"When one is writing a novel in the first person, one must be that person"
- Daphne du Maurier
About this Quote
This quote by Daphne du Maurier is a suggestion to writers that when composing a novel in the first individual, they should be the character they are writing about. This implies that the writer must have the ability to put themselves in the shoes of the character and think and act as if they were that person. It is necessary to be able to record the character's ideas, feelings, and actions in order to produce a believable story. The author needs to have the ability to understand the character's inspirations and how they would react in different scenarios. This requires the writer to be able to believe and seem like the character in order to properly represent them in the book. Writing in the first person can be a difficult task, but by being the character, the writer can develop a story that is believable and appealing.
About the Author