ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

Narrative
Writing
developing effective
creative writing skills
 Learning Objectives
The focus of this lesson is to develop students creative writing skills in order to construct effective
narratives about real or imagined experiences using effective language techniques and well-chosen details.
The lesson will focus on four key skills. By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

01 02 03 04
Use direct and
Carefully select
Write an engaging indirect Use sensory detail
specific verbs to
opening to a story characterisation to to create mood and
create movement
that hooks the write a detailed atmosphere when
during a scene that
reader's interest. passage describing describing a setting.
includes action.
a character.
to begin
Practicing different creative writing skills is a valuable experience for
anyone looking to write effective narratives. With the right tools and
techniques, you can craft compelling stories that capture the reader's
attention, explore important themes and leave a lasting impression.

Showing creativity in your writing will allow you to engage readers with
unique storylines, vivid descriptions, excitement and drama and
memorable characters that come to life.

No matter the type or style of narrative you're writing, creative writing

skills can help you communicate your ideas in a more engaging and
memorable way. The following lesson will guide you in practicing four key
skills for writing an effective narrative.
creative writing skill

writing an
engaging
exposition
the skill:
The first few sentences, paragraphs or pages of a a thought-provoking question or comment
story are the reader's entry point into a new world. 01 about your central theme
Often, a reader will decide whether or not to
continue reading based purely off a story's
a powerful piece of dialogue or
exposition! 02 conversation to set the scene

The exposition is an opportunity to introduce your

a surprising, strange or unexpected
writing style, set the scene and establish your central 03 statement or detail to intrigue the reader
characters and conflict. It's extremely important that
we practice the skill of grabbing a reader's attention
straight away through an interesting and engaging 04 jumping right into the action to create
tension or suspense
introduction.

Try to avoid boring cliche openings and instead

consider the following:
05 a foreshadowing clue about the character's
potential fate to make the reader wonder
some examples of how to effectively use exposition in a narrative:
Setting Description:
"The town of Eldridge was nestled between rolling hills, its cobblestone streets winding like a
forgotten river. At its heart stood the ancient oak tree, rumored to be over three hundred
years old, a silent witness to the town's many secrets."

Character Background:
"Anna had always been the quiet one in her family, overshadowed by her older brother's
achievements. Growing up in a small, bustling household, she found solace in the pages of her
favorite books, where heroes embarked on grand adventures far from her reality."

Flashback:
"As he stood on the shore, waves crashing at his feet, Michael couldn't shake the memory of
that fateful day five years ago when he had lost everything—his family, his home, and the life
he once knew."
Dialogue:
"‘I can't believe you’re still living in that old house,’ Sarah said, shaking her head. ‘After what
happened, I thought you’d move on.’ Her words hung in the air, reminding Jack of the fire that
had changed everything."

News Articles or Documents:

"The newspaper headline blared, 'Mysterious Disappearances in Silverwood Forest Spark Fear.' The
article detailed the unsettling events that had left the small community on edge, families
locking their doors tighter each night."

Inner Thoughts:
"Jasmine glanced at her watch, the familiar weight of anxiety settling in her stomach. The last
time she had been late to a meeting, her boss had made it clear that her job was on the line—a
constant reminder of her precarious position at the company."
Artifacts or Items:
"On the dusty shelf, a collection of medals caught the light. Each one told a story of
battles fought and victories earned, remnants of a past life that still haunted James
every time he walked into the room."

Narrative Summary:
"Years ago, the kingdom of Arland was a land of peace, but after the dark
sorcerer’s rise to power, chaos ensued. Villages fell, and hope dwindled as the once-
prosperous realm was plunged into despair."
the practice:
Choose one of the following story prompts and practice drafting an engaging exposition.

