“The tension between the author’s style and his or her characters’ styles becomes acute when three elements coincide: when a notable stylist is at work, like Bellow or Joyce; when that stylist also has a commitment to following the perceptions and thoughts of his or her characters (a commitment usually organized by free indirect style or its offspring, stream of consciousness); and when the stylist has a special interest in the rendering of detail.” (James Wood, How Fiction Works)
Writing Exercise: Mastering the Tension Between Authorial and Character Voice
Techniques Illustrated by the Quotation:
1. Free Indirect Style & Stream of Consciousness: The ability to seamlessly shift between the author’s voice and a character’s interior world without breaking the flow of narration.
2. Stylistic Distinctiveness vs. Character Perspective: Balancing the author’s unique prose style with the authentic voice of a character to create tension and depth.
3. Precision in Detail: Using meticulously chosen details to deepen immersion and reveal character psychology rather than simply describe the setting.
500-Word Writing Prompt:
Write a third-person scene that follows a character through a seemingly mundane but emotionally charged moment—such as walking through a supermarket, waiting in a doctor’s office, or preparing a meal—while capturing their thoughts and perceptions in free indirect style. The challenge is to balance your own narrative style with the character’s way of seeing and interpreting the world.
Your authorial voice should subtly shape the prose without overriding the character’s thought patterns. Use detailed observations that feel specific to the character rather than generic description. Let the tension between your stylistic choices and the character’s inner world create complexity in the narration.
Example setup: A former pianist who lost the ability to play due to an injury moves through a crowded subway station, hyper-aware of the rhythm of footsteps, the sound of closing doors, and the absence of the music that once structured their life.
Evaluation Criteria:
• Authenticity of Character’s Perspective: The character’s thoughts and perceptions should feel distinctly theirs rather than merely an extension of the author’s stylistic tendencies.
• Seamless Free Indirect Style: The writing should glide between the character’s consciousness and a more distanced narration without abrupt shifts or inconsistent tone.
• Detail with Psychological Weight: The details presented should not just decorate the scene but reveal something deeper about the character’s mindset.
Strong vs. Weak Execution:
• Strong: “The fluorescent hum thickened the air, pressing against her skull like a headache that hadn’t started yet. Someone’s cart squealed a syncopated rhythm—four beats, a catch, four beats, a catch. It was absurd how much she still counted, still waited for the second note that would never come.”
• Weak: “She walked into the grocery store. The lights were bright. A cart had a bad wheel, making an annoying noise. It reminded her of music, which made her sad.”
Follow-Up Questions for Workshopping/Revision:
• Does the character’s way of seeing the world feel distinct and fully realized?
• Where does the author’s stylistic voice enhance the character’s perception, and where does it dominate too much?
• Are the details doing emotional or psychological work, or are they just filling space?
• How does the rhythm of the sentences reflect the character’s state of mind?
Recommended Reading:
• Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (excerpt: Clarissa walking through London)
• Herzog by Saul Bellow (excerpt: Moses Herzog’s inner monologue)
• The Dead by James Joyce (final paragraphs exploring Gabriel’s consciousness)
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