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Question: Second person, writing!?
I know you can write in 1st person, and also in 3rd, but can you write in second and how!? also, if not, why isn't 3rd called 2nd!? Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Yes, you can indeed write in second!. And to why it's called second, that relates to parts of speech, thus:

Singular:
1st Person: I like pie!.
2nd Person: You like pie!.
3rd Person: He/she/it likes pie
Plural:
1st Person: we like pie
2nd Person: you (or ye or y'all) like pie
3rd Person: they like pie!.

Basically, verb conjugations!.

Very few books are written in 2nd person, but it is doable!. Those that are are generally "Choose Your Own Adventure" books (R!.L!. Stine wrote several of these)!. These are extremely difficult to write, and there aren't many good ones out there!.

Here is an example of second person narrative:


You step into the room and flick on the light!. It buzzes on for a moment, then shuts off!.

"Power's out, do you think!?" Joe wonders!.

You shake you're head; how would you know!? But it is awfully creepy !. !. !. "Probably," you say!. "Or maybe just that bulb was bad!."

"Yeah," Joe agrees, and pushes past you into the room!.


Second person is generally written in present tense (especially choose-your-own-adventures) and although it could theoretically be written in past, it would be quite odd to do so!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The Goosebumps stories written in second person, especially the ones where you choose ending!. I read a couple because my English literature teacher (American lady) say they are good example of second!.

"You creep along the dark passage and come to a door!. Do you open door or turn back!? To open door go to page 100!. To turn back go to page 10!." etcetera

This is not often used in fiction because it becomes tiring quickly and feels amateur unless done well!. A famous American poem is written in second, I think it is called the "Raven" or "Crow"!. Sorry, cannot recall!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The 2nd person pronoun is 'you'!. It's incredibly difficult to write a story in 2nd person because you can't really refer to 'you' without referring to the speaker - the 'I'!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Star-Crossed by Rachael Wing is entirely written in the 2nd person!.Www@QuestionHome@Com