How Fiction Works Writing Meme -- Day Three

[ladyofleithian]

 3 - How reliable are your narrators? Can we believe everything they say? Or are they unreliable, their narration shaded by their feelings? Do your readers usually have more information than the character narrating? Do you use an external narrator, who is not part of the story? Are they reliable? Do you prefer reading a reliable or unreliable narrator?

I usually like a little of both -- at least, I want people to know what's going on, but at the same time, I want to play with points of view as well. I think it's definitely a benefit of unreliable narrators, e.g. me getting into the heads of my Well-Intentioned Extremist villains. Them thinking that they're right and everyone else is wrong, basically. They're terrifying to write, but at the same time, bizarrely fun. And even beyond that, having a narrator who's trying to tell all of the story they can, but is colored by some of their biases (e.g. writing in the RR-Verse for Anakin and co., and being occasionally tainted by biases). 

I also usually give the readers more information via head-hopping; I think it kind of builds suspense. As for external narrators -- I can't really say I have. 

As for reading -- I kind of like a little of both as well. I mean, I like knowing the facts, but at the same time, there's something really interesting about unreliable narrators, I think. It gives more of an insight into their personality, I think. Although mostly, I love me my unreliable narrators. They make a story more interesting, I think. 
 

Comments

[meridian_rose]

I've changed my mind a little about this question since I answered it previously as it's become clear that sometimes my characters might be unreliable narrators for valid reasons. My response to this is to make sure another character will, at some point, call them on their fabrications, but still. (Since the characters in question are supernatural creatures with long lifespans to recall and a need to lie almost constantly to humans, the unreliable narration fits here in a way I'd not felt comfortable with before).

You make very interesting points about POV of the villain and the narrator biases :) I'm glad you're doing the meme and giving me a chance to see your thoughts and rethink my answers!

(Also, music: Emilie Autumn :D)

[ladyofleithian]

Thanks! :D And very well-said. :)

And Emilie Autumn is made of awesome. Seriously. :3