EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Narrative Writing: Your Complete Guide

 17 February 2024/ By Zineb DJOUB

Narrative writing is more than just telling; it’s a stimulus that invites readers to explore different worlds, emotions, and perspectives. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the essence of narrative writing, dissecting its structure and uncovering valuable tips to empower you on your journey to craft compelling narrative essays.

What is narrative writing?

Narration is telling what happened. So, narrative writing is about telling an event or a series of events, real or fictitious, in an orderly and logical sequence by the narrator (the voice that tells them). These can be stories, incidents, or experiences for the readers or audience.

This means narrative writing is not only concerned with traditional novels or short stories; it can also be found in personal anecdotes, memoirs, essays, and even in multimedia formats like films and video games.

When narrating stories or events, the narrator aims to engage the readers on both an intellectual and emotional level, allowing them to experience events in their hearts as well as their minds.

Some examples of narrative writing

• Evidence of the Affair (short story)
• The Women (Novel)
• Spare (autobiography)
• The White Album Essays

Key elements of narrative writing

Narrative writing encompasses the following key elements:

# Characters

The fictional representation of a person who engages in actions or experiences. Characters include not only people, but also animals, or inanimate objects.

The character who drives the story forward or makes things happen is called the protagonist. Whereas, the antagonist refers to the character, societal forces, environment, or any other internal struggles that create obstacles and tension for the protagonist.

# Plot

This is the arrangement or sequence of incidents or events making up a story with a beginning, development, crisis, climax (the point where tension is at its highest), and denouement (the final resolution of the complications of the plot).

This means that the plot is not mere narrative, it is a sequence of events intentionally organized to unveil their dramatic, thematic, and emotional importance.

# Setting

Setting refers to the element of place. It is the physical or spiritual background against which the action of a narrative takes place.

# Conflict

Conflict is the complication or problem the protagonist needs to solve. It is the driving force that makes the story compelling and keeps readers engaged.

# Resolution

Resolution is the ultimate aim of every story. It releases the dramatic tension stemming from the protagonist’s challenges. It holds a message that resonates with the audience, and the insights they can apply to their own experiences.

# Point of view

It is the perspective through which a story is told. Generally, the narrator can hold an external position (third-person point of view) as an omniscient or even limited observer. The narrator can, on the contrary, hold an internal position (first-person point of view) as one of the characters.

# Dialogue

Dialogue expresses the conversation between characters. Yet, its power lies not just in what characters say, but also in the action including the context of a scene.

Narrative writing structure

Narrative writing has a common structure or organization. It has three parts:

Introduction

This phase is also called exposition. It defines the characters and gives enough information to understand the complications they will face. Yet, providing too many details and facts from the start and delaying the action line can make readers overwhelmed and bored. So, to tease readers it is important to blend the exposition into the action line. Here is an example of this phase from “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson:

The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely, and the grass was richly green. The people of the village began to gather in the square, between the post office and the bank, around ten o’clock; in some towns, there were so many people that the lottery took two days and had to be started on June 26th, but in this village, where there were only about three hundred people, the whole lottery took less than two hours, so it could begin at ten o’clock in the morning and still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner.”

 

Development

This includes three phases the rising action, crisis, and climax. The rising action is the dramatic tension: complications, obstacles, or challenges that develop the plot. Then comes the crisis where the conflict reaches its peak intensity. This sets the stage for the climax which is the most intense and emotionally charged part of the narrative, the event—or series of events—that resolves the crisis.

Conclusion

Also called falling action/denouement is the point in the story where everything becomes clear. So, the dramatic tension is released and the main questions are answered. Yet, a good story ends with a “kicker”, a closing statement that leaves a lasting impression, often summarizing, surprising the audience.

And someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles. Tessie Hutchinson was in the center of a cleared space by now, and she held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her. ‘It isn’t fair,’ she said. A stone hit her on the side of the head.

 

How to write a compelling narrative essay?

A narrative essay gives a narration of a certain event or experience. Like any other essay, a narrative essay has an introduction that includes the thesis statement, body paragraphs that recount the events in a clear and orderly way, and a conclusion that gives readers the sense that the narrative is complete either by restating the thesis statement or summarizing key points or events.

However, with narrative essays, a writer is expected to be extra creative as compared to other academic essays.

To structure your narrative essay more effectively, here are some important tips to consider:

• Capture the reader’s attention from the start

Develop an introduction that encompasses a hook, the topic’s background information, and an explicit thesis statement that portrays the theme or motif.

• Include enough details

Describe exact times, dates, settings, and people in detail to help create a picture for the reader. Effective storytelling emphasizes sensory elements like visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory, and tactile experiences to create a compelling experience for the audience.

Also, remember that the narrative should be entertaining from beginning to end.

• Vary your sentence structure

Use a variety of sentence openings, combining simple sentences. Use descriptive language and include the five senses (touch, smell, sound, sight, and taste) while writing. This will allow readers to experience the story through the senses of the characters.

• Add quotations that were part of a conversation

Dialogue is an important element of narrative writing. Adding these quotations can help bring a writer’s experiences to life and show the personalities of the characters.

• Maintain clear narrative order

You can follow a strict chronological order (when narrating a historical event), or you can begin your narrative by including an event from the middle or end of the story and then present the events that led up to it. You may also decide to begin in the present, and then use one or more flashbacks (shifting into the past) to tell your story.

To maintain clear narrative order, it is also important to use correct verb tenses and clear transitional words and phrases.

So, keep verb tenses consistent and accurate for readers to follow the sequence of events. Also, link events in time using the right transitions such as next, finally, during, after, when, and later, between sentences and paragraphs to bring more coherence to your essay and get readers engaged.

• Revise and edit

Review your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammar. Ensure that your narrative flows smoothly, that you’ve included enough specific detail, varied your sentence structure, used the right transitions, etc.

Narrative writing is a powerful tool, and by understanding its nuances and implementing the tips provided in this post, you can embark on a journey of self-expression and creativity. So, let your imagination soar. Happy writing!