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What techniques can you use to control narrative distance in writing?

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Narrative distance, the gap between your readers and the story's action, is a crucial but often overlooked aspect of writing. It's the lens through which readers experience your tale, and mastering it can transform your storytelling. By manipulating narrative distance, you can bring readers close enough to whisper in their ears or position them as distant observers. Understanding and controlling this distance is essential for creating the desired emotional impact and ensuring your readers are right where you want them in the story's unfolding events.

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Lois Ujadu-Francis

I write stories! I teach you how to write stories. LinkedIn Storyteller
Brooke Black

Crafting Publishable Manuscripts | Editing Your Words | Amplifying Author Voices
Faith Chukwueze

Conversion Copywriter| Email marketer|I help business owners who don't have money to waste convert prospects into…

1 Point of View

The point of view (POV) you choose plays a significant role in setting narrative distance. First-person POV creates intimacy, placing readers inside the character's head. Second-person, though less common, addresses the reader directly, effectively narrowing the distance. Third-person limited allows insight into one character's thoughts, offering a balance between closeness and distance. Omniscient POV, however, positions readers further away, providing a god-like overview without delving deeply into any single character's psyche.

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Faith Chukwueze

Conversion Copywriter| Email marketer|I help business owners who don't have money to waste convert prospects into customers and improve overall Marketing ROI | Founder @Pearlstore
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Use POV as a technique to control your narrative distance. Try to position your readers further away by providing a good overview without going deeply into the character's behavior

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Tuba Najam

writer
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Use pov to connect your readers with your story Every pov plays a different role Pov work as a connection Readers easily understand the story and it's narration when you use pov

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2 Show vs. Tell

'Show, don't tell' is a mantra for a reason. Showing through vivid details and actions pulls readers into the moment, reducing narrative distance. Telling, on the other hand, summarizes events or feelings, increasing the distance. By choosing when to show more (zooming in on a character's specific experience) and when to tell (providing a broader overview), you can control how close your readers feel to the action.

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Faith Chukwueze

Conversion Copywriter| Email marketer|I help business owners who don't have money to waste convert prospects into customers and improve overall Marketing ROI | Founder @Pearlstore
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Showing rather than telling is good for your narratives. Telling summarizes the event and feelings that increase the narrative distance

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3 Free Indirect Speech

Free indirect speech blurs the line between a character's thoughts and the narrator's voice. It allows you to dip in and out of a character's consciousness without explicit dialogue tags or internal monologue markers. This technique can subtly shift narrative distance, making readers feel closer to a character's inner world and personalizing their experience without fully relinquishing the narrator's control.

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Brooke Black

Crafting Publishable Manuscripts | Editing Your Words | Amplifying Author Voices
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One of the key benefits of using free indirect speech is its ability to create a sense of immediacy and intimacy with your characters, allowing readers to experience the story through their eyes while still maintaining the narrative authority of the narrator. This can be especially effective for building empathy and understanding between readers and characters, as it allows for a deeper exploration of their inner lives and motivations. At the same time, free indirect speech can also help you maintain a certain level of narrative distance, preventing your writing from becoming too claustrophobic or overwhelming.

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4 Descriptive Detail

The amount and type of descriptive detail you include can adjust narrative distance. Sparse descriptions can create a detached feeling, suitable for scenes where emotional distance is intended. Conversely, rich, sensory details draw readers in, fostering a more intimate connection with the setting and characters. Balancing these details can help you steer the reader's proximity to the narrative.

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Lois Ujadu-Francis

I write stories! I teach you how to write stories. LinkedIn Storyteller
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Giving a detailed description of your characters can bridge the distance in writing. This will make your readers visualize characters in a way that brings them closer to your writing.

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5 Pacing and Structure

Pacing and structure influence narrative distance through the rhythm and flow of your story. Fast pacing with short sentences and paragraphs can propel readers through the narrative, creating a sense of immediacy. On the other hand, slower pacing with longer descriptive passages can create a reflective distance. The structure of your narrative, including flashbacks or nonlinear timelines, can also affect how closely readers engage with the story.

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Javeria Usmani

Helping Healthcare Brands Grow Engagement by 3x | Health & Wellness Copywriter | Social Media & Content Strategist | Brand Storyteller | Digital Marketer
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By manipulating pacing and structure, you can create a narrative that's both engaging and informative, making complex health topics more accessible and memorable for your readers.

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6 Dialogue and Interiority

Dialogue naturally decreases narrative distance by letting characters speak for themselves, inviting readers into the conversation. Interior monologue, or characters' inner thoughts and reflections, can also close the gap, especially when written in first-person or in a stream-of-consciousness style. Balancing dialogue with moments of interiority gives you nuanced control over how deeply readers connect with your characters' experiences.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What techniques can you use to control narrative distance in writing?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Point of View

2 Show vs. Tell

3 Free Indirect Speech

4 Descriptive Detail

5 Pacing and Structure

6 Dialogue and Interiority

7 Here’s what else to consider

Writing

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What techniques can you use to control narrative distance in writing?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Point of View

2 Show vs. Tell

3 Free Indirect Speech

4 Descriptive Detail

5 Pacing and Structure

6 Dialogue and Interiority

7 Here’s what else to consider

Writing

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