Narrative Voice in Fiction

I want to understand more about the elusive 'voice' in fiction:

• What is narrative voice in fiction?
• How does narrative voice contribute to storytelling?
• What is narrative point of view (POV)?
• The author's voice: mood, tone, and personality
• How to find your narrative voice
• Examples of narrative voices in literature

Before we start ...
do you want to write fiction faster,
while practicing your craft
and your writing process
to consistently get better? 

Check out this link to
the FREE "Write Fiction Faster ... and better"
guide and workbook,
which comes with a FREE companion course
with 23 bite-sized video lessons and 4 worksheets.

What is Narrative Voice in Fiction?

Each character will have their own 'voice' that will come across in their dialogue.

Narrative is all the bits of the story that are not spoken dialogue. Think about all the things that go around dialogue (unless you're writing a play): descriptions, the thoughts and feelings of characters, and any other elements of the story that is not dialogue. 

Narrative 'voice' is how all that non-dialogue comes across to the reader. It is an essential element of fiction writing. It helps to bring a story to life and create an emotional connection between the reader and the characters. It can also be used to shape the tone of a story and influence how readers perceives the story.

Of course, dialogue is also an important part of the 'voice' of the story. In fact, great dialogue is how you make your story sing. But in this article we are going to focus on the narrative voice.

Narrative voice refers to two aspects of storytelling:

• WHO tells the story, from which point-of-view (POV) it is told, and how much information about characters or events is revealed within each scene. 
  
  
• HOW is the story told: the mood, tone, and personality (or multiple personalities) that come across in the narrative voice. 

How Does Narrative Voice Contribute to Storytelling?

Narrative voice is the instrument you play as a fiction writer. You can use narrative voice to create and shape the atmosphere of a story. It gives readers an insight into the character’s personality and emotional state, allowing them to relate more closely with them. Additionally, narrative voice can help to emphasize certain elements of a story, such as plot points, theme or a moral message.

One of the most effective ways for writers to use narrative voice is to establish a point-of-view (POV) for their story. A POV sets up parameters for how much information will be revealed throughout the narrative and what angle each scene is being shown from. Depending on the chosen POV, readers may gain different insights into characters and events.

In first person stories, the narrator is usually one of the main characters and only provided limited knowledge about other characters or events outside their direct experiences.

By contrast, third person limited allows readers to gain access to one character’s thoughts while still being able to witness other characters’ actions through their eyes.

In omniscient narration, readers have access to all characters’ thoughts and feelings as well as insider knowledge on all events within the story.

Narrative voice plays a crucial role in fiction writing by adding depth and texture that draws readers further into the world created by an author’s words. It helps establish mood and tone. It gives you, as the writer, greater control over characterization and plot structure within your stories. 

Narrative Point of View

Point of View (the "WHO" aspect of you narrative voice) is an incredibly powerful tool, allowing you, as the author, to create an immersive world that engages readers on a deeper level. Each type of narrative voice carries with it its own distinct tone, which helps to establish the mood of any given story.

• First person ("I") narration is one of the more popular types of narrative voices used in fiction. It feels natural, and it gives readers an intimate connection to a main character’s thoughts and feelings. The protagonist is usually the narrator for these stories, meaning that anything revealed relies solely on their direct experiences. To the reader, it feels like someone telling you their story, relating it, as if in a one-on-one conversation. Examples of novels written in first person include Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre”, Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird”, and J.D. Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye".
  
  
• Third person limited ("he/she") narration allows readers to gain insight into one specific character while simultaneously being able to observe other characters or events outside of their direct experience. In this type of POV, there is no single omniscient narrator—instead everything revealed must be seen through this one specific perspective. Examples of novels written in third person limited include Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and The Sea”, Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Crime & Punishment”, and Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall" trilogy. 
  
  
• Omniscient ("he/she/they/we") narration gives authors complete control over how ideas or themes are presented by providing multiple perspectives on any given event or character arc within a work of fiction. This broad scope allows for more detailed characterization and wider plot developments but does require authors to juggle several storylines at once for better effect. Examples of novels written in omniscient narration include Leo Tolstoy’s “War & Peace”, JRR Tolkien’s “Lord Of The Rings” trilogy, and Frank Herbert's "Dune" series.

An interesting hybrid between "third person limited" and "omniscient" is multiple characters narrating, each from their "third person limited" point of view. George R. R. Martin does this very effectively in his "Game of Thrones" (and the entire "Song of Ice and Fire" series), where each chapter is told from a different character's point of view in "third person limited" POV. In this way the reader gets a semi-omniscient perspective, although at any given time through the eyes of just one character. 

In rare cases, the point of view can also be second person ("you"), but this is difficult to pull off, so we will not address it in this article. If you want to read an example, try my story "Werewolf", a novella written in second person point of view.

The Author’s Voice: Mood, Tone, and Personality

The author’s voice can significantly influence the tone, mood, and personality of a story.

• Tone is determined by how the writer expresses their ideas or emotions, often through their use of language. It can vary from humorous to serious, and its style can influence readers’ reactions to characters and plot points.
  
