Asides and soliloquies

eliflauta · May 10, 2007

In novel writing, how do you feel about the use of asides and soliloquies by the narrator? Also, sometimes the author himself/herself will write an aside apart from all the characters; do you like those, or are they annoying? Leave you thoughts, please!

Claudia Gray · May 10, 2007

I don't think it's possible to generalize -- I've seen the device used self-indulgently and annoyingly, but I've also seen it used brilliantly. It's a tool, neither good nor bad, save in how it is put to work in a specific book.

maestrowork · May 10, 2007

Usually I find author intrusion annoying -- it yanks me right out of the story and it seems narcissistic ("hey look, the author has something to say"). There are writers who are great at adding their own views and opinions seamlessly into the narrative, and that's fine. But in general, you have to be pretty masterful to pull that off.

IrishScribbler · May 10, 2007

Some do it well, and with purpose (The Princess Bride), and in others, it bugs me (A Prayer for Owen Meany). As with everything, write well, and do what works for the story.

I say try it, and go from there. You can always edit.

Jamesaritchie · May 11, 2007

Intrusion

It always annoys the heck out of me when the writer intrudes on the story, but the narrator can sometimes do so very effectively, depending on who the narrator is, and why the intrusion/aside takes place.

maestrowork · May 11, 2007

I read a book a few years ago -- the story was told mostly in 3rd limited, but at a few points the author intruded with the "I..." commentaries (like Who TF is this "I"), and it just felt wrong and I stopped reading.

eliflauta · May 12, 2007

Thank you all. So, what do you think makes an aside work or fail?

Blushing Apple · May 12, 2007

I like asides from the main character's point of view in a tense situation, as long as it doesn't last too long. I think it builds suspense as to what he or she is going to decide to do.

Asides and soliloquies

eliflauta

Claudia Gray

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

IrishScribbler

Jamesaritchie

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

eliflauta

Blushing Apple