I agree, the question being does it make the story stronger? And is it worth the risk of putting off people in the process, knowing that so many people don’t like it?

I liked it because it was interesting (for me) – but for someone like you, from what you’ve said, it probably would be quite upsetting. It *is* an upsetting story. So I guess that’s where the first/third person “character” buffer comes into play, so you can read about “this other person” being upset, who is clearly not you.

I think I’ll try to flip it into first person and see how that feels instead.

Good stuff! I think I get it now. You guys are brilliant! How would I do my job without you?

Anyway, my beef with second person narrative? Heh, it stems from a rather embarrassing thing called “Quzilla” which had a lot of stories which I’m certain are a lot like “choose your adventure” type stories (never read one, we don’t actually have any of that here, huh…)

My other beef with second story narration? -I- don’t like doing stuff. Makes no sense, but bare with me, -I- don’t like being pushed, hugged, talked to or otherwise interacted with while I’m reading. It sort of feels like a stranger stepping out of nowhere and telling me I’m the love of his life… Creepy much? (Now, your story could be horror (which would be -worse-, people trying to -kill- me? Geez, thanks Laura!) or it could be tragedy (lovely, just lovely…) or just real life (I might not mind being made rich so much…) That’s generally how I experience reading second person narrative stories. A lot of them (including a few from Quzilla) are brilliant.

But that doesn’t make me feel less awkward about being abruptly kissed/pushed/killed/tortured/you name it by a stranger xD It might not be the best of reasons, but that generally why I’m wary about reading stories using that particular tense, but then I don’t really have the best experience with them either.

In the end, I suppose the best question to ask is; do you feel that your story is made stronger with second person narrative(and explain to yourself why it does)? Because if you do, then don’t change it.

Walks – I really should do more of them, since it’s the perfect weather for it (well, it’s the perfect weather for -me-, I like rain, cold and darkness) but I’ve no one to walk with so my motivation is currently living it up in Hong-Kong I think.

Okay, I’m off to do “there’s-ten-days-until-my-next-exam-and-I-have-today-and-tomorrow-off-to-do-other-stuff” type things

Thanks for offering to read – I’m going to poke at it for a minute (or a day?), and then I’ll email you.

And you know, now that I think about it, I never ever write anything in order – not a novel, not a short story, not a LH story, not a blog entry, not even this comment!

Steph, thanks for your two cents! I’m just trying to understand why people dislike it so much, since it appears I’m one of the few who don’t mind it

I wouldn’t mind taking a peek at your short story.

lol at the written novel chapters done. That’s great. Do you normally prefer to write things in order if it will let you?