Retrospective narrators have the power to tell your story with both raw immediacy and hard earned wisdom. They have their toe dipped in both the present and the past. Which makes writing a strong retrospective voice tricky.
This narrator doesn’t just recount events – he or she reinterprets them.
But many writers struggle to fully embrace the reflective power of a retrospective voice. Instead, they end up narrating the past like it’s an itinerary of events, without considering the narrator’s present story and how the past and present are in dialogue throughout the story.
So in today’s episode, we’ll explore how to unlock the full potential of a retrospective narrator. You’ll learn how to craft a voice that harnesses both the younger self and the wiser self.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Episode at a glance:
[02:31] What Is A Retrospective Narrator?
A retrospective narrator is an adult looking back on the past. With the past and present in dialogue, the story moves towards some revelation or accrued wisdom. This narrator re-contextualizes the past through reflection on what it all meant – wisdom that can only come in hindsight.
[04:13] Different Depths Of View
Retrospective narrators straddle two voices – the voice of innocence, and the voice of experience. It’s the equivalent of third person having different character perspectives. In retrospective narration, you have different depths of view between the younger narrator and the older, wiser narrator.
[05:24] Dual Timelines
This technique alternates between past and present timelines, allowing the narrator to reflect on key events while also showing their present day self. This is common in memoir, where the author moves back and forth between childhood experiences and their adult reflections. It’s also used in fiction to create a sense of haunting or lingering consequence.
[07:57] Integrate the Adult Voice With the Younger Voice
This technique superimposes the adult voice on the child’s voice. It uses some of the adult language as the narrator tells us what happened.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
The Kiss by Kathryn Harrison
Rate, Review, and Follow on Apple Podcasts.
“I love Writer Unleashed!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show. This helps me support more writers — just like you —to bring the story burning in their imagination onto the page. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. It’s chock full of writing tips and inspiration every Tuesday. Follow now!