An elderly woman
A shoplifter who In walks the new A 3:00 am
peering through her
was spotted company director phone call
window

A strange neighbour A woman who has A student waiting to

An ambulance races
who does the same been hiding something enter the principal's
through the streets
thing every day from her partner office
 creative writing skill

using direct &

indirect
characterisation
the skill:
When describing the characters in your story, try to use a combination of direct and indirect characterisation,
focusing slightly more on indirect characterisation to make your story interesting and engaging. A simple rule to
remember is 'show, don't tell'.

Tells the reader about a character's personality explicitly and directly. It

Direct Characterisation is usually quite general and concise. E.g. She was easily annoyed / He
was a kind man.

Shows a reader what a character is like or communicates their traits

without explicitly telling them. They might do this in various ways such
Indirect Characterisation as describing their appearance (facial features, body type, clothing etc.),
speech or dialogue, actions or behaviours, thoughts, and how they
interact with or respond to, or are treated by other characters.

Using lots of descriptive detail through indirect characterisation can keep your readers engaged in your story,
making characters true-to-life and interesting through creating plenty of imagery.
the skill:
Indirect Characterisation

Showing character details without explicitly stating them is a powerful technique in writing. Here
are some effective methods to do so:
1. Dialogue: Let the character's words reveal their personality, background, and motivations. The
way they speak, their choice of words, and their tone can provide insights.
2. Actions: Show the character in action. How they treat others, their habits, or how they respond
to challenges can reveal a lot about who they are.
3. Body Language: Use physical cues—gestures, posture, and facial expressions—to convey
emotions and traits. For example, a character who avoids eye contact might suggest insecurity.
4. Reactions to Situations: How a character reacts to stress, joy, or conflict can provide deeper
insights into their nature. For instance, someone who laughs in tense situations might be more
carefree.
5. Interactions with Environment: Describe how the character interacts with their surroundings.
A person meticulously organizing their desk might be detail-oriented, while someone throwing
their clothes around might be more chaotic.

Using lots of descriptive detail through indirect characterisation can keep your readers engaged in your story,
making characters true-to-life and interesting through creating plenty of imagery.
the sample:
The street artist sauntered down the sidewalk, his skinny jeans hugging
his legs and his thrifted flannel shirt hanging loosely over his lanky frame.
His unruly curly hair was pulled back into a messy bun, and his thick-
framed glasses perched atop his nose. As he walked, he hummed a tune
and twirled a spray paint can in his hand, creating a rhythm with the
clinking of the metal ball inside.

Graffiti adorned the walls around him, evidence of his artistic prowess.
He stopped in front of a blank brick wall, his movements deliberate and
fluid. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a burst of color onto the
surface, creating a masterpiece before the eyes of passersby. The aroma
of spray paint filled the air, and the sound of the can spraying was like a
symphony. He was a true creative force, making the world a little more
beautiful one stroke at a time.
the activity:
an interesting character

Choose a character from a story you've read that was

particularly memorable and try to find examples of the
descriptions the author used.

Identify at least one example of each of the following:

appearance (facial features, hair, body clothing)
speech or dialogue
actions or behaviour
thoughts
relationships or interactions with other characters
the practice:
Choose one of the following character prompts and practice writing 1-2 descriptive paragraphs about them. Try
to use a mix of direct and indirect characterisation describing elements such as appearance, speech, thoughts,
actions or behaviours and interactions with others.

