Types of Narration

Types of Narration:

I could describe for you the meaning of each narration style, but than you may or may not understand. So I have instead written each of the following using the style itself, so that you can see how each style is used. Some styles are similar, for example, both the second person account and the choose your own adventure are written using second person account, however, the format is slightly different.

Most every book you read is written using the third person account. It is the easiest to write and the easiest to read, it is used in both fiction and nonfiction stories.

Also common, is the first person account. This style is used most often in books were the main character is a child, teen, or young adult. True romance stories are often written in this style. The first person account is used in both fiction and nonfiction stories.

A monolog is a type of first person account, usually seen in script writing for comic books and movies. A monolog is a long wordy style that uses a ton of unnecessary words, and often has the character arguing with their own inner conscience. This style is commonly used when the villain is the main character. It is also used by nearly every villain in super hero comic books as a way of speaking.

The most difficult and rarely used style is the second person account. Most every book written in this style is a mystery novel, as this is the perfect genre for second person accounts, though other genres sometimes use it as well. The reader is the main character…the narrator of this story has no name, no age, no gender, no personality, or any other identifiable traits written into the story. By doing this the reader is able to take on the identity of the main character. The secondary characters, the plot, and the scenes are vividly described to make up for not describing the main character. Physical scenes, emotions, and sub conscious thoughts a described with crystal clarity. The reader must feel everything the main character feels, smell everything the main character smells, taste, hear, and touch everything the main character does. It’s a grueling style to write, too difficult for the average writer to pull of convincingly, but when well written the second person account can be the most enjoyable style writing for the reader. Common types to use this style are: Choose Your Own Adventure, Murder Mysteries, Role Playing Novels, and Role Playing Games.
First Person Account:

When I write in first person account, I am telling you the story like it is, the way I saw it happen. I’m telling you this because this is how it affected my family, and me and the world has a right to know what happened to us.

Second Person Account:

You are sitting at your desk ready to write. You are a very good writer, you know this, but you can’t understand why writing a second person account is so difficult. You decide to call one of your writing buddies to ask. The phone rings. No one answers. You hang up the receiver and decide to move on to a different writing style.

Third Person Account:

When Harry writes a book, this is the style he uses most often, because it is the easiest style in which to write. He had tried writing in other styles, because many of his friends had told him that he should. However after much trial and error Harry, decided that third person had proved to be the easiest format for him to write, and so this the one he uses for almost every book he writes now.

The Personal Record:

Dear Readers, I do not know when or how you will come by this, my diary, in which I am keeping this account of my life. I’m sure you will soon learn, because a terrible injustice has been done, that I have to hide this book from those who would seek to destroy it. I must write down these events so that when I am gone the world my learn from my mistakes. Please dear reader, do not make the same mistakes I made.

The Monolog:

You dare ask ME! ME! The great overlord of all life! Me! Your captor! Me, the almighty one! Me! The ultimate life form! You dare ask me, why I write using this style! The impotence! The audacity! The ignorance! You fool! Must I explain everything to your puny incompetent brain? I write like this because it is part of my master plan to destroy the world!

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Soon, I shall control the universe! It’ll be mine, mine I tell you! Mine! MINE! All mine! Mwa_HAHAHAhahah…ha…ha… heh… heh… heh…eh?

Wait…could it be that this is wrong? Could there be another way for me to gain control of the universe without violence? Should I find another way? What am I saying? I love violence! And you! YOU! You incompetent little worm! You shall be my first victim!

BWaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Choose Your Own Adventure/Choose Your Fate:

It was a dark and stormy night. You see the lightening flash! You shudder as the thunder clatters outside your window. You are tired and want desperately to go to bed, but your report is due by morning, so you must continue to type away. You must not be bothered by the sounds around you.

Suddenly you hear a crash outside your window…

1) If you think it was just a falling limb, than keep on typing to the next page.

2) If you think it was a car accident than grab your raincoat and turn to page 10 to go outside and find out.

3) If you think is was a ghost in your attic, than get a flashlight and turn to page 33.