Unreliable Narrators

Instant Quiz

Can you correct the error in the sentence below? Scroll to the bottom of today’s post for the answer.

Although I was planning to serve lasagna for dinner time ran out before I was able to make it.

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Writer’s Digest recently sent me an impressive article about using an “unreliable narrator” – a fictional character who seems to be truthful but isn’t. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is an example of a novel that uses an unreliable narrator – and does it very effectively.

The “unreliable narrator” is an advanced writing skill that you might want to try yourself: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/8-tips-to-writing-unreliable-narrators

 

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Instant Quiz ANSWER

You probably had to read this sentence twice. It seemed to be about dinner time – but that turned out to be wrong. The problem? A missing comma.

The first word in a sentence usually lets you know that you’re beginning with an extra idea. That means the sentence is going to need a comma when it gets to the real sentence:

Although I was planning to serve lasagna for dinner, time ran out before I was able to make it.  CORRECT

Here’s today’s sentence again, with the extra idea in blue and the real sentence in bold:

Although I was planning to serve lasagna for dinner, time ran out before I was able to make it.

You can download a free handout that explains commas at this link: bit.ly/EasyCommas

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