Narrative Writing Telling a story

What it looks like “My first instinct was to shout to them, to scream for help. But something stopped me. If I was here, someone had put me here. If I was hurt, someone had hurt me. Someone had strapped me in this chair. Someone had used those instruments on my flesh. The odds that the men outside that door were my friends seemed very slim. So I kept my mouth shut. I listened to the low voices, straining with all my might to make out what they were saying over the pounding of my own pulse.” From The Last Thing I Remember By Andrew Klavan

What is Narrative Writing? Narrative=story Reader should feel part of story Can be fiction or non-fiction Elements of a short story Character Plot Conflict Setting Theme First-person Narrative Narrator is a participant in the story Told from “I” perspective

Use Plot Line Exposition Enticing opening to capture readers’ interest Setting revealed Main characters introduced Conflict presented

Use Plot Line Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution Character attempts to resolve conflict Action progresses sequentially, step by step Climax The turning point of the narrative Falling Action Wraps up Loose Ends Resolution Satisfying ending to story

Characterization Direct Indirect Tell the reader Show the reader Speech Actions Thoughts Appearance Thoughts/Actions of other characters

Don’t Fall Into the “I” Trap Every sentence should NOT begin with “I” Many other ways to begin Example: I glanced at the clock. Becomes: My eyes darted to the clock. Or: The constant ticking drew my glance toward the clock.

Tips Begin in the middle Keep your cast of characters small Don’t tell everything Be selective about details Hook your reader with an exciting part Keep your cast of characters small Use Dialogue Show—don’t tell