  
• Mood is created by the atmosphere that an author sets within a story. Through your use of diction or figurative language, you can establish a sense of tension or calm that will evoke a particular emotional response from readers.
  
  
• Personality is the intangible feeling you get that the narrator is funny, quirky, gloomy, nervous, bold, strong, uptight, etc. A couple of great examples are both adolescent characters, but their voices are distinct and unique. 16-year old Holden Caulfield's irreverent, self-absorbed voice in J. D. Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" is completely different from the deadpan, precocious voice of 14-year old Mattie Ross in Charles Portis's "True Grit."

Overall, narrative voice plays an integral role in fiction writing as it helps shape reader response through careful usage of tone and mood while also granting authors greater control over characterization and plot structure within their stories. 

How to Find Your Narrative Voice

One of the most important steps in crafting an effective narrative voice is to identify and establish the individual personality of each narrator or point-of-view character. This will be determined by their word choice, rhythm, syntax, and other elements that will help create a distinct “personality” for each narrator. This can be done by exploring their age or background, as well as their overall attitude towards the story and its characters. For example, if a story follows a young protagonist who is naive yet curious about the world around them, this may influence their diction or sentence structure as they narrate events within the story.

In addition to establishing an individual personality for each narrator, authors should also consider how these personalities interact with one another—either through dialogue or conflicts—as this can add further depth to any given scene. Paying attention to how characters communicate with one another can help enhance characterization while also developing relationships between them which will ultimately shape reader response towards any given scene.

When crafting the mood of a story, you should think carefully about what kind of emotional response you want readers to experience when encountering certain scenes. Will readers feel tense? Excited? Sad? It is important to think about how different tones such as comedic banter or serious introspection will affect reader response throughout the narrative arc—this can be done by playing with word choices as well as varying sentence lengths and syntax for dramatic effect. Careful consideration should be taken when introducing figurative language into a story as this can have a major impact on its tone; certain metaphors or similes may lend themselves better than others depending on what kind of emotion an author wants readers to feel at any given moment.

Authors should ensure that they maintain consistency in their narrative voice throughout the entirety of their work. Readers may become frustrated if there are sudden changes in tone or mood that don’t make sense within the context of the plot.

By taking time to practice writing in different points-of-view and exploring various narrative styles it becomes easier to create a cohesive atmosphere while still taking risks in terms of characterization and plot structure—ultimately allowing you more creative license when crafting stories tailored specifically towards any given audience’s expectations while also meeting your own personal goals as an author.

Examples of Narrative Voices in Literature

Let's take a look at some examples to illustrate narrative voice.

True Grit by Charles Portis

Mattie Ross, the first-person limited point of view narrator is a 14-year old hunting her father's killer in the "Wild West" of late 19th century America. Her voice is strong, deadpan, and precocious. Here are the first words in the book:

"People do not give it credence that a 14-year-old girl could leave home and go off in the wintertime to avenge her father's blood but it did not seem so strange then, although I will say it did not happen every day."

The word choices, with their old-fashioned and formal phrasing ("give it credence",  "avenge her father's blood") immediately gives a sense of the time period of the story right in the first sentence. The ending of the sentence "although I will say it did not happen every day" gives you the sense of the narrator's deadpan voice. 

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Holden Caulfield,the first-person limited point of view narrator, is 16 years old, rebellious, self-absorbed, cynical, and irreverent. Here are the first words in the book

“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.”

He speaks in a slangy, colloquial voice. He is speaking directly to the reader ("If you really want to hear about it...", "... you probably want to know ..."... if you want to know the truth") which gives an immediate sense of closeness, being pulled into a conversation with this willful teenager. He uses words like "lousy" and "crap", mild expletives peppering his narration. He shows his will from the beginning: "I don't feel like going into it." It feels like Holden is grabbing you by the lapels, insisting on telling you his story, right now, in his own way. 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

First-person limited point of view creates a melancholic atmosphere with distinct diction and syntax that reflects the character’s disenchantment with the world around them.

One quote that perfectly illustrates the melancholic atmosphere and disenchantment of the characters in The Great Gatsby is:

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

This quote speaks to how futile Gatsby’s attempts are at recapturing his lost past and Daisy’s love. It also reflects on how all of us are forced to relive our regrets and mistakes no matter how hard we try to escape them. Nick Carraway’s first-person narration paints a picture of an America that is full of decadence and excess but lacks moral grounding or purpose. Sometimes it’s impossible to avoid fate and often times we must simply accept our circumstances as they come.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

First person perspective allows readers to closely follow protagonist’s thoughts and feelings as she navigates her way through life while also exploring issues of morality, independence, and identity in Victorian England.

One quote from Jane Eyre that closely follows the protagonist’s thoughts and feelings is:

“Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!”

This quote reflects Jane’s inner strength and determination in the face of adversity. It emphasizes her conviction to stand true to herself despite any external obstacles she may face in a society that places value on physical beauty and social standing. It also speaks to Jane’s capacity for empathy as she struggles between her desire for independence and companionship while navigating the complexities of morality during her time period. This quote ultimately serves as a reminder that no matter our circumstances we can still find strength within ourselves to fight back against injustice and follow our true path in life.

