​Narrative Writing

• Tells a story!​

• Five components: the characters, the setting, the plot, the conflict, and the resolution.

  • These elements keep the story running smoothly and allow the action to develop in a logical way that the reader can follow.​

• ​When writing a narrative, authors use a variety of tools to develop the plot and characters or to explore their own personal experiences. Narrative techniques include dialogue, description, pacing, reflection, and multiple plot lines. 

• Narratives often have dialogue, or a conversation between characters. Dialogue can be used to develop characters or to move the plot forward.

• In addition, authors use description outside of dialogue to develop the setting, characters, and plot events.

The actual story​

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Begining, middle, and end

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Clear start and finish to story​

​Plot

Location of the story

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Where and when the story takes place​

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Describe the environment and/or ​surroundings​

Setting

Setting vs. Plot

Dialogue

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• Use dialogue between characters to explain events or move the action forward.

  • Set all dialogue off in quotation marks

  • Include identifying names as needed before or after quotation marks.​

    • Our team leader says, “I try to practice every day.”

    • “Let’s go home,” Jeanne suggested.

    • “Very well then,” said Thorin, “supposing the burglar-expert gives us some ideas or suggestions.”

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Soultion

Problem/Conflict

Problem / Soultion

​The struggle or issue

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The plot is centered on this conflict and the ways in which the characters attempt to resolve the problem.

​The solution to the problem is the way the action is resolved. (The end)

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The resolution must fit the rest of the story in tone, and creativity and solve all parts of the conflict.

Sensory details

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​Sensory details are words that stir any of the five senses: touch, taste, sound, smell, and sight.

• ​These details are important because they help to orient the reader by establishing a context, or the circumstances that form the setting of events or a situation in a story.
  

“She drank the lemonade,” -----> “She felt her tongue tingle as she sipped the frosty glass of tart, sugary lemonade.”

Description & Sensory Details

• ​Include description to engage the reader and help him or her visualize the characters, setting, and other elements in the narrative.

  • Include only those descriptions relevant to the reader’s understanding of the element being described.

    • Sherell walked slowly through the garden. She stopped and noticed the beautiful flowers and the peace and quiet of the space. Birds and insects buzzed through the air. She felt calm and at peace.

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Sound: describe sounds. ...

Smell and Taste: the words related to these senses are different for each person and evoke concepts such as “good”, “bad”, “pleasant” or “unpleasant”. ...

Sight: words that express colors, shapes or appearances. For example: bright, dark, black, pointed, round, small, blurred, dazzling…

Touch: words that express textures. ...

Sensory Words

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​Sensory words - examples

Sight: huge, foggy, dazzling, gloomy, immense, fuzzy.

Smell: sweet, stinky, smoky, delicate, fresh, fragrant.

Taste: Smooth, bitter, sour, raw, sugary, juicy, fruity, ​zesty.

Motion: vibrating, staggering, mind-boggling,

Touch: hot, furry, hairy, rubbery, puffy, sharp.

Sound: Loud, whistling, snapping, scratch, thumping.

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