Structuring a story
In a nutshell
Narrative writing is writing that tells a story. It can be written to educate or entertain the reader. Narratives can be either fact or fiction.
Narrative structure
A narrative structure is the order in which the story is being told to the readers.
A narrative structure includes: |
Characters - This is anyone or anything that speaks the dialogue in the story. | Settings - This is the location and time of the story. |
Conflict - This is the problem in the story that affects the characters. |
Climax - This is the part of the story where the action is at its peak. |
Resolution - This is the final stage of the story where the problem is solved. |
Types of narrative
There are different types of narratives. Here are some examples:
Linear narrative | The events of the story unfold in order that they actually happened. |
Non-linear narrative | This is the opposite of linear, so the events in this type of narrative will be out of order. Writers might include flashback in this type of narrative. |
Quest narratives | This is just how it sounds! This type of narrative is all about quests and achieving a goal. |
Viewpoint narrative | This narrative type is usually written in first person and focuses on the characters view. |
What makes a good narrative?
A story wouldn't be interesting without including the following things:
An entertaining beginning | This is what hooks the reader in. |
Detail | Narratives engage readers by making sure that their stories create an imaginative experience. They do this by using a lot of description and imagery in their writing. |
Organisation and structure | A narrative needs a good pace. If you write all the exciting events all at once, the rest of the story will be boring so it is important to make sure your story is organised. |
A good ending | Once the reader has finished reading a story, they should feel satisfied about what has happened at the end. The ending of a story is just as important as the beginning. |