The Art Of Narrating

Have I not mentioned already on this blog, that my dream is to write a book? May be not. I am a true Sagittarius...secretive :D. Anyways, I have been reading so many books since my 5th grade??? Yet I did not concentrate on the narrating style of any of the authors I read. I was impressed by their choice of words or the way they could make the reader identify themselves with one of the characters. Narration is an art in itself.

I could write pages about myself or about someone or something. But I don't think I can narrate a story. I don't think I can write how a conversation between two people would be. This needs thinking like two different people. All am good at is thinking like a person...to be more honest, thinking like me or someone like me. That makes me a bad author I guess.

Case 1 - Narrating as I: In first person

Well I might be good at this. But then again, the character will have close resemblance to me. I am so self-centered and self-absorbed which is the worst quality of a writer I believe. I should start writing short fictional stories. Seriously. May be a good idea is to pick someone from the life around me, observe that person, think like that person and talk like that person. Do writers really do all this? Would not they loose their own identity over a period of time if they start thinking like others? Anyway, this must be the easiest form of narration if the character does not divulge too much from your own character?!!

Case 2 - Narrating as Her/ Him: In Second person

As long as you can understand someone, this should be easy. I really should try. Try telling a story as the other person does. From her/ his view.

Case 3 - Narrating as Multiple characters: Other form of case 1, but as different characters

This is the most difficult. To be in different minds. I like Jodi Picoult's novels in this regard. Her novels are split into chapters, each chapter narrated by different characters in the book. And its amazing how she describes those characters and their worlds. Each having tangential views. How does she do that?

Case 4 - Narrating as non-human beings...say dogs:

Well I read few novels where the narrators are non-humans. For eg., a dog. This is way too fictional and is far from reality. And I must suck at it. I have trouble accepting other human beings, forget about accepting a non-human and try to talk like it.

So well, there is my Problem Definition :D. Project Narration. Starting tomorrow, I should make efforts to talk, think and write like someone else. Let me see who that first character is going to be!