You would think by now I would have this one figured out, but maybe not. The last contest I entered had a recurring theme from the judges. You have to show and not tell. I thought I was showing, well turns out I was telling with action. Yes, narrative can move a story forward or stop it abruptly, depending on how you use it. And while narrative is not always bad, the rule of thumb is show not tell.

Now back to Narrative Do’s and Don’ts

Narrative. Should I or shouldn’t I? We all know the unspoken rule of writing. And for those who need a reminder, it’s show don’t tell. With this being said, there are legitimate reasons for using narrative and there are legitimate reasons for not using narrative.

Dos and Don’ts

• Do – use Narrative to speed through scenes that aren’t important but relevant to the storyline.
• Do – use Narrative to slow the pace after an intense scene to allow your reader to catch their breath.
• Do – use Narrative to show the passing of time.
• Don’t – Narrative can sound like lecture if not done properly. Someone interrupted the story to give a speech.
• Don’t – Narrative summary can make it unclear whose POV you’re working in.
• Don’t – Narrative runs the risk of robbing scenes of their power. It summarizes everything and important scenes aren’t allowed to play out.

So, there it is. There is much more to Narrative that I’m not getting into today, but hopefully this short blog gives you something to think about. Narrative is an important tool in writing when used correctly, but can be your downfall if used incorrectly.

Something to think about.

-Jan R