Lesson 15. The Narrator: A Primer│The Mechanics of Fiction Writing

Understanding Narration in Creative Writing

The Importance of the Narrator

• Lucas, an eminent writer, initiated a workshop with the fundamental question: “What is a story?” This set the stage for exploring how good fiction serves as a cognitive simulation of dynamic story worlds that entertain and explore human nature.

• A pivotal moment occurred when a talented novelist realized during Lucas's discussion on narrators that she had never considered who was telling her story, despite being in advanced writing programs.

• This anecdote highlights a broader issue in creative writing education: even experienced writers can have fundamental realizations about storytelling, indicating gaps in teaching methods.

Critique of Creative Writing Terminology

• The speaker critiques common terminology used by writers to discuss narrators, suggesting it lacks precision compared to scholarly discourse from earlier literary theorists.

• The speaker attributes this imprecision to laziness among writers, questioning whether they avoid rigorous learning by relying on intuitive approaches instead.

Learning from Gerard Genette

• The speaker emphasizes the need for thorough understanding of narrative techniques and introduces concepts from French scholar Gerard Genette’s work from the 1980s as essential tools for writers.

Understanding Narrative Perspectives

Common Misconceptions About Narrators

• The role of the narrator is complex and well-studied, with two common misconceptions regarding narrative perspectives.

• The first misconception involves the "first-person" narrator, characterized by the use of first-person pronouns to convey personal experiences.

• The second misconception pertains to the "third-person" narrator, which uses third-person pronouns to describe events in the storyworld.

Grammatical vs. Narrative Postures

• First and third person are grammatical terms rather than true narrative postures; this terminology can be misleading for understanding a narrator's role.

• The focus should shift from pronoun usage to understanding who the narrator is and their relationship to the story being told.

Genette's Concept of Narrative Posture

• Genette’s terminology of "narrative posture" emphasizes critical elements such as who speaks in a narrative rather than just what pronouns are used.

• Important questions about narrators include their perspective, gender identity, knowledge level, involvement in action, trustworthiness, and reasons for adopting a specific narrative posture.

Implications of Narrative Questions

• These questions help clarify how a narrator presents information and influence storytelling significantly beyond simple classifications like first or third person.

• Simplistic binary classifications (first vs. third person) do not adequately capture the complexities involved in narrating a story effectively.

Translating Complex Concepts

• Genette's work on narrators is complex and often difficult for writers; thus, there is a need for translation into more accessible language for practical application.