9 things to consider when choosing the right narrative voice
Narrative voice plays a pivotal role in shaping the reader's experience, and there are just as many reasons to choose a type of voice as there are stories.
It is the heartbeat of the story, shaping a reader’s experience as it’s the lens through which a story is told. It is the style, tone, and perspective that the author employs to immerse readers in their literary world.
As writers, we carefully consider the nuances of our characters, the plot, and the themes as we decide the most suitable voice for our story. It’s important to understanding the qualities of first-person, third-person limited, and third-person omniscient so we can make informed decisions. The write voice will help deliver a strong emotional impact of our stories.
What is Narrative Voice?
Narrative voice refers to the personality, perspective, and tone of a story. It is the voice that a reader hears as he or she reads the story, and shapes their emotional connection with the characters and events. We won’t touch on the Second Person narrative voice as it’s not very common, but the primary voices writers use are:
First Person: The protagonist or main character is the narrator. The use of pronouns like "I," "we," and "us" creates an intimate connection with the reader. This voice provides an intimate and personal connection with the protagonist or main character, offering a deeper understanding of thoughts, feelings, and motivations.
Third Person Limited: The story is told from an external viewpoint, focusing on a single character's thoughts and experiences. The pronouns "he," "she," or "they" are used to refer to the characters. This voice allows for a broader view of the story while maintaining a level of closeness to the protagonist or main character.
Third Person Omniscient: Third-person omniscient narrative voice allows the author god-like insight into the thoughts and emotions of all characters. Be careful when using this as if done incorrectly it can quickly go from omniscient to “head hopping.” But this voice offers a more distant and all-encompassing perspective, allowing the reader to perceive the bigger picture of the story's world.
Choosing the Right Narrative Voice
Selecting the most suitable narrative voice for a story can be a delicate decision, as it shapes how readers connect with the characters and interpret the events. Here are some crucial factors to consider when making this choice:
The narrative voice must align with the complexity of the characters. First person works well when the protagonist's internal struggles are central to the plot. It provides an intimate portrayal of their growth. This allows readers to see the rich inner world and complex motivations through the character's eyes, fostering empathy and understanding. Third person limited or omniscient might be more appropriate for stories with multiple intricate characters.
The narrative voice should complement the complexity and scope of your story. Will you have more intricate plots and various subplots, or will the narrative be more streamlined? If it’s the former, then third person omniscient might be most effective, while the latter is more suited for the more focused first-person or third person limited perspectives.
The tone you use influences the narrative voice. A first-person voice might create a sense of immediacy and emotional intensity. Stories using the first-person voice will be more character-driven narratives, as would third person limited. Third-person omniscient could lend a more detached and objective tone to the narrative. Third-person omniscient are more suitable for epic or multifaceted stories as they provide a comprehensive view of the entire world.
Consider the level of proximity between the readers and characters. First-person brings readers closest to the protagonist's emotions, while third person provides some emotional distance, allowing readers to interpret the characters' feelings themselves. Each type establishes a certain level of intimacy between your readers and characters.
If your story thrives on suspense and reveals, the choice of narrative voice can be vital. First-person can withhold information and create an unreliable narrator, while third-person omniscient may reveal more, impacting the suspense factor. A first-person and third-person limited stories will be more suited for whodunits while third-person omniscient stories could be more howdunits or whydunits.
The Dangers of Choosing the Wrong Narrative Voice
An inappropriate narrative voice can have detrimental effects, so here is a brief exploration of some of those dangers:
Lack of Reader Connection: Using the wrong narrative voice might result in a disconnect between readers and the characters. If readers cannot emotionally engage with the characters or feel distant from their experiences, they may struggle to connect with the story on a deeper level.
Inconsistent Tone and Atmosphere: Mismatching the narrative voice with the tone and atmosphere of the story can create a jarring experience for the reader. For instance, a lighthearted and humorous story told through a dark and serious first-person voice may confuse the audience.
Narrative Imbalance: An inappropriate narrative voice can lead to an imbalance in storytelling. If a story demands multiple character perspectives to present a complete picture, sticking with a single character's first-person narration might limit the story's potential.
Loss of Narrative Authority: The wrong narrative voice can diminish the author's authority over the story. A poorly chosen voice may make the writing appear forced or artificial, undermining the narrative’s credibility.
Unfulfilled Potential: Each narrative voice possesses its own strengths and limitations. Opting for the wrong voice would stifle the story's potential and prevent it from reaching its full emotional and thematic depth.