My "Narrative Voice"

I know I have babbled to some of you about "narrative voice", or my shortened, preferred version, "narrative". What I haven't done is explain what it is - I might have tried, but I think I can ascertain that it was deficient, I usually am no good explaining things I am very fond of other than in writing.

What I call narrative is what the rest of the world calls "authorative voice", and is, in short, the voice, or the presence of the author in any given work of fiction. Choice of words, phrasing - or structure of sentences, if you wish - use of punctuation and structure. It is, of course, most prominent in the instances that a third-person point of view is used, but it is always there.

Compare Tolkien to Dahl, for instance. Dahl is sardonic, and Tolkien always, always very scholarly. Certain traits stay with them through their bibliography - developing, of course -, and makes them recognizable and enjoyable.

My "Narrative Voice"

I know I have babbled to some of you about "narrative voice", or my shortened, preferred version, "narrative". What I haven't done is explain what it is - I might have tried, but I think I can ascertain that it was deficient, I usually am no good explaining things I am very fond of other than in writing.

What I call narrative is what the rest of the world calls "authorative voice", and is, in short, the voice, or the presence of the author in any given work of fiction. Choice of words, phrasing - or structure of sentences, if you wish - use of punctuation and structure. It is, of course, most prominent in the instances that a third-person point of view is used, but it is always there.

Compare Tolkien to Dahl, for instance. Dahl is sardonic, and Tolkien always, always very scholarly. Certain traits stay with them through their bibliography - developing, of course -, and makes them recognizable and enjoyable.