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling

Omniscient narrator utilizes witty banter between characters to create an exciting sense of adventure throughout the story while still maintaining consistency in tone and mood across chapters.

One quote from Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling that perfectly exemplifies the omniscient narrator, witty banter, and a sense of adventure is:

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”

This quote speaks to how difficult it can be for anyone to confront their own loved ones when they are wrong yet doing this often requires more courage than standing against foes. It also reflects the deep friendships between the main characters in Harry Potter — Ron, Hermione, and Harry — that is tested throughout their journey filled with magical creatures, deathly traps, and dark wizards. 

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Limited first person narrative follows Scout Finch’s journey as she learns about right versus wrong amidst a backdrop of racial injustice in 1930s Alabama; heavily relies on figurative language to portray different perspectives within the story while highlighting themes such as courage or prejudice amongst its characters .

One quote from To Kill A Mockingbird that exemplifies its use of figurative language to portray different perspectives is:

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view — until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

This quote speaks to the themes of empathy and understanding within the story, highlighted through Scout Finch’s journey as she learns about right versus wrong amidst a backdrop of racial injustice in 1930s Alabama. By using these words, Harper Lee emphasizes the importance of being able to view life from another person’s perspective. It illustrates that our own biases and views can often limit our capacity for understanding others, while also encouraging readers to think more deeply about their own preconceived notions of what’s right or wrong. This phrase ultimately serves as an invitation for readers to reflect on their own beliefs and values, while underscoring the power of walking in someone else’s shoes.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Narrated from multiple points-of-view which helps shape reader response towards each character’s individual motivations, allowing for more complex characterization

One quote from Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë that illustrates the multiple points of view and complex characterization is

“My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods; time will change it, I’m well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary.”

This quote speaks to how Catherine feels towards both Heathcliff and Linton, showing her conflicted emotions between the two which shapes reader response towards her individual motivations. By using metaphors to compare her feelings for each man respectively, readers can understand that despite them being vastly different, both relationships are essential for Catherine’s life. This phrase ultimately serves as an invitation for readers to reflect on their own beliefs and values, while also highlighting how complex Brontë’s characterization of Catherine is by crafting a quote that conveys so much depth in such few words.

Another quote from Wuthering Heights that exemplifies its use of multiple points of view and complex characterization is:

“Heaven did not seem to be my home; and I broke my heart with weeping to come back to earth; and the angels were so angry that they flung me out into the middle of the heath on top of Wuthering Heights; where I woke sobbing for joy."

This passage speaks to how Heathcliff’s life has been filled with suffering since childhood, yet his passion still holds strong despite these obstacles. Through his anguish at being exiled from Heaven, readers gain insight into his inner turmoil and emotional turmoil which helps shape reader response towards his individual motivations. This phrase further illustrates how even in moments of despair or sorrow there is always hope to be found within oneself. In this way, Brontë used clever wording and subtle phrasing to convey Heathcliff’s complexity which allows readers greater access into his character’s mind beyond what may have initially appeared on the surface.

Getting Narrative Voice Right

Narrative voice is an essential element in fiction that can be used to shape reader response towards characters and their individual motivations.

It allows for more complex characterization through the use of figurative language, multiple points-of-view, tone, and clever wording which conveys depth beyond what may have initially appeared on the surface.

Writing with a strong narrative voice requires understanding how readers perceive different perspectives while also considering your own biases or preconceived notions when crafting stories.

With practice and patience, you can create powerful narratives that speak to readers at a deeper level by getting into character’s skin and walking around in it. In this way, you will be able to bring your stories alive as if they were real life experiences.

Resources

MY FAVORITE ALL-PURPOSE RESOURCE

The Writer's Treasure Chest - everything in one place, curated, organized, this is a great reference for all things writing craft, with tons of prompts, plot/character generators and other tools to inspire you to write a great story with a unique narrative voice.

RELATED ARTICLES

Narrative voice is only one aspect of your story. Here are some articles that will be helpful as you write: 

• Write Fiction Faster! — How to Speed Up Your Story Writing 
  
  
• Need a Great Idea for Your Next Story? Try the Story IDEA Formula
  
  
• From Idea to Story: 3 Methods to Develop Your Story Idea 
  
  
• How to Write Characters Who Stick in the Reader's Mind 
  
  
• What Makes a Good Story? — Great Scenes! Here's How to Write Them
  
  
• Make Your Story Sing — Write Great Dialogue!
  
  
• Flash Fiction: How To Use It To Supercharge Your Writing 
  
  
• Blast Through Writer's Block: How to Get Unstuck 

FREE COURSE, GUIDE AND WORKBOOK

Do you want to write fiction faster, while practicing your craft and your writing process to consistently get better? Check out this link to the "Write Fiction Faster ... and better" guide and workbook, which comes with a companion course with 23 bite-sized video lessons and 4 worksheets.