Advantages of Second Person Writing

If you’re interested in writing you might find these links useful:

First Person Writing | Third Person Writing

So what is second person?

Second person is “you.” As in “you open the door to find…” Although he and she are used, the main character is usually the person being talked to, and being told what it is they are doing. A good example of this form of writing is “the crimson petal and the white” by Michel Faber. This is one author who isn’t writing an RPG book, the most common example of second person writing. The writer is always talking directly to the reader.

So why would anybody want to write in second person?

Well the obvious answer to this is RPG books, but other answers include making the reader a part of the story, drawing the reader in, and daring to be different.  Usually it is a personal decision to do this, rather than a requirement.

I’m still not sure what second person is, can I have an example?

Sure, why not.
“You should now use the lasso magic wand tool, located on the left hand side of PS.”
“You round the corner to be confronted by three skeletons. Do you flee or fight?”

Most common uses of Second Person Writing

Most commonly second person writing is used for RPG books and for marketing. In fact the use of second person in marketing has steadily become more common over the years. This is due to a major advantage of second person writing which will be directly discussed in the advantages section of this article. Direct instructions also come under the common uses of writing – yet another advantage of this style.

The advantages

Writing in second person is a useful way to engage the reader and draw them into whatever you are writing. Where the writing is more direct and often more active, it is easier to concentrate on what you should be telling the reader, rather than details which can detract from the story, or lead onto a path that is totally irrelevant. More so than first person, this is telling an active story.

Using the second person to give instructions is direct and concise. It aims to direct the user as well as possible, and is the most common way to direct somebody.

Because it is used less small amounts of second person writing, when done correctly, can be a breath of fresh air. Some authors will use this for prologues before dissolving into first or third person.

This style is useful for anyone attempting to write/tell an RPG – as those involved are talked to directly and easily involved in the story. Using any other style would make it impossible to invoke the same emotions and dramatic effect.

To this end one can be more persuasive when using this style.

The disadvantages

While using the second person is a good way to address a reader directly, it is extremely easy to become patronising. Most obviously this is likely to push away any reader rather than encourage them to read your book/essay/article.

Again, while you are addressing a reader directly it is easy to narrow your audience rather than to extend it. Imagine writing something which a lot of readers plainly wouldn’t feel if they experienced killing somebody – are they likely to continue reading your story/article? This is the same for a lot of things you might ask them when using second person. For example in marketing “are you tired of feeling like your dog won’t be quiet?” This limits the audience to people who have dogs, who bark excessively. While this can be a good thing, at certain times it will not.

It is very easy to get this style wrong, and is one of the reasons it is avoided for novels. It usually sounds wrong and is easy to make sound unprofessional in articles and essays – hence the avoidance for these as well.

It is extremely difficult to keep up second person for a long period of time – this explaining why it is mostly used for short stories, advertising and instructions.

For a list of stories that feature second person a list can be found here.