Checklist for effective narrative writing

 

1.  Opening/introducing characters

 

Some possible options for opening a story ‘to grab the reader’:

q     Using dialogue, e.g. a warning by one character to another

q     Asking the reader a question

q     Describing some strange behaviour of one of the characters

q     Using a dramatic exclamation (Help!) or dramatic event

q     Introducing something intriguing

 

Techniques for introducing characters

q     Using an interesting name

q     Limiting description on how the character feels, e.g. sad, lonely, angry or what they are, e.g. bossy, shy

q     Relying on portraying character through action and dialogue

q     Using powerful verbs to show how a character feels and behaves, e.g. muttered, ambled

q     Giving the thoughts and reactions of other characters

q     Revealing the characters’ own thoughts and ideas

 

 

2.  Build-up/creating setting

q     Making the characters do something

q     Using detail based on sense impressions – what can be seen, heard, smelled, touched or tasted

q     Basing settings on known places, plus some invented detail

q     Creating atmosphere, e.g. what is hidden, what is dangerous, what looks unusual, what is out of place

q     Using the weather, time of day and season as well as place

 

3.  Dilemma

q     Introducing a problem

q     Using short sentences to be dramatic

q     Strengthening nouns and verbs rather than using adjectives and adverbs

q     Drawing the reader in by asking a question

q     Occasionally breaking the sentence rule by using a fragment to emphasis a point, e.g. Silence

Varying sentence openings

 

4.  Reaction/events

q     Building on many of the techniques already used in the earlier part of the story

q     Varying sentence structure by using longer sentences to get a rhythm going to describe the increasing tension as events unfold

q     Using alliteration and short sentences to portray sounds within the action

q     Using metaphor and simile to help paint the scene and describe the feelings of the characters

q     Introducing further complications using connecting words and phrases such as unfortunately…and what he hadn’t noticed was…

 

5.  Resolution and ending

 

Techniques for resolving the dilemma

q     Allowing help to arrive in an unexpected form, e.g. It was at that moment that…

q     Making the character(s) do something unexpected

q     Showing that the problem/dilemma was only in the characters’ minds and not real

q     Allowing the character some extra effort to overcome the problem

q     Only resolving a part of the dilemma so the characters learn a lesson for the future

 

Possible options for closing a story

q     Making a comment about the resolution

q     Using dialogue – a comment from one of the characters

q     Using a question

q     Showing how a character has changed

q     Using one word or an exclamation

q     Avoiding clichés such as The end or They all lived happily ever after unless it is a fabrication of a traditional story

q     Allowing the main character to think aloud

q     Introducing an element of mystery, e.g. Vanya would never know how lucky she was that …

q     Looking to the future

q     Revisiting where the story began