A frustrated A ballerina obsessed A teenager who is A laid back

businessman with perfection the class clown surfer

An elderly
An exhausted A curious A public speaker
gentleman with a
waitress five-year-old with anxiety
sharp mind
using sensory
detail to
establish
setting
the skill: Be specific by naming and describing everything you can about a
scene. E.g. Instead of saying, “the car drove down the road” say,
“the sleek and shiny red convertible sped and swerved down
Anywhere Street"
The setting of a narrative includes the
time and place in which the events of the
story take place (and these can be chosen Include sensory imagery that evokes all of the senses including
visual (sight), aural (sound), olfactory (smell), tactile (touch),
for various reasons) but it also embodies
gustatory (taste) and kinaesthetic (movement).
a sense of mood and atmosphere that can
be crucial in setting the scene for the
events to take place.
Ensure you know the world of your story really well. If it's based
on a real place, ensure you read, research or view pictures to help
Effective writers bring their settings to
you visualise your setting so you can convey it authentically.
life by adding detail upon detail and
creating sensory imagery that immerses
the reader in the story.
Experiment with using some figurative language such as similes,
metaphors and personification. This can help create memorable
Some key tips for effectively describing
details through abstract comparisons.
your settings are:
the sample:
As he entered the gym, the smell of sweat and leather filled his nostrils and the
thudded sound of gloves hitting punching bags echoed all around him. He
scanned the walls that were lined with mirrors, reflecting the grit and
determination on the faces of the boxers as they trained. The ropes of the ring
creaked and groaned as two fighters sparred.

He threw his bag onto the scuffed wooden floor and crossed the room, noticing
the pungent aroma of liniment and ammonia mingling with the musk of the
fighters. He knew the gym was a place of discipline, where the sound of heavy
breathing and the sight of sweat pouring down faces were as common as the
sight of battered gloves and broken noses.

It was a place where he knew his human spirit would be tested and the limits of
his body would be pushed to their breaking point, but it was also a place where
the sweet science of boxing would be practiced with reverence and respect.
the activity:
visualising setting

Before you undertake the writing activity on the

next slide, choose one of the prompts and create a
quick 10 minute 'vision board' for your setting.

Research to find names, details or historical

references that might aid in authenticity and/or
use the image search to find at least five pictures
that might help you visualise your setting clearly so
you can create strong and engaging imagery for
your reader.
the practice:
Write a detailed description of one of the following scenes that establishes a clear sense of mood or
atmosphere. Focus on giving lots of specific detail and on including multiple types of sensory imagery.

A waiting room at a A camping ground A bustling music

A busy coffee shop
doctors surgery at night concert

A rooftop view of a
A crowded freeway
A dusty basement A school sports day suburban
traffic jam
neighbourhood
using verbs to
create action
& movement
the skill:
Verbs are used to create action and movement and the careful selection of verbs can result in conveying
specific moods, ideas and/or imagery.

Although the character, setting and order of events are similar, consider how changing the verbs (as well
as some adverbs and adjectives) can alter the mood and meaning of the following passages.

She reluctantly picked up her car keys and slowly trudged out the front door,
leaving it to close softly behind her. She sat in her car, the engine slowly
Passage 1
idling as she contemplated the day before her. After a minute or so had
passed she cruised out her driveway onto the quiet street.

She snatched her car keys and stormed out the front door, leaving it to slam
behind her from the impact. She slid quickly into her car, revved the engine
Passage 2
and tore down her driveway onto the busy highway, narrowly missing the
oncoming traffic.
the sample:
The two boys lunged towards each other, their hands grasping
at the same brightly-colored lollipop.

They tugged and pulled at each others limbs and clothes, their
bodies swaying back and forth as they vied for control. Their
eyes widened with determination as they pushed and shoved,
each refusing to give up their hold on the sugary prize.

The lollipop bounced between their fingers, the stick wobbling

dangerously as they jostled for position.

Finally, with one sharp yank, one of the boys triumphantly

pulled the lollipop free, thrusting it high above his head like a
victory prize, leaving the other boy to stare dejectedly at the
empty wrapper.
the practice:
After selecting one of the following prompts, write a couple of detailed paragraphs describing a scene,
incident or situation that involves action or movement.

An awe inspiring Some old, rusty A skilled A dramatic police

dance performance farm equipment skateboarder chase

A vibrant
underwater A busy cleaner A group of skiers An injured athlete
ecosystem
the structure:
Conflict
climax
resolution
to conclude
Writing an effective narrative requires you to juggle a number of skills
and techniques depending on the style of story you are aiming for.

The most important things to remember are to use lots of descriptive

detail, create imagery for your reader and make the story interesting and
engaging for them to read.

Hopefully you can utilise some of these skills the next time you write a
narrative.

Good luck and happy writing!