Definition
Author intrusion happens when the narrator's voice breaks character to lecture, joke, or comment in a way that reminds readers a writer is controlling the story.
Example
A third-person novel pauses to say "As you might guess, dear reader, politicians never change" and pulls readers out of the scene.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Labeling any opinionated narration as intrusion when it fits the established narrator.
- Using intrusive asides to patch plot holes the scene should solve.