How do you create a narrator your reader can't trust?
In this course, you'll explore why you might want to have the character telling your story be someone the reader can't trust. You'll look at the ways in which an unreliable narrator can add intrigue, suspense, and drama to your narrative, and you'll experiment with cretaing your own unreliable narrators. You'll also discover how the issue of "reliability" can be a thorny one.
You will learn how to:
- Use your narrator to bend your narrative,
- Craft a disinctive voice for your narrator,
- Be economical with the truth to create a compelling plot,
- Use form to your advantage when designing an untrustworthy narrator.
Course Curriculum
How long does it take?
As a self-paced course it's up to you how quickly you progress through the material. Binge it in a weekend, or dip in and out alongside your work in progress.
How does it work?
Our courses can be accessed on your desktop Mac or PC , laptop, tablet or mobile. All you need is an internet connection. You don't need to install any additional software.
When does it start?
Right now! This is a self-paced online course - you decide when you start and can go through it at any speed. You have unlimited access to the course so can return for a refresher at any time. What are you waiting for?
Meet your tutor - Hannah Vincent
Hannah Vincent is a novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her first novel, Alarm Girl was published in 2014 and her second, The Weaning in 2018. Her 2020 short story collection, She-Clown and Other Stories was shortlisted for the Edge Hill Prize. Her stage plays have been produced by among others, The Royal Court Theatre and The Royal National Theatre Studio and her radio play Come to Grief won a BBC Audio award. Hannah teaches Creative Writing on The Open University’s MA programme and on The Creative Writing Programme in Brighton. She holds a PhD in Creative and Critical writing from The University of Sussex and is an Advisory Fellow for the Royal Literary Fund.
You may also like these courses
Our growing range of courses covers productivity, industry tips and genre expertise.
Image Sources
Banner Image - Andi Sapey for NCW Academy
Woman Writing - Andi Sapey for NCW Academy
Sand Timer - Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
Woman Typing - Andi Sapey for NCW Academy
Man on Running Track - Braden Collum on Unsplash