Eiji Tunsinagi

...and not when it's 1st person. I think I have a problem when I'm writing narroration (in 3rd person),because it sounds too "casual." Maybe its just because I'm used to reading things that are very serious (so the narroration doesnt crack any jokes) but in my writing style, no matter what genre I may be writing, or serious, I always tend to have an almost funny narroration. I mean, I like it, and of course I dont use it in essays and things like that (for school)....but is it a good or a bad thing?

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gabriella

...I didn't understand a WORD you just said.

what are you writing? Fantasy, comedy? Cause in epic fantasy, that's BAD. In Terry Pratchett's fantasy spoof, that's GOOD. In horror, that's BAD. Sooo...?
I really don't know how you can pull off a humor narrative without 1st person (unless it's something like Terry Pratchett ish) so a little excerpt would be great. Please.

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Eiji Tunsinagi

For example, have you read Dreamcatcher by Stephen King? Its really a sci fi horror but some parts of the narroration are funny. It how some things are explained---it almost reads like its one of the characters explaining it.

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"nothing is perfect, nothing lasts, and nothing is finished."

"how will you go about finding that thing the nature of which is totally unknown to you?"

eleutheromaniac

It depends. The narration should be consistent (unless you are hinting at a change in narration, as with my book.) For example, if you've established the narrator as an unbiased voice, you can't suddenly give the narrator an opinion on someone or something.

But humouress narrative is fine, if that suits the narrator's established personality/disposition.

But regardless, if it work it works. Do whatever you want. You're the writer.

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Eiji Tunsinagi

I'll put it like this. The unbiased voice in my novel is funny. Is there anything wrong with that? Even though they are non existent (its in 3rd person) When you read it, its funny-----you just dont know why.

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"nothing is perfect, nothing lasts, and nothing is finished."

"how will you go about finding that thing the nature of which is totally unknown to you?"

Spudley

Nothing wrong with it at all.

There's a lot of books out there that are either funny all the way through or have parts that are meant to be humourous. And like most book, the majority of them are written in the third person.

Try reading the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - the narrator is third person, but it is incredibly funny to read.

Hope that helped

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Eiji Tunsinagi

I've been reading Hitchhikers guide the the galaxy, and thats what made me think about the subject. Most of my stories (though not as crazy) read just like it. (Semi) Serious, but still funny.

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"nothing is perfect, nothing lasts, and nothing is finished."

"how will you go about finding that thing the nature of which is totally unknown to you?"

Spudley

It sounds like you're well on the right track then. Go for it.

Sounds like they should be pretty good reading.

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Eiji Tunsinagi

I've never read anything ike it, but that might be because Im the one writing it. Yay.

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"nothing is perfect, nothing lasts, and nothing is finished."

"how will you go about finding that thing the nature of which is totally unknown to you?"

Vicki

If you have a distictive 'voice' in your writing, that's great. Every good author has their own 'voice', it's what makes them unique.

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Vicki

Talia_Brie

That's right. Having a distinctive voice is a strong element for making the book stand out. I think I understand what your saying, the voice is slightly sarcastic, or has a quirkly point of view. Lots of writers try that type of thing, and most of them make it successful.

All I would suggest is making sure of two things:

1. The voice is consistant
2. The tone of voice is appropriate to the content.

Good luck.

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jay_vasquez84

Pretty much agreeing with what eleutheromaniac said.

Unless the narrator's quirky mood is consistent, you should keep the mood of both story and the teller, in sync and in scale ( similar to music's rhythim and harmony). You wouldn't have a narrator crack jokes in the middle of a funeral setting, nor use the gore and bile of horror stories to describe the tranquil sound of a distant waterfall. Remember that, as a writer, it's up to you to paint a moustache on the Mona Lisa.

Ralizah

Nothing wrong with that. If you're going to do it in third person, though, make sure to keep it consistent. nothing annoys me more than a 'serious' novel constantly switching from narration to narration... seriously, unless it's a stylistic effect, choose one or the other.

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