Day 19 – Which character should tell the story

…

Who Should Tell the Story? Choosing the Right Narrator for Maximum Impact

Every story begins with a voice. Whether it’s a whisper from the shadows, a confession shouted from the rooftops, or a quiet journal entry scribbled at midnight, the way a story is told is just as important as what happens in it. One of the most crucial decisions a writer makes—often before writing a single sentence—is who will tell the story.

Will it be the protagonist, standing front and centre, eyes wide open to every triumph and tragedy? The casual observer, sipping tea on the periphery while chaos unfolds nearby? Or perhaps a bit player—the stagehand who sees everything but is barely seen?

Each narrative perspective offers unique strengths, limitations, and emotional textures. Let’s explore the three classic choices and discover when each one shines.

---

1. The Protagonist: The Heart of the Storm

When the main character narrates their own story, readers are granted intimate access to their thoughts, fears, dreams, and flaws. Think of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye, or Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. We don’t just witness the journey—we live it.

Strengths:

• Deep emotional connection. Readers bond with the narrator through raw honesty and vulnerability.
• A strong voice and personality can elevate the entire tone of the story.
• Immediate stakes. When the protagonist speaks, every danger feels personal.

Best Used When:

• The story is about personal transformation or internal conflict.
• Voice is a critical element (e.g., a sarcastic teen, a traumatised veteran).
• You want readers to empathise deeply with the character’s choices—even when they’re flawed.

Caution: A protagonist-narrator can be limited by their own biases and blind spots. You lose the ability to show scenes they weren’t present for, and if the character isn’t compelling, the whole narrative risks falling flat.

---

2. The Casual Observer: The Quiet Witness

This narrator isn’t swept up in the central action, but stands just close enough to see—and interpret—it all. Think of Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, watching Gatsby’s rise and fall with a mix of fascination and detachment. Or Dr Watson, chronicling Sherlock Holmes’ genius with admiration and occasional bewilderment.

Strengths:

• Offers a more objective lens while still being emotionally engaged.
• Can provide commentary and reflection, adding layers of meaning.
• Freedom to step back and describe the bigger picture or societal context.

Best Used When:

• The protagonist is mysterious, unreliable, or larger-than-life.
• You want to explore themes like perception, memory, or social critique.
• The story gains power through contrast—what the observer sees versus what they understand.

Caution: It’s easy for an observer to become passive. To work well, they still need their own arc, stakes, and reasons for telling the story. Otherwise, they risk feeling like a camera on a tripod—recording, but not quite living.

---

3. The Bit Player: The Unlikely Truth-Teller

These are the characters we might overlook—the secretary, the neighbour, the childhood friend who drifted away. Yet when they take the microphone, their perspective can be revelatory. Consider “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” by Agatha Christie, in which the seemingly minor character of Dr Sheppard upends everything through his narration.

Strengths:

• Surprise factor. Readers don’t expect depth or insight from minor characters—so when they deliver, it’s powerful.
• Access to multiple characters and private moments without being the centre of attention.
• Can subtly manipulate tone and truth, especially if they have hidden motives.

Best Used When:

• You want to subvert expectations or play with unreliability.
• The story benefits from a grounded, realistic perspective amid larger-than-life events.
• The theme involves invisibility, power dynamics, or the unnoticed threads that hold society together.

Caution: A bit player narrator must be given enough presence and reason to tell the story. Why them? What stakes do they have? Without proper setup, their narration can feel contrived.

---

So, Who Should Tell Your Story?

Ask yourself:

• Whose journey matters most? If it’s deeply personal, go with the protagonist.
• Is the truth elusive? An observer or bit player might reveal it more effectively.
• What tone do you want? Intimate and urgent? Detached and reflective? Ironic and unreliable?

Sometimes, the magic isn’t in who lives the story, but in who tells it. The same event—a betrayal, a wedding, a war—can feel entirely different depending on whether it’s recounted by the hero, the bystander, or the one who cleaned up the aftermath.

The voice you choose doesn’t just shape the narrative—it shapes the reader’s soul.

So next time you begin a story, don’t just ask, What happens?
Ask, Who gets to say it happened?

Because in storytelling, perspective isn’t just everything—
It’s the only thing.