With NaNoWriMo rapidly approaching, let’s talk about a couple of decisions you\u00a0have to make about your story before you can even begin. \u00a0What narrative mode and tense will you use to tell your story?<\/p>\n
Last year, I chose first person, past tense for my story. \u00a0One of the reasons I made this decision was because I wanted my story to emulate the feel of The Dresden Files, and that’s how that series is written. \u00a0Another reason I chose first person narrative was because I knew that I’d be able to write that way effectively and quickly. \u00a0After writing blog posts for 31 days straight in October, I knew that using the same narrative mode would make\u00a050,000 words in November easier.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
First Person Narrative<\/strong><\/p>\n First person narrative is excellent when your main character has a strong voice that you want to showcase. \u00a0Every single object described in the story is an opportunity\u00a0to reveal something about the character. \u00a0A carpenter is going to notice and talk about a table differently than anyone else. \u00a0A cop is going to describe a crime scene differently, and evoke a different emotional reaction than someone else in the same position.<\/p>\n Note: If you’re into tabletop, story-driven roleplaying games, and you’re planning on using one of the characters you’ve developed in such a game, first person might be just the thing. \u00a0You presumably already know the character’s voice, and that’s exactly what you’ll be using to tell a story with this narrative mode.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Third Person Limited<\/strong><\/p>\n If you’re planning on changing point of view characters, but you still want the camera to essentially be fixed on a character’s shoulder, this is the narration mode of choice. \u00a0You can still gain quite a bit of the benefit of first person with this mode, because you can still get the thoughts and perspectives of a single character to color the story. \u00a0You also gain greater freedom in word choice of the prose, since the voice telling the story is yours, rather than the point of view character.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Third Person Omniscient<\/strong><\/p>\n From first person, to third person limited, to third person omniscient, you’re just backing the camera out further and further. \u00a0This is a very “honest” narration mode, in that the prose is unpolluted from the character’s thoughts or perspective. \u00a0When done right, the author is less able to fall into bad habits of telling, rather than showing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tense<\/b><\/p>\n I don’t remember ever reading or writing anything in future tense. \u00a0I’m not even sure what that looks like. \u00a0I prefer past tense for my stories. \u00a0Present tense can lend itself to a greater tension and immediacy in a story, but I find it a little bit clunky in places. \u00a0It can be argued that past tense with first person drains tension from the story, since it’s difficult for the main character to tell their story if they’ve died. \u00a0I don’t really buy into that argument, though. \u00a0When I’m pulled into a story, I don’t know care what tense is being used, as long as the story is well written.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This year, I will be writing third person limited. \u00a0I have a lot of experience writing using pairing that narrative mode with this character. \u00a0The character has a strong voice, but I don’t feel like first person will serve the story I have in mind as well as third person.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you’re planning on participating in NaNoWriMo, I recommend using whatever narrative mode and tense you’re most comfortable with. \u00a0If you’re having difficulty deciding, look to whatever book you’ve most recently enjoyed. \u00a0You may still be thinking in that narrative mode, which will make it easier to reach for words when telling your own story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With NaNoWriMo rapidly approaching, let’s talk about a couple of decisions you\u00a0have to make about your story before you can even begin. \u00a0What narrative mode and tense will you use to tell your story? 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