🧠 Narrative Voice and Style Don't Bite!
But they can make your story shine like a diamond 💎
Hello, fellow writer! 💪🖋️
Are
you just starting out on your writing journey and feeling overwhelmed
by the concepts of 'narrative voice,' 'point of view,' and 'style'?
😵💫 Don't
worry. Here, I'll explain everything clearly, with a touch of humor,
examples from great authors, and the best energy to help you feel ready
to conquer your story. 🌈 📚
🎭 What is narrative voice?
Imagine your story is a play. The 'narrative voice' is the voice of the
one who 'takes the microphone to tell what happens on stage.' It could
be one of the characters, an unseen narrator, or even you speaking
directly to the reader! 📣 With this in mind, there are three classic ways to "grab that microphone" to tell the story:
👁️🗨️ First Person: "I saw the dragon... and I almost peed myself
- 📘 Classic example: " The Catcher in the Rye " by J.D. Salinger
- 📘 Modern example: " The Hunger Games " by Suzanne Collins
🧠 What is it?: The
main character tells you the story in raw, unfiltered detail. They use
"I, me, my." You're inside their mind and heart like an emotional tenant
🧠❤️.
🧩 When to use it?: When
you want the reader to step into the protagonist's shoes and experience
the story as if they were right there. Ideal for intimate,
psychological, or super personal stories.
🎁 Advantages:
- Total emotional connection 💞
- Direct and honest style
- Easy to make the reader *identify*
⚠️ Beware of:
- You'll only know what the character knows (there's no hidden camera spinning around).
- You can sound very self-centered if you don't properly balance the story.
👂 Second Person: "You're walking down the street and a piano falls on your head" 🎹 😅
- 📘 Modern example: " Hopscotch " by Julio Cortázar (yes, it plays with this in parts)
- 📘 Bold example: Some short stories by Italo Calvino and "Choose Your Own Adventure" type games
🧠 What is it?: The
reader becomes the protagonist. It uses "you," "your," and "yours." As
if giving instructions or inviting the reader on a mental journey.
🧩 When to use it?: If
you want to innovate, surprise, or make the reader feel like they are
"living" the story. It's important to use it strategically and without
getting too carried away... because it's difficult to sustain.
🎁 Advantages:
- Immersive and groundbreaking 😎
- Unique and modern if done right
- Great for interactive or psychological stories
⚠️ Beware of this:
- It may sound strange if it doesn't flow naturally.
- Not all readers feel comfortable being “you”.
👁️ Third Person: "She gazed into the abyss... and the abyss gazed back at her" 🌌
- 📘 Classic example: " Pride and Prejudice " by Jane Austen
- 📘 Modern example: " The World of Ice and Fire " by George RR Martin
🧠 What is it?: The
narrator tells the story from an outside perspective. They use "he,
she, they." They can know a lot (like an omniscient god) or a little
(only what a character knows).
🧩 When to use it?: Almost
always! It's as versatile as a Swiss Army knife. You can change focus,
show parallel scenes, and handle multiple characters.
🎁 Advantages:
- Broad vision of the narrative world 🌍
- It allows for multiple perspectives.
- Ideal for epic, historical, or complex stories
⚠️ Beware of:
- Do not confuse the reader by changing heads all the time (what is called “head-hopping”).
- It requires control of rhythm and tone to avoid sounding robotic.
🎨 And what about "style"? Ah, style is YOUR personal stamp!
Style is the way you write, the words you use, whether you're funny,
dramatic, melancholic, or ironic. Style is like clothing: it can change,
but it always speaks to the person wearing it.
✨ Golden tip: read
your writing aloud. If it sounds boring... it's because it is. Add
rhythm, life, and personality to your work. Your readers will thank you.
Remember that modern readers look for dynamic, rhythmic reading,
without so many extravagant embellishments. Like it or not, we live in a
utilitarian and pragmatic age. Get to the point quickly so you don't
lose your readers' attention.
🎬 The winning combination will always be the triad of: voice + style + practice.
There's no "right" way to tell stories, but there is an effective way:
"the one that connects with your reader without confusing them and keeps
them interested." 🔥📖
Do you want to make them cry, laugh, or scream with suspense?
- 💡 Choose the viewpoint that best helps you achieve that emotion.
- 🎨 Give it a dose of your own unique style, which is often linked to the way your character is.
- 🧪 And don't be afraid to experiment, because ultimately, all writers do it at some point!
🚀 Remember that on the creative journey you're embarking on:
- ✍️ You're not a writer until you write and are read. If you write but nobody reads you, you're a 'scribbler,' not a writer! What are you waiting for? Publish, provoke the public to read you!
- 🧠 Making mistakes is part of the writing process. Did one of your pieces fail? Raise your fist, curse the gods, and rewrite it properly! That's what it means to live the craft!
- 📣 Your voice should be unique. And your work should gradually move in that direction. No one can tell your stories better than you!
👉 Keep creating, keep dreaming, and above all… keep writing!
See you in the next class, future author! 🚀📚💙
Do you have any questions? Would you like to learn more about these topics?
If you're interested in exploring these topics further, I recommend reading my articles for writers. There you'll find many interesting subjects that will help you become a 21st-century writer. Here are my notes for writers . 🌌✍️
Do you have any questions? You can ask me through a Google form. Use the inquiry button:
Great writing! 🚀✍️
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#Writers
#CreativeWriting
#FreeCreativeWritingWorkshop
#Narrative
#NarrativeVoices
#NarrativeStyles
#RodriacCopen
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