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First-person point of view ranks a close second in viewpoint popularity behind third-person. Beginning writers particularly like this viewpoint because it's so similar to how we think as individuals. It's easier to capture one person's thoughts and dialogue rather than several viewpoints and the outside descriptions (unknown to the character) we use in third-person.

First-person's still a challenging viewpoint to write because you have to rely on one person to tell a complete story. For instance, an unreliable narrator is used to describe a narrator who's - you guessed it - unreliable. The character may be lying or could even be insane:

I was having a nice peaceful breakfast with Benjamin Franklin when that loudmouth Roseanne showed up. I was going to leave but then Norman Rockwell said, "A round of beer on me!" That's when I knew I needed a cigarette and just one more drink."

While this is a prime example of an unreliable narrator, it's important to note that all narrators are unreliable up to a point. First-person is unique because it's up to the character telling the story to tip off the reader as to what's truthful and what's not.

This isn't to say that a first-person narrator should be considered completely untrustworthy. Most characters are strong, smart and competent. But - just like in real life - their opinion on a certain situation may be clouded or biased. So it's up to the author to convey to the reader what's believable.

For example, a woman may not see that her husband is cheating on her. Perhaps she doesn't want to see that he's found someone else.

As the story progresses, readers feel the tension between the couple. They want to know if the wife is finally going to realize her husband's infidelity and what she'll actually do about it.

Next week's installment of first-person point of view takes you deeper into the lives of your characters. And don't miss a special first-person POV workshop exercise so you can enhance your viewpoint writing skills.

Since first-person POV characters are telling their stories, the first requirement for your short story or novel is that they're actually willing to to tell their story. This may sound easy but if your character is extremely introverted, then a significant event will have to happen before they spill their life story. Otherwise, your story's going to lose some of its believability.

That's not to say your character has to talk to someone in order to reveal tidbits of information, write in a journal or use a tape recorder. But you're allowing readers to enter this character's mind. Readers have to trust the character and the character has to have a story to tell.

Another option when using first-person POV is to carry multiple narrators. One of the easiest ways to do this is by separating each character's viewpoint into chapters.

Using the example of the wife and cheating husband, you could write a complete novel based on each character's own personal story.

For instance, in one chapter the wife may describe a dinner scene as pleasant and just like any other day. But maybe the cheating hubby loathes the Mrs. His account of the exact same dinner scene could be dramatically different. Perhaps he thinks his wife is trying to poison him and he can't get his mind off of his mistress.

Try this workshop exercise for more first-person POV help:

Write a scene from a formal dinner party, complete with guests. Use first-person from the mansion owner's viewpoint. Consider it a somewhat snooty tone.

Now rewrite the same scene from a different character's viewpoint. Perhaps one of the dinner guests is the owner's daughter's date. She brought this fellow because he's not the same type of "stock" as they are and she's rebelling.

Apryl Duncan is the founder of FictionAddiction.NET. She's also an author, freelance writer and workshop instructor with more than 15 years experience writing professionally. Her work has been published worldwide and has been translated into nine different languages.