Can my characters interact with my narrator? (and vice versa)
I know that this idea is not totally 'revolutionary' as this type of narration has been used in Breakfast of champions, for example. But, Unlike Vonnegut, I want the 'Narrator talks to the characters and or reader' trope to be prevalent across the whole novel, where the Narrator interacts/gives opinions on/judges what is happening in the scene etc, and the characters themselves know that the Narrator is Narrating them.
(The narrator is just some sort of sentient... 'voice' that just narrates, but has opinions and judgements etc on things.) However, I cant seem to think of a good way of implementing this type of narration, and I'm struggling to not make it 'cheesy' or convoluted. I want to make it so that the reader does still feel immersed in my world, with the added uncommon experience of that type of narration.
Question: How can one write a narrator which interacts with the characters, but wont come off as UN-needed and wont ruin the immersion of the reader?
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Multiple personality disorder
Maybe it's not a real condition, but in anything but the most serious work it may suit you well. And I am assuming this is not 100% serious if we are talking to the narrator.
So just have a background personality tell the story. It can only see from the protagonists eyes but tells the story indifferent to being the narrator and not having control. Tee protagonist can sometimes stop and maybe even in front of everyone argue with the voice in his head.
If you want this to be more "normal" maybe the story could instead be told by a ghost haunting the protagonist. The ghost can see more, and have a looser camera, but still the protagonist can hear it, and can argue with it.
If you want to see this done to an extreme see
VALIS by Philip K. Dick. Where the narrator sees the protagonist as a separate person while they are not.
I honestly can't remember if it's a spoiler. Either way knowing it does not change the book, but tags just in case.
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There was a Will Farrell movie about exactly this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_than_Fiction_(2006_film)
so yes it is possible.
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I wrote a scene recently in which one character speaks to the readers directly. He informs them about why he's going to be taking a certain action in a certain way which influences the storyline. It's not done for laughs at all, and answers some questions the readers would otherwise have. Then he leaves and says, "The next time you see me, I'll pretend not to know you." It shouldn't (I hope!) detract from immersion in the world because the other characters are unaware this has happened.
If you want the narrator to be a NON-character whom the other characters interact with though, as Cyn said that's getting very absurdist. Absurdist work can be serious in tone and emotionally involving, but honestly I need examples, as I'm having trouble picturing exactly what you mean.
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Yes. If it's done well (which is going to be harder than it looks), it can work.
A narrator with opinions isn't so uncommon (The Book Thief is a good example) but characters that talk back, well that's quite rare.
I would pair it with an irreverent style, as Vonnegut does, meaning characters (or a world) that don't take things all that seriously. Because this will include the rule that narrators and characters do not interact. If you violate other conventions (even ones that can be done in real life), ignoring the character/narrator wall won't turn off or confuse your reader.
I would also add in a layer (or 3) of absurdity. This can also be quite realistic (both in tone and because it has or could happen). An example is The Trial. To the reader, the absurdity of a character talking back to a narrator would fit in with a world where everyday life is absurd.
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