I love it when characters push past that invisible fourth wall and acknowledge the reader or audience in some way. It happens in two of my books, entirely caused by the bubbly, friendly nature of the heroines.
I didn’t plan it. I didn’t decide to have these girls develop an awareness of the observer. Second-person point of view just appeared naturally during writing.
The technique is used in both Hamlet and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, so I think I’m in good company.
The fourth wall is only breached occasionally in the stories mentioned below, but I enjoy it every single time. I hope it makes the reader feel more intimately connected to the characters too.
Bubbles: Dancing Through History (out today)
Henry and I make hot chocolate together in the communal area before going to bed. Separately. Obviously separately, you know that; I don’t know why I felt the need to say it.
Fireflies and Chocolate (see it here)
Now, I ken fit you’d like to say to me: “Elizabeth Manteith, you’re a spoilt wee lassie! Fit most folk wouldna give to live in a castle!” Aye, well. You dinna ken. You dinna ken at all.
Do you have any favourite fourth-wall-breaking moments?
Let me know in the comments 🙂
Castle Dancers Book 2 is out now
Bubbles: Dancing Through History
It’s going to be the most boring year of her life. That’s what Bubbles has decided. This, her second year at the castle school, will involve no naked dancing, or television appearances. No fires in stone circles. No meltdowns. And no hospital stays. You know, not like last year.
As she walks up the tree-lined drive towards the castle, she is immediately surrounded by TV reporters. Next she encounters the enigmatic and charming new boy, American student Aiden, and finds herself in an instalove situation. Being cast as the lead in a historical documentary is altogether too exciting and fun, as are the night-time visits to caves and underground chambers.
As Bubbles navigates her difficult home life, the complexities of her mental health and various intense experiences at the castle, she struggles to maintain equilibrium.
Will she be able to find balance amidst the chaos, or will her carefully laid ‘boring’ plan unravel completely?
Dive into this captivating coming-of-age tale filled with drama, romance, and self-discovery.
The first title – Ariel: Dancing on TV – is still 99p/99c on kindle, and, like Bubbles, it’s also available in paperback and on Kindle Unlimited.
The fourth wall comes down again:
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The Performance: sometimes going home for Christmas is just one huge performance…
When Ariel returns home from dance college, her mother expects her to perform the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in a pink, sequined tutu in front of many, many party guests. Ariel adjusts the costume and choreography to expose dark truths about her life, but, as it turns out, this is not the biggest performance of the night…
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Definitely enjoy fourth wall breaking moments when they’re done well and don’t appear too often in the story. Favorite one would be in Bulgakov’s “Master and Margarita”. ~Tessa
I’ll have to look that one up.
Wonderful ♥️
Thank you 🙂
I’m personally not the biggest fan of breaking the 4th wall. But when it’s done correctly it can really land well in the moment 🙂
Yes, how it’s done always matters.
The fourth wall cannot stand up against your talent, Ailish.
Or maybe I just have no control over my characters… But no, let’s say your thing 🙂
I love the voices in these excerpts!
🙂
I haven’t broken it yet, but I’ve been tempted!
It’s fun!
As soon as I read your “fourth wall” title, my brain immediately leapt to “Hamlet,” and then to “Rozencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead,” and etc. I was so happy when you in fact nodded toward Hamlet. Good post! Yeah, in my own novel, one of my characters assaults the fourth wall in Chap. 2. So fun to do:)
It really is fun. I’ll look up the second title you mention.
Not breaking thru the 4th is a convention too tightly adhered to. In the beginning, there were storytellers. We knew they were there, and we know that now, but create distance between audience and writer. Come on over here and let’s get down to the REAL situation. Hold my hand, if you need to. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride. >>wink!<<
Nice 🙂
Yup, it’s a good technique 😀
I like it.
I like that. It’s very creative.
Yes 🙂
A provoking thought, Ailish. I like that you included examples. I am thinking about my own novel. I poke at the fourth wall in my opening pages, “You can understand the fierce ownership people took of their music. It was ‘their song’, because it took so much effort to capture.” For me, leaning against the fourth wall like this goes hand in hand with the narrator’s acknowledgment of himself: “But, as I said, when this story took place, cassettes were already a thing of the past…” As I get into the story, both the narrator and the audience disappear, it’s like the lights go down. At a few crucial moments I turn the house lights up again. Here is one example: “To tell this story properly, I need you to take your attention from Ant at the athletics field as he wandered aimlessly in his loneliness. I need to leave that story going, but I need you to look away and take you somewhere else…” Most writers don’t do this and you have to be very careful with the technique, I think. My editor suggested a “rule of three”.
Ooh, now that’s venturing into 2nd and 3rd wall stuff, acknowledging the narrative and world. I’ve never done that. Sounds good, though!
I don’t have characters directly address the reader, but I often put in jokes or puns that are character relevant but also side jokes for the readers.
That sounds fun too.
We’ve just seen a performance of The Importance of Being Earnest, from London’s National Theatre but shown onscreen locally at Stockport Plaza. There are a few nods and winks at the camera, as if to say, ‘Look, we know this is a bit over the top, but just go with it!’ Most enjoyable all round
Oh yes, I love that play! I saw it performed by drama students at college. I’m glad you enjoyed it too.