I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

How can one character narrate past events to another character?

What are the 3 types of narration?

There are three popular forms:

  • First Person – In this point of view, a character (typically the protagonist, but not always) is telling the story. …
  • Second Person – In this point of view, the author uses a narrator to speak to the reader. …
  • Third Person – In this point of view, an external narrator is telling the story.

How do you narrate a character?

First person point of view allows a character, usually the main character, to narrate the story using the pronouns “I” and “me.” Third person point of view is a voice that is outside of the action. The perspective of the narrator will determine how a character’s information is revealed over the course of the story.

How do you introduce a character to your backstory?

Here is some writing advice to help you introduce your characters as effectively as possible:

  1. Don’t get bogged down in physical appearance. …
  2. Give your character a memorable character trait. …
  3. Start with backstory when appropriate. …
  4. Introduce a character through action. …
  5. Introduce the main character as soon as possible.

How do you write a dual perspective narrative?

Write each narrative separately first. Introduce both narratives quickly so that readers know they’ll be moving between the two. Keep chapters short. Look for clashes first, not connections – you’ll spot connections and similarities later and you’ll be able to tweak your chapter or scene endings to emphasise them.

How do you deliver a backstory?

Here are my top three tips for delivering backstory effectively in your novel.
Backstory Best Practices

  1. Only insert backstory where it’s relevant. Backstory should always be triggered by something that’s happening in the story present. …
  2. Avoid “info-dumping” at all costs. …
  3. Always show the reader why the backstory matters.

How do you weave a backstory into a novel?

How to Weave Backstory Into Your Novel

  1. First Action, Then Back Story. First, show the break up. …
  2. Use Back Story to Slow Down Your Novel. One of the main reasons it’s generally not recommended that you provide a character’s back story too early is that it slows the novel. …
  3. The Reader Doesn’t Need to Know Everything You Do.

What is parallel narrative?

Parallel storylines – also called parallel narratives or parallel plots – are story structures where the writer incorporates two or more separate stories. They’re usually linked by a common character, event, or theme.

How do you connect two stories together?

Tie characters by their proximity to other characters or story events. Join characters through their motivations and goals, their backgrounds, their skills, and by their secrets. Setting and tone are often threaded together for story cohesion.

What is it called when the author writes from multiple perspectives?

Multiperspectivity (sometimes polyperspectivity) is a characteristic of narration or representation, where more than one perspective is represented to the audience.



How do you introduce a character example?

Introduce the character alongside another, and describe them by contrasting them. This is a good way to bring their physical descriptions in. For example: ‘unlike my diminutive and dainty sister, I was tall and had wide shoulders. No one had ever called me dainty’; that sort of thing.

When should you reveal a character’s backstory?

We should discover character backstory only when it’s natural and necessary. For example, I wrote a novella in which the main character is missing three fingers from his right hand. This detail is clearly established in the second scene, yet the reader doesn’t immediately know where his fingers went.

How do you introduce a character’s appearance?

When you introduce a character for the first time, you should focus on the things a person would naturally notice first, such as their face, hair, clothing, voice, and general energy. You can further elaborate on their appearance later when it is relevant, and describe their gait, posture, temperament, and more.

How do you introduce a character in a third person story?

When writing in the third person, use the person’s name and pronouns, such as he, she, it, and they. This perspective gives the narrator freedom to tell the story from a single character’s perspective. The narrator may describe the thoughts and feelings going through the character’s head as they tell the story.

How do you make two characters meet?

Some general, non specific things I can think of:



  1. they live in the same dorm.
  2. they attend the same class.
  3. one of them has a friend that stretches him/her socially.
  4. they eat at the same place everyday.
  5. they buy their books at the bookstore at the same time and run into each other that way.

How do you start a story in second person?

Writing in the second person requires use of the pronouns you, your, and yours. This point of view is used to address the audience in technical writing, advertising, songs and speeches.