“There was nowhere they could have gone and they went there anyway.”
Have you ever been reading a book that has been told from the perspective of the protagonist, only to suddenly have a chapter from an entirely different point of view? Welcome to the world of interludes. Interludes act as breaks from the main narrative of a story and are usually used to expand either the plot or some of its core themes. But, why would a writer want to take away from the action? And how do you go about writing an effective interlude? Join us here at What We Reading as we explore what an interlude is, why they are used and how you begin writing your own!
What Is An Interlude?
In the literary world, an interlude is a part of a book told from a different perspective than the one that makes up the majority of it. An interlude can be from any perspective of characters either inside or outside of the plot, and can be set in the past, present or future. They can also take the form of things like newspaper entries, press releases or any other medium that provides more context to a story.
Examples Of Interludes In Books
Interludes are one of those writing techniques that are more common than most people realise. Once you’re aware of them, you’ll be amazed at how often they crop up. Examples of interludes in books include the very first chapter in the Harry Potter books, used to describe the Dursleys and the wizarding world in the wake of Voldermort’s death, the flashbacks in Nick Cutter’s The Troop which explains the parasite the boys have been exposed to, and in American Gods where Neil Gaiman takes breaks to occasionally explain more about the history of the Gods.
Why Write An Interlude?
The main characters in the story are the viewpoints readers are most invested in, and often the ones driving the plot forward. Which begs the question: why bother using interludes in a book?
The primary reason authors use interludes is to add extra dimensions to the world a story is being set. A different POV can allow readers to access information they otherwise wouldn’t be given, as well as an appreciation for the scope and scale of the narrative. For example, Stephen King’s It features several interludes that help give a better insight into the history of Derry and how that fits with Pennywise.
How To Write An Interlude
The first risk involved with writing interludes is not communicating them effectively. For readers who have gotten used to a certain perspective, the sudden change can be a jarring one and ruin their immersion in a story.
Thus, it’s incredibly important the first few sentences in an interlude are used to explain that this section of a book is separate from the main narrative. Writers can do this by shifting between the first and third perspectives, clearly laying out the time or setting or even in the formatting and presentation of the words on the page. In The Troop, for example, the borders are narrowed and the font is changed to demonstrate to readers that they are reading a newspaper entry, interview manuscript or scientific report.
Failing all of that, some writers are perfectly content with clearly outlining where an interlude begins by labelling the exact date, time and perspective it is being told from.
When Should You Write Interludes?
Ultimately, the decision to employ interludes in a book is entirely down to the author. Plenty of writers out there adamantly refuse to write interludes, whilst others can’t imagine any of their works without them.
No book is inherently more ‘accomplished’ or ‘complete’ with interludes thrown in, and they should never be included unless they are genuinely adding something to the context of the story or the world it is set in.
With that being said, examples like Harry Potter or It undoubtedly showcase the potential of interludes in elevating a book and its universe to a higher level. Both these books demonstrate how interludes can be shown to provide unique context and dimensions to a world, without sacrificing the believability of a main narrative by having it all explained that way.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
