Using Narrative Summary in Fiction to Speed Up Your Plot
by Mary Kole | Former literary agent, now a freelance editor, writing teacher, and IP/story developer for major publishers and creators.
Did you know that you can use narrative summary to convey the events of your plot? There’s a big difference between rendering comprehensive narrative in scene, and summarizing what’s happening. The latter emphasizes moving your plot and story pacing forward. The former slows down the story and gets into detail. Both scenework and narrative summary have a place in novel writing.
What Is Narrative Summary?
Narrative summary is a brisk overview of something that happens in the plot, as opposed to spelling out the entire scene. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, here is an example:
After classes were over, I collected Stella from her swim practice, and we grabbed some ice cream. All the while, I meant to chat with her regarding the news Dad had shared with me, yet I couldn't build up the guts. As dinner arrived, the matter still hovered over us.
From the narrative summary (also called “compressed narration”) presented here, it is clear that readers do not get the full story. In an instant, the setting changes and we move along to the next part of the story. Compressed narration is just like fast-forwarding to skip a part of the movie. This type of summary storytelling can be beneficial, but you should use it sparingly (prioritizing full scenes instead).
Narrative summary in fiction has a purpose: to leave out unimportant scenes and instead focusing on what really matters. Like, let's say a character goes out for ice cream. The action itself isn’t really the source of conflict or character development, though. The real drama comes from the fact that the character, per the example above, is hiding a secret, which is given to readers in interiority.
This narrative summary technique helps move the story forward without us having to plow through every tiny detail. We don't need to know the specifics—sometimes all readers need is a brief mention as you make a transition from one scene to another.
Another Use Case for Narrative Summary
Another great way to use narrative summary is to have the character mention things the reader already knows, but that another character doesn’t. You’re going to have to talk about things that have already happened in a novel, but readers don’t necessarily need or want all of that information again. Enter narrative summary.
Here’s an example:
Sue was wide-eyed as I recounted the ordeal I'd just been through. She was so shocked that all she could do was pepper me with questions until I felt like I had told her everything. When I finished, I could almost feel the weight of the silence as we both tried to process what I had said. Finally, after a few moments, I broke it. "What do we do now?"
This small yet powerful reminder serves as a reminder of the family's struggles, without having to provide a full-fledged flashback. Use narrative summary to avoid repeating information the reader already knows.
Another example:
When Mama finally said "enough is enough" and declared that it was time to move, due to the incident involving the possum that had become stuck in the toilet, the family was forced to make a drastic cutback in their diet and lifestyle. Dad saved up every penny from his tips to make sure the family could keep up with their bills, leaving them to eat rice for six nights a week.
Narrative summary in fiction can be employed to quickly get across details that are not of major importance but are still worth mentioning. If your narrative has been criticized for dragging or lacking momentum, consider using narrative summary in your fiction writing, as it could be the remedy.
Consider which events require a detailed description and which can be shortened with narrative summary, and add this technique to your writing toolbox.
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