Narrative Writing: Conventions of the Form

Narrative writing is all about telling a story - it’s the form most commonly found in novels, short stories, and scripts.
It can be defined by its purpose - to entertain, to instruct or inform, to persuade, or a combination of these.

Setting in a Narrative

The setting of a narrative involves the time, place and atmosphere where the events occur.
This can contribute to the tone, mood, and theme of the story. Waterproof descriptions can evoke vivid imagery in the reader’s mind.

Successful characterisation creates believable, three-dimensional individuals with whom readers can empathise.
Characters can be built through their actions, dialogue, thoughts, appearance, and how other characters react to them.
Dynamic characters undergo significant growth and change throughout the story, while static characters remain largely the same.

Traditional narrative form possesses a sequenced plot, often following a pattern: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
The exposition or setup, introduces the main characters, setting, and the central conflict.
Rising action includes events that create suspense, tension, or interest.
The climax is the most intense, exciting, or important point of the story.
Falling action includes events that occur after the climax and lead towards the resolution.
The resolution is where the problems in the story are resolved and loose ends are tied up.

The point of view determines whose perspective the story is told from.
The three main points of view are first person (I, we), second person (you), and third person (he, she, they).
In third-person, narratives can be omniscient (all-knowing narrator), objective (neutral, emotionless narrator), or limited (narrator with restricted knowledge).

Conflict is a vital element of narrative writing. It propels a story forward and engages readers.
It can be internal (within a character’s mind) or external (between a character and an outside force like nature, society, or another character).

Carefully chosen language use and style play a key role in engaging readers, setting the tone, and revealing character.
Devices such as foreshadowing, flashbacks, and symbolism can be employed to add layers of depth.
Dialogue can be used to reveal character and further plot.

Always proofread your narrative for inconsistencies in plot, characterisation, setting, and language use.
Aim for cohesion in your narrative elements. They should weave together seamlessly to create an engaging, believable story.
It can be beneficial to read your work aloud or seek external feedback to ensure it has the intended effect on readers.