Activity

I write in first person a lot and the overuse of I was something that was pointed out to me early on. The writing can end up feeling like a list of stage directions. I have found that the gymnastics you have to go through to avoid overuse does what Libby mentions and moves you closer into the character’s head as well as adding voice. As Richard commented, it helps you avoid the filtering too. So I always try to be aware of those Is as I’m writing.

As for the contraction comment. WTF. The narration around the speech, especially in first person, should reflect the narrators voice. Not using contractions and slang would make this impossible. Imagine reading Catcher in the Rye in Oxford English. The voice would disappear. So I think that point is rubbish.