How To Write Narrative Compositions?

Narrative compositions are pieces of written work that tells a story, real or imaginary. For example, if you write about how you tried to please someone, but your efforts were in vain in the end, that is a narrative composition. Such compositions usually have the following compulsory ingredients:

• Setting (where did the story take place?)
• Time frame (when did the story take place?)
• Characters (who were the participants in the story – their appearance, character, any other relevant aspects)
• What happened on that day/ within that time frame
• Why or how did it happen that way
• What did you feel or sense?
• What are your thoughts on the event?
• How did it end?

Language in narrative compositions

In narratives the past tense is used mostly. Other tenses can be used in dialogues, depending on the situation. It is better to use active voice and action verbs. Adjectives and adverbs should be used to create mental pictures of the characters, events and settings.

Ways of starting narrative compositions

You can begin a narrative composition in a number of ways. The most common ways are given below:

• Dialogue
• Quotation
• Theme
• Definition
• Action
• Description

Ways of ending narrative compositions

• Look into the future
• Repeat your theme
• Quotation
• Dialogue
• Reflections
• A twist in the plot

Examples of narrative composition starters (Sample topic: Describe a time when a small fire went out of control)

• I was half way through replying to an e-mail, when the commotion downstairs reached my ears. I had almost dismissed it as another racket that my six year old brother was making, when an alarming smell of smoke drifted to my nose. Warning bells sounded inside me. Tripping the chair over, I ran…..
• “Quick, no time to waste….”
  “Don’t get too near ….”
  “Some more water ……oh hurry up….”
• Disasters may strike unexpectedly, causing irreparable damage to man and material. We wonder at the vagaries of fate when such things happen. Nothing could have been more unexpected than the fire accident in our neighbourhood last night.

Now let us look at some of the possible endings for this composition

• My brother has never been the same again. To be the cause of such a catastrophe, I imagine, would really have been a traumatic experience. His had been a fairytale world of never-ending play, and all of a sudden that world had vanished, leaving only sorrow and bewilderment. No more carefree joy … and of course, no more playing with fire.
• “This has been a lesson for us – a bitter one,” Dad’s voice shook, “about being careful, about being aware of the effects of our actions …”

We agreed silently.

Tips for story writing

• The story can be written in either the first person (I) or the third person(He or she or the name of the person)
• The story may narrate real or imaginary events. It can also be a combination of both real-life and imaginary events.
• Good narrative writing should include some description. The description can be of people, places, or conditions such as the weather. Use the five senses when you describe. For example, ‘the bacon smelled heavenly’ or ‘the meat was leathery to the touch’.
• Decide on the plot and characters before you start the story. Write a plan and decide where the climax will occur as well as how the story will end.
• Narratives are usually written in the past tense and you may need to use several past tenses (past simple, past continuous, past perfect or past perfect continuous)
• Words or expressions indicating the sequencing of events are useful – while, when, after, during, then, later, before, finally etc.
• Use direct speech (dialogues) wherever possible. It makes the story more interesting. Make sure dialogues seem natural, not forced.
• Try to avoid clichés or commonly overused expressions such as ‘once upon a time’ to start the story.
• You can use idioms in the story, if they are appropriate to the situation. You can also use linguistic devices such as metaphors, similes, hyperbole (exaggeration) etc.
• An unexpected twist at the end of the story makes it very interesting. An example of a story with a twist at the end would be ‘The Necklace’ by Guy de Maupassant.
• Avoid colloquialisms, slangs and short forms such as can’t or won’t in the narrative unless it is necessary and feels natural as part of the dialogues.
• Your characters will feel real if you shape them out of people you know closely.