Narrative Elements
What are
the narrative elements?
Scene:
Scenes are where the action happens, when we are in “real time” with our narrator or characters. It is almost impossible to write a story without scenes. (I highly recommend Scofield’s handy primer on the topic, THE SCENE BOOK.)
Summary:
Summary is how we compress time and move a story forward. It is how we incorporate backstory. It shows us what happened, and foreshadows what is to come.
Exposition:
Exposition is the information we need to understand the context for events; it is how specialized knowledge is conveyed in a story, whether fiction or non.
& Interiority:
Interiority is the way we access thought and emotion—the complex, messy, internal business of being human.
(Adapted from Sandra Scofield’s book, THE LAST DRAFT: A NOVELIST’S GUIDE TO REVISION
Why teach these concepts?
As writers, we tend to think about the micro structural elements of fiction (and memoir) as being the sentence, the paragraph, or the chapter. Take it up to the macro level, and the discussion turns to character, plot, conflict, point of view, and theme.
This is all good, juicy, important stuff that is well worth considering.
But if you’re trying to write your way to the end of a book-length manuscript, or revising a draft, focusing on sentences and paragraphs is the road to insanity. Working on plot mechanics without being clear about scene structure is like trying to ride a bike without wheels.
But what I’ve found in my work as a developmental editor is that many writers—even, and sometimes especially, writers who are skilled with language, imagery, and tone—aren’t entirely clear about how scenes function in a narrative.
I’ve also encountered the idea that summary and exposition are, well, a bit boring. As though manipulating time and establishing a unique world is work better left to wizards. Shocking!
As for interiority? It is what sets prose apart from the other narrative arts—the ability to see inside the mind and heart. And yet I’ve read many character-driven novels and memoirs that don’t use this element to the fullest advantage.
What’s the connection between teaching the narrative elements and developmental editing?
That’s easy.
First, if a writer has a working knowledge of the narrative elements, we have a shared vocabulary that allows us to talk about a story in clearly defined terms.
Second, if a writer has practice working with these elements, revising is exponentially easier.
Third, mastering these elements opens the door to really understanding the good, juicy stuff mentioned earlier: character, plot, conflict, point of view, and theme.
Studying the narrative elements and incorporating them more deliberately in your work will make you a better writer, more in command of your craft, and more able to achieve the effects you’re aiming for as a storyteller.