What Is the Narrative Writing Form?

Narrative writing is a form of writing which tells a chain of events in a sequence. Usually, the author himself plays the role of a narrator. However, it is not always necessary. Sometimes, there might be a character from the story that narrates the chain of events. A narrative form of writing is usually considered as the most interactive one. It creates a deep connection between the author and the readers.

Narrative writings are best for young children. Most of their stories are written in a narrative form to make the children feel and live the story as they read. The narrative form of writing really does make reading fun. It never makes your attention go some other way because it is so engaging. The purpose of the narrative form of writing is not only to convey a story or a fact, but also to develop a bond with the reader. Hence, a narrative form of writing also provides readers with the aftermath of the scenario along with a moral or message.

The word narrative is often used as a synonym with the story. In narrative writing, a story that is being told is either fiction or non-fiction. The person narrating the story is either some character from the story or the author himself. Usually, fiction stories are narrated by the author. The main purpose of narrative writing is to give readers an ultimate reading experience. They get to experience the events as if they were a part of it. The narration allows them to dive deep into the story and imagine every situation as the story unfolds. Readers feel a sense of connection to the characters. Narrative writing can be classified into two types:

1. Fiction

2. Non-fiction

Fiction

Fiction narrative writing contains an imaginary chain of events with imaginary characters. The story is not real and is a mere depiction of the author's imagination. These stories usually have morals and teach some lessons about life. Fiction narrative writing includes novels, short stories, folk tales, and poetry.

Non-Fiction

Non-fiction narrative writing is based on reality. It narrates real events and facts from reality. Non-fiction narrative writing includes biographies, newspapers, reports, and autobiographies.

Here are the steps toward writing a narrative essay or story.

Brainstorm

As a narrative writer, you have to think about a topic that can be shared with the world. It must be interesting with a moral at the end. Think about all the interesting things that happened to you personally. Pay attention to the order and sequence.

The Narrative Form

You are drafting your story in a narrative form. Most narrative essays are written in the first person pronoun because it is more engaging. You are a storyteller, so do not miss out on the small details. Also, start your writing with a provoking question or a statement that evokes the interest of the reader.

Revise and Edit

The last step is to revise what you have written. Make the necessary changes. Evaluate your writing as a reader. After that, make a final copy.

How to Write a Narrative?

A narrative essay is a piece of writing that describes a story or event that has been experienced by the author during a specific period of time in his or her life. Students often confuse a narrative essay with a descriptive one and this spoils their grades. Therefore, it is very important to know what you are doing and how you can do it.

As a narrative text has a vivid plot and it explains something that has happened with the author, it is different from almost all other essays and texts. Writing a narrative text is not an easy task, but can be eased following a step wise process as given below:

Decide The Topic and Themes You Want to Address

Before directly jumping onto writing something you have experienced, it is better to ask yourself if that interaction and experience of your life is worthy enough to be told. Many students start their narrative writing with simply stating an event they witnessed and that is fresh in their memory and are unable to draft a good piece at all. It is better to first choose a theme or topic which you think will interest the audience and has the potential to teach something valuable to the readers too.

Decide the Story

Once you have chosen a theme, scan your memory for an event or interaction from your life you think will relate with the theme nicely. Try to select a personal experience which has