Is it easier to write in the first person?

[Ravana]

Remember that writing in first person doesn't have to mean "you" are the character… really, in general it should not mean that. All it means is that the story is being told solely from a single, limited point of view, and that you're using "I" where you would otherwise use "he/she." Even in third person, you can still restrict what the reader knows to what a single character knows; the only difference is that third person gives you the opportunity to add information beyond what the main character knows. If, on the other hand, you want to restrict information and are having trouble doing so in third person, you might try switching to first—or at least thinking of the character in first person when you're writing: "Would I know that?"

I suspect that a survey of fiction over the past few decades would show that third person singular, with knowledge restricted to what that one character knows, is the most common form seen. (I freely admit I don't have statistics to back that up: that's just what my memory tells me.) Which does not mean you "should" use that form: experiment to see what works best, and remember that this won't be the same for every story.

 

[At Dusk I Reign]

I've never written in first person so I can't say if it's 'easier' as such. I would imagine, though, that it's no less demanding than writing in third person, as there are no shortcuts when it comes to gripping the reader (or at least none that I've ever found). As has been mentioned by Ravana, it all depends on what style suits the story you're telling. I prefer a third-person POV because I like to hop between characters, either distancing the imaginary reader completely from an event or else providing multiple viewpoints and multiple interpretations of what's transpired. Ultimately you'll have to find a style that works for you, as do we all.

 

[Mdnight Falling]

No. It's harder to write from the first person than the third person. Well for me at any rate. I even find it hard to read in the first person LMAO! But seriously, when writing a story of any kind, it really depends on the direction you want the story to flow. Some stories just can't be told any other way then by the "speakers" point of view. I myself will stick with the narrator's perspective >^.^<

 

[JCFarnham]

Many good books have sections of both, if you can get into that kind of stuff, like Beloved by Toni Morrison, with the eponymous characters stream of consciousness chapter towards the end. Its interesting stuff first person when you can do it right, it allows to you to really get into the head of the view point character and I think as a reader that would be a good thing. Although in some situations a detatched narrator's voice works best. I definitely think though that people should be less afraid of changing "persons" in the space of one story as that kind of thing as I said can be a real bit of artistic flair, the icing on the cake if you like. Then again not everyone is a post-modern writer right? Hell I wouldn't say I am.