How to write a
Convincing Story
By - Harsh
Narrative Writing
• The ”Tone” (the sound of the narrator’s “voice”) is appropriate and convincing.
• The ”Register” (your vocabulary and phrasing) is suitable for the purpose.
• The ”Style” of the writing (the sentence structure and the overall structure of your writing)
is dynamic and engaging.
You should follow the conventions of story writing and adhere to the tone, register and style,
to produce an effective piece of narrative writing. Here are the following sections to focus on:
• How to structure your narrative writing
• Narrative writing techniques
• Steps to success
Narrative writing
How to structure your Narrative writing
• Narrative story writing develops an idea to a conclusion.
• The way to achieve this in an exam is by planning an ending with a
resolution (you should plan whether your story will end happily or not).
• In the exam, it is best not to plan a complex story which takes place over
a long period of time, employs multiple characters or that has more than
one setting or plot twist.
Narrative writing
How to structure your Narrative writing
• Plan your writing in an order which takes your character (and reader) on a clear journey:
• The best way to do this is to plan one main event
• Ensure your plot is simple enough to be coherent and cohesive
• Consider employing structural techniques, such as a flashback:
• This can give background information to the reader and provide context
• Ensure you use past-tense verbs for this
Narrative writing
How to structure your Narrative writing
• Develop your characters:
• Consider essential narrative character archetypes, such as “villain”, “victim”, “hero”, etc.
• Decide on how your characters fit these descriptions
• When describing people, focus on relevant details only:
• For example, black and grey or green and blue
• You could focus on their body language or movements
• If using dialogue, the verbs you use to describe how your characters speak can reveal more about
them than what they say, e.g. “shrieked”, “mumbled”, “whispered”, etc.
• It is effective to repeat ideas related to colour
• You can also repeat ideas for emphasis
Narrative writing
How to structure your Narrative writing
Narrative writing
How to structure your Narrative writing
Step 1 - Exposition (setting
the
Stick toscene)
one main setting and start at the location:
• Do not include a lengthy 'journey' before the main action of your story starts
Hook your reader:
• Give them clues as to what will happen later, but do not give everything away all at once
Decide which narrative perspective and tense you are going to write your story in:
• First person 'I' and the past tense are easier to control
• Stick to no more than two characters and introduce them
Employ the five senses to create an atmosphere:
• The scene's mood should reflect your main character's mood
Narrative writing
How to structure your Narrative writing
Step 2 - Rising
action
This paragraph should build tension, drama or interest:
• It should directly lead to the turning point of the story (the
'climax')
This paragraph should also develop your character(s):
• You could use dialogue, monologue, direct or indirect
characterisation to create well-rounded, 3D characters
Narrative writing
How to structure your Narrative writing
Step 3 -
Climax
This is the turning point of your story:
• It is the moment everything changes and your character(s) cannot go
back
Your protagonist could face an external problem, or an internal choice or
dilemma:
• Their choice is made in this paragraph
You should vary your sentence structure, length and language here for
dramatic effect
Narrative writing
How to structure your Narrative writing
Step 4 - Falling
action
What happens in this paragraph should be as a direct result
of the climax paragraph:
• It shows the consequences
• It should also focus on your characters' thoughts and
feelings as a result of the climax of the story
• This further develops a sense of characterisation
Narrative writing
How to structure your Narrative writing
Step 5 - Resolution or
denouement
You can choose to resolve your story, or end on a cliff-hanger:
• However, a cliff-hanger is not a sudden ending; it is a suspenseful ending
• It is also important to avoid cliches, such as 'I woke up and it was all a
dream.'
Your setting and atmosphere could reflect a change from the setting or
atmosphere you established in your opening paragraph:
• Or it could refer back to imagery you used in your opening paragraph to
create a cyclical structure
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
• Below are some guides to help thinking about setting,
characterisation and other linguistic techniques to make your
narrative as engrossing as possible.
Narrative writing
How to structure your Narrative writing
Settin
g
• Narrative writing is the ability to communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, it is important to
consider how to use language constructively in a short story to convey an atmosphere or mood. Building an
effective setting is key as it contributes to atmosphere and mood.
• Your setting should reflect your main character’s mood:
• You may know this as pathetic fallacy, which reflects the character’s mood in the environment, e.g.,
“the lonely road”
• As your setting reflects your character’s mood, your setting may change as the story progresses:
• Contrasting scenes is an effective way to convey ideas and to engage your reader:
• For example, your story may have started on a sunny afternoon, but may end as the sun sets or as a
storm approaches
• Whatever way you decide to contrast the scenes, ensure it reflects your character’s mood
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Settin
g
• The best answers build a clear setting before introducing other information, such as introducing
character:
• Describing setting is best done with sensory language as we experience places with all of our
five senses
• This means you could describe the dark, light, colours, sounds, smells and weather
• The best way to clearly create setting is to allow an entire paragraph to describe the scene
without confusing readers with other information like who is there
• Ensure all of your descriptive language builds the same mood and avoid mixing ideas. For
example: “The graveyard was dark, cold and smelled like fragrant flowers” is confusing for
your reader
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Setting
• However, do not give too much away all at once!
• Keep your reader guessing and asking questions, such as “What is going
on?”, “Why is this like this?” and “Who is this?”
• Think of establishing a setting a bit like the game “Taboo”, in which you
have to describe something without stating explicitly what it is
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Characterisation
• The task is to create a short story featuring two well-rounded characters, focusing on indirect rather
than direct characterization.
• Characters should embody specific ideas or themes, such as hope or injustice, and should undergo
some form of development or change.
• Effective storytelling will clearly convey these ideas and character transformations.
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Characterisation
Direct Characterisation Indirect Characterisation
• The writer describes the character • The writer hints to the reader what the
through narration character is like
• The writer describes the character’s • An impression is formed of the
physical appearance, personality and character through their speech,
the things that motivate them thoughts and feelings, interactions with
• It is useful for giving broad details in a other characters and what other
sentence or two, but if used too much characters say or think about them
direct characterisation will result in • It is useful for developing more
superficial characters that a reader is complex, well-rounded characters that
not able to relate to or engage with engage the reader
• This is “telling” • This is “showing”
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Characterisation
Characterisation
Your character’s appearance may not always be relevant:
• It is worth considering if it is necessary to describe the colour
of your characters’ hair, for example
• Usually appearance is important if your character represents
something, for example, a king, a soldier or someone in trouble
• Facial expressions or descriptions can convey character
Appearance (direct characterisation) effectively. For example, “her tear-stained face” or “he
frowned”
• If you choose to write in first-person, remember that it is rare
that we describe our own appearance
• Third-person perspective can describe appearance more
effectively
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Characterisation
Characterisation
One of the most effective ways to describe a
character is through their movements:
• This is the way we judge people most
accurately
• Consider how you can describe your
characters’ emotions or circumstances
Movements and body language (indirect
using movements, e.g., “His head dropped”
characterisation)
• Verbs and adverbs can be used to
effectively build characterisation
• If you are including dialogue, think about
alternative verbs to “said”, such as
“whispered” or “bellowed”
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Characterisation
Characterisation
If you use the first-person perspective, a
monologue helps readers engage with the
character:
• This creates a personal tone and
engagement with the character
• You can create a character’s “voice” using
Monologue (indirect characterisation) punctuation, such as short sentences or
questions:
• A short sentence indicates your
character may be nervous, for example
• Using emotive language will help your
reader understand your character better
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Characterisation
Characterisation
Dialogue can convey the relationships
between your characters and provide insights
into what other characters think about each
other:
• It is best to limit dialogue in your story,
especially if you are not absolutely certain
Dialogue (direct and indirect how to punctuate it correctly
characterisation) • Use speech marks and punctuation
accurately
• Carefully consider how the dialogue
conveys an idea:
• Do not include dialogue which does not
progress the characterisation or plot
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Linguistic devices
Below you will find a brief explanation of some of the key techniques you could employ in
your narrative (or descriptive) writing:
Device or
Explanation Example
technique
Repeating a word, phrase, image or Throughout life, I have
idea. This is much more effective if you learnt never to give up:
think of repetition as a motif that you never give up on my
Repetition
use throughout your piece of writing dreams; never give up on
my hopes and never give up
on myself.
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Linguistic devices
Device or
Explanation Example
technique
Remember, the words starting with the The swirling mist silently
same consonant sound do not have to settled on the sleeping
Alliteration be consecutive. Consider the effect you town.
are trying to achieve through the use of
alliteration
Metaphors can be as simple as figures She was the chief lioness
of speech, but are especially effective among us, fierce,
Metaphor where they are extended and developed determined and strong. It
was she who brought us all
together.
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Linguistic devices
Device or
Explanation Example
technique
A great way to create atmosphere at The weary old tree, its
the start of your writing is by gnarled branches
Personification personifying the setting to your story or outstretched like weathered
description arms, whispered ancient
wisdom to the breeze.
The representation of sound on paper The crackling fire
should be more sophisticated than whispered its secrets along
comic-book terms such as “boom”. It is with the gentle pop and
Onomatopoeia also not helpful to put onomatopoeic sizzle of the logs as they
words all in capital letters. Consider surrendered to the flames.
sound as a way of evoking the senses in
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Linguistic devices
Device or
Explanation Example
technique
A simple comparison using “like” or Her smile was as radiant as
Simile “as” should be used sparingly, as this the early morning sun on a
creates more impact summer’s day.
Engages the reader’s senses by using The sun-kissed waves
vivid and detailed language to create crashed against the golden
Imagery an image in the reader’s mind shore, their frothy white
caps glistening in the
morning light.
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Linguistic devices
Device or
Explanation Example
technique
Places two contrasting ideas, images or Thе еlegant ballroom was
concepts side by side to highlight their adornеd with еxquisitе
differences or to create a striking effect chandеliеrs and finе
Juxtaposition
artwork, whilе thе servants'
quartеrs bеlow hеld
nothing but barе walls.
Words or phrases that are intentionally The devastating aftermath
Emotive
used to evoke a strong emotional left a trail of destruction,
language
response in the reader sorrow and misery.
Narrative writing
Narrative writing techniques
Linguistic devices
Device or
Explanation Example
technique
Verbs are doing, action or being words. The man stooped, bumbling
Power verbs are the deliberate, slowly towards the
interesting choice of verb to help the entrance.
Power verbs
reader picture what you are writing.
They can be especially useful for
characterisation
The ability to evoke a specific mood or The lonely road beckoned
Pathetic fallacy feeling that reflects a character’s him onwards with no end in
internal or emotional state sight.
Narrative writing
Steps to success
1. Read the two task options carefully:
• Highlight which one you have a strong idea for
2. Spend five minutes planning your writing:
• Use a mind-map or a representation of Freytag’s Pyramid to plot out your story
• Plan your characters - who they are, what they represent and how you will convey this
• Decide on your narrative perspective - first or third person
3. Write down some reminders of figurative language or literary techniques to include to add interest and detail to
your writing
4. Write your story, sticking to your plan
5. Try to leave five minutes at the end to re-read your writing carefully, correcting any obvious mistakes you have
made
THANK YOU