This is the thing that takes me longest of all when I'm…
““This is the thing that takes me longest of all when I'm beginning a novel, to work out what the limits are, what the powers of the narrator will be, what is the appropriate tone to take. And where do I see things from: am I watching this, as it were, from stage right or stage left? That makes a difference. Mike Alfreds is an English director who has a company called Shared Experience. They do a lot of adaptations of novels. He's discovered that when they use a narrator, if they put the narrator stage right, the audience perceives the narrator as being somehow involved, warm, part of what's going on. If he puts the narrator stage left, the audience feels the narrator to be critical, detached… Ever since then, I have to say, whenever I do a conversation with someone on the stage, I take care to be stage right. But that's an aspect of where you're seeing it from, you see, whether the narrator is viewing the characters, as it were, sympathetically or, as it were, critically. This takes a while to discover for each book.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A writer must decide the narrator's limits, power, tone, and viewpoint, which shape audience perception as involved or detached.
In simple terms: Choosing narrator perspective shapes how readers feel about the story.
Key Takeaway
Define narrator stance early to guide audience connection.
Themes
narrative technique
perspective
audience perception
storytelling
character voice
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
creative
Type
instructional
reflective
When to use this quote
- novel planning
- scriptwriting
- theatre direction
- creative workshops
- editing drafts
Key Concepts
Narrative voice
point of view
dramatic framing
Questions to Reflect On
- How does narrator placement affect empathy?
- Can a story succeed with a neutral narrator?
A Different Perspective
Audience reaction may vary despite careful positioning, limiting control over interpretation.