I have had to give up reading several stories because the author has not chosen and stuck to a viewpoint. I read stories where the author changes from first to third person and even changes tense as casually as changing his/her underwear.
The sort of thing I mean… “You walk towards me. I see you carrying the whip casually by your side then I feel the pain as it lashes my legs. She felt the excitement grow as she saw the red welts appear on his milky thighs. She was intoxicated by the power she wielded over him. I cower as I see the delight in your eyes and fear what is to come.” (I made this up - it is not from anybody’s story.)
Do others also find this distressing?
There are advantages and disadvantages with any viewpoint. The first person provides more immediacy but it is much more difficult to portray what other people are feeling or thinking. It is not because switching viewpoints is ‘cheating’ that I object to it but because it destroys the illusion of the story.
I have published two stories. These are stories I wrote many years ago and recently decided to revise. When I revised the latest one - “End Game” - I deliberately put it into the first person to see how difficult it is to show the feelings of characters other than the narrator. I would welcome comments on my efforts.