1. Fiction vs.
Non-Fiction Distinctions
Understanding the core differences helps you analyse reading passages and choose the right
tone for writing.
Feature Fiction Non-Fiction
To entertain, move, or provoke To inform, educate, persuade, or
Purpose
thought. document reality.
Imagined or invented stories, Real-world facts, actual people, and
Content
characters, and settings. true events.
Narrative arc (Plot, Climax, Chronological, topical, or
Structure
Resolution). argumentative structures.
Relies on emotional truth and Relies on statistics, research, quotes,
Evidence
vivid imagery. and historical data.
2. Narrative Structure: BME (Beginning, Middle, End)
A successful narrative follows a structural arc to keep the reader engaged.
Beginning (Exposition & Inciting Incident): * Establishes the setting and introduces
the main characters.
o Presents the inciting incident—the event that disrupts the character's normal
life and starts the conflict.
Middle (Rising Action & Climax): * The character faces obstacles while trying to solve
the problem (rising action).
o Builds up to the climax: the highest point of tension, drama, or a major
turning point in the story.
End (Falling Action & Resolution): * The aftermath of the climax is explored (falling
action).
o The conflict is resolved (or left on a deliberate cliffhanger), and the character
reflects a change or realization.
3. Building Dynamic Characters
Great narrative writing relies on believable characters. Avoid flat descriptions; instead, use
the STEAL acronym to build depth:
S - Speech: What do they say? How do they say it (tone, slang, accents)?
T - Thoughts: What is revealed through their private inner monologue?
E - Effect on others: How do other characters react to or behave around them?
A - Actions: What do they do? How do they behave under stress?
L - Looks: What are their physical traits, clothing choice, and body language?
4. Point of View (1st vs. 3rd Person)
The perspective you choose alters how much information the reader has access to.
First-Person POV
Pronouns used: I, me, my, we, us.
Pros: Creates an instant, intimate connection with the reader. The reader
experiences emotions and events firsthand.
Cons: Limited perspective. The reader only knows what that specific character sees,
thinks, and feels.
Third-Person POV
Pronouns used: He, she, it, they.
Third-Person Limited: The narrator sits outside the story but sticks closely to the
thoughts and feelings of one character.
Third-Person Omniscient: The narrator is "all-knowing." They can jump between
different characters' minds, locations, and time periods.
5. Show, Don't Tell Techniques
"Telling" gives the reader information directly, which can feel flat. "Showing" uses sensory
details and actions to let the reader figure out what is happening.
Telling: Sarah was incredibly nervous before her exam.
Showing: Sarah bit her lower lip, her fingers drumming a frantic, irregular rhythm against
her desk as she stared at the clock.
How to "Show":
Sensory Details: Tap into sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.
Physical Reactions: Describe sweating palms, a racing heart, wide eyes, or a sudden
slump in posture to communicate emotion.
Subtext: Let characters drop hints through their dialogue rather than spelling out
their feelings.
6. Audience & Purpose
Before writing a single sentence, you must establish these two pillars:
Audience: Who are you writing for? (e.g., peers, children, examiners). Your
vocabulary, sentence complexity, and thematic maturity must match your target
reader.
Purpose: What do you want to achieve? In a narrative essay, your primary purpose is
to entertain and immerse the reader, but you might also aim to evoke fear, spark
empathy, or deliver a moral lesson.
7. Figures of Speech Quick Review
Use these structural devices to elevate your imagery and score highly on the "writer's
effects" criteria:
Simile: Comparing two things using like or as (e.g., The lake was as smooth as glass).
Metaphor: Comparing two things by asserting one is the other (e.g., The classroom
was a zoo).
Personification: Giving human traits to non-human elements (e.g., The shadows
crept across the room).
Hyperbole: Deliberate, extreme exaggeration for dramatic effect (e.g., I had a million
things weighing on my mind).
Onomatopoeia: Words that mimic the sound they represent (e.g., The gravel
crunched beneath his boots).