread, i tend to copy and paste stories that i find worth re-reading (my online library is scary!) and i can't remember a single second perspective written story that has made the cut. this may be just my own prejuidices, admittedly, and, as Doll said, it is THE most difficult perspective to write from.. hmm.. that said, i am wondering if i should toy with it, just to see what happens.
Not even "Wedding Day"?
*blinks then falls over in a fit of giggles*
damnit, Damon, for some reason wedding day didn't even register as second person perspective! ironically, i read it not long before posting this! sitting here trying to figure out why this is so, and all i can come up with is that it wasn't the usual clumsy feeling perspective that i associate with... am going to have to go read again.
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.
Quote by kinkybelle
I'm wondering if I'm the only one who finds in all but impossible to read stories written in 2nd person (e.g. "You walk into the room, brush back your copper-red hair, and whip out your giant boobs.")?
I just can't get into these stories at all, no matter how well written. I try, but after about three sentences I'm too distracted by the fact that I'm simply not the 'you' in the story.
Is it just that I lack the imagination, or is anyone else put off by this style?
-Kinkybelle
I think this is the reason that you will hardly ever find a a second person story in mainstream literature. And I'm not a big fan of it either. But erotic writing, with the intimacy, I think can make use of this P.O.V. better than any other form of writing.
Agreed, I move on from these stories quite quickly if I read them at all. Doesn't work for me.
Quote by kinkybelle
I'm wondering if I'm the only one who finds in all but impossible to read stories written in 2nd person (e.g. "You walk into the room, brush back your copper-red hair, and whip out your giant boobs.")?
I just can't get into these stories at all, no matter how well written. I try, but after about three sentences I'm too distracted by the fact that I'm simply not the 'you' in the story.
Is it just that I lack the imagination, or is anyone else put off by this style?
-Kinkybelle
Active Ink Slinger
If the story is strictly from a female's point of view I don't have a problem with the story.
It takes a woman who doesn't know the word 'no' to conquer a man with a heart of stone.
Active Ink Slinger
I think 2nd person is the most difficult viewpoint to write from. I think when it's done right, it can really make an erotic story something special. But it is so rarely done right!
Unless your prose is in the form of a letter to another character or such, the whole point of 2nd person is to talk to the reader. To draw them so deeply into your tale that they can't leave until the end. To make them feel a part of the story, and to make it personal to them. I think where it often fails is that an author tries talking to the reader, and then launches into vivid detail about how the character looks. When I read that, I think 'Hold on a minute. I am definitely not 5'9 with long legs and beautiful blue eyes' and I wrinkle my nose and lose interest. If you want your reader to feel you are talking to them, don't be giving descriptions down to the tiny detail. Be vague, let them picture themselves in your scenario. Let them get involved.
If you're writing with a male's voice, you have a real chance to make your female readers feel involved, and like the only woman in the world. If you're writing with a woman's voice, you can give every man his fantasy.
If you do it right.
I've written one story from this perspective and received good feedback. There are one or two things that I would change if I had to do it again, but for the most part it seemed to work. The biggest problem I found was I kept accidentally changing from 2nd person to 1st. But once I got that down, the story really seemed to flow. Course, I am sure several out there passed on it when seeing it was in 2nd person!
I think we all have preferences for viewpoints as readers, and that's what it will really come down to!
Unless your prose is in the form of a letter to another character or such, the whole point of 2nd person is to talk to the reader. To draw them so deeply into your tale that they can't leave until the end. To make them feel a part of the story, and to make it personal to them. I think where it often fails is that an author tries talking to the reader, and then launches into vivid detail about how the character looks. When I read that, I think 'Hold on a minute. I am definitely not 5'9 with long legs and beautiful blue eyes' and I wrinkle my nose and lose interest. If you want your reader to feel you are talking to them, don't be giving descriptions down to the tiny detail. Be vague, let them picture themselves in your scenario. Let them get involved.
If you're writing with a male's voice, you have a real chance to make your female readers feel involved, and like the only woman in the world. If you're writing with a woman's voice, you can give every man his fantasy.
If you do it right.
I've written one story from this perspective and received good feedback. There are one or two things that I would change if I had to do it again, but for the most part it seemed to work. The biggest problem I found was I kept accidentally changing from 2nd person to 1st. But once I got that down, the story really seemed to flow. Course, I am sure several out there passed on it when seeing it was in 2nd person!
I think we all have preferences for viewpoints as readers, and that's what it will really come down to!
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Quote by BretMaverick
Agreed, I move on from these stories quite quickly if I read them at all. Doesn't work for me.
Quote by kinkybelle
I'm wondering if I'm the only one who finds in all but impossible to read stories written in 2nd person (e.g. "You walk into the room, brush back your copper-red hair, and whip out your giant boobs.")?
I just can't get into these stories at all, no matter how well written. I try, but after about three sentences I'm too distracted by the fact that I'm simply not the 'you' in the story.
Is it just that I lack the imagination, or is anyone else put off by this style?
-Kinkybelle
In my mind 2nd person stories are a huge waste of my time. They're impossible to read because I have no idea who "you" is, I do know it certainly isn't me. And if it were I'd still not read it.
Quote by Dancing_Doll
I only enjoy this perspective when the story is written about me...
Joking. Okay, not really.
Actually this style works very well if you're a good writer, and know how to effectively pull this off. I'd like to try it one day, but I do think it's one of the more challenging perspectives to write from. Having said that, it does provide a level of intimacy that works particularly well in the erotica genre, in my opinion. It easily lends itself to fantasy in that the reader can put themselves into the story quite easily, and it can make the experience of reading a story a lot sexier.
well said dancing_doll
the author wanted the readers to go deeper with the story and make their imagination that the one referring to is the reader itself doing such act so to appreciate/relate to the whole story 
Active Ink Slinger
Overall I agree, the perspective tends to pull me out of the story. Focus too much on things that are more fluff then substance. I've found a few 2 person that could draw me in. But still try when I find a summery worth checking into more.
I was the kid next door's imaginary friend.
Purveyor of Poetry & Porn
Quote by gypsymoth
The second person voice is very intimate, and suited to poetry and letter writing.
Is it intimate Gypsy? Hmmm...I'll have to think about that one...
Does not work well for stories, from what I've seen anyway...
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Clumeleon
Not a huge fan in stories. Can work in poems.
Advanced Wordsmith
The only time I have ever found this to work is in an erotic letter to my lover, or when she sends one back to me.
I think it works on this occasion because we both know each other, and we know how each of us reacts to certain situations . For a wider audience though, I don't think it does work terribly well because the author does not know the reader intimately.
I think it works on this occasion because we both know each other, and we know how each of us reacts to certain situations . For a wider audience though, I don't think it does work terribly well because the author does not know the reader intimately.
I agree with Classy. If you have a good imagination, as you read, you would be able to imagine all the scenes happening. If I think or see a story like this, it would remind me of a girl on the other end of the phone, telling me what she would like to do, ect.
Although I don't enjoy these stories myself, I think they are just as important as a story either you or I would write and they take just as much thought and effort.
Although I don't enjoy these stories myself, I think they are just as important as a story either you or I would write and they take just as much thought and effort.
The Right Rev of Lush
There is nothing immoral, unethical or even illegal about using second person. That said, it's tough to do right and even then most readers and therefore most editors don't like stories in second person.
My advice: avoid - avoid - avoid
My advice: avoid - avoid - avoid
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Home of the Lush "IN" crowd: indecent, intoxicated, and insolvent
a place to gossip, share news, talk sports, pimp a story, piss & moan, or just grab a drink. Check it out.
Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwords. -- ROBERT HEINLEIN