While writing in second person, you are going to come across a few challenges, but let's go over some pitfalls to avoid to make your process a little more smoother.

1. Avoid Starting Every Sentence With 'You'

Since you are writing a story that includes the reader, you have to make sure your sentences are diverse enough to not sound too repetitive. Sometimes a reader will get bored with seeing 'you' in every single sentence, so try to keep the writing diverse and full of language.

Here is an example of what to avoid:

"You walk down the street. You feel your face burning in the sun and you curse yourself for not putting on sunscreen before you left. You noticed that everything looks blurry in the heat. You keep walking before suddenly a car swerves around the corner and almost hits you."

If you found yourself cringing with how repetitious that was, then you understand why a little diversity is much needed.

Of course, you are allowed to use 'you' frequently, as any POV would use I/she/he. The key thing here is to avoid starting every sentence with "you." A simple way to achieve this is to take the time to describe something other than what "you" are feeling and explore the setting or an idea. Another easy way to avoid this problem is to pepper your story with dialogue. So much can be said through dialogue, and it's a way to cut up the narrative so you avoid, well ... "you."

2. Avoid Long Pieces

It's hard to write second person, but it's super hard to write a long piece in 2nd person.

Writing a 300 page novel in second person is pushing it. Not because the length is 'too long' necessarily, but because when using second person your main goal should be to make the reader feel apart of the story. To feel uncomfortable and pulled in. It's extremely hard to accomplish that when the story drags on for so long.

There are examples of longer works in the 2nd person, but they are rare. For instance, the 200-page Stolen by Lucy Christopher, or the 500-page You by Caroline Kepnes.

You'll soon find that the shorter your second person narrative is, the most effective it will be.

3. Avoid Detachment

It cannot be stressed enough howimportant utilizing the readers emotions is. Consider it your secret weapon when writing in second person. Your story is only as powerful and meaningful as your emotional pull.

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Few examples of this POV-
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"You saw me before I saw you. In the airport, the day in August, you had that look in your eyes, as though you wanted something from me, as though you wanted it for a long time. No one had ever looked at me like that before, with that kind of intensity. It unsettled me, surprised me, I guess. Those blue, blue eyes, icy blue, looking back at me as if I could warm them up."

It was very early. I could tell by the pale pinkish-white light and the cool in the air. I got dressed and put the knife into the pocket of my shorts. I could hear you moving and creaking around the house. Then you went outside and started the car. You were surrounding me with noise. I wasn't used to it. I took my time getting ready. I knew two things: On the one hand, a trip like this could mean a greater opportunity for escape. On the other, it might mean I'd never return."

-Stolen by Lucy Christopher