“Pa, tell me a story.” : the use of interwoven narratives to build pace, create tension and drive plot development in middle grade and young adult fiction : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Creative Writing at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. EMBARGOED until 11th February 2029

Abstract

This thesis has two parts: a creative project, which is an excerpt from a middle grade novel titled Mo-Town, and a critical exegesis that examines narrative structure in middle grade and young adult fiction. In both my creative and critical projects, I explore how the use of interwoven narratives builds pace, creates tension and drives plot development in middle grade and young adult fiction. In my creative project, I use a narrative structure that contains two distinct yet interconnected narrative strands that sit within the same plot of change in a small town; the first strand set in the 1950s and the second set in the present day. In both strands, the young male protagonists struggle to make sense of their changing worlds. In my critical project, I undertake a close reading of a range of texts — including Joy Cowley’s middle grade novel, Hunter, and Whiti Hereaka’s young adult novel, Legacy — to explore how other authors have used interwoven narratives in their work. I will argue that interwoven narratives build pace, create tension and drive plot development in middle grade and young adult fiction. Pace is built by using chapters to bridge and transition between events. Tension is created by using events as foils, and to critique and provide commentary; by mirroring events to compare, contrast and draw parallels; and by embedding clues that point to connections between narrative strands. Plot is developed by using recurring events or motifs to deepen plot points; by strategically placing chapters to offset darker storylines with lighter ones; by playing with the weighting of narrative strands for emphasis; and by embedding shorter self-contained tales to reveal aspects of character, setting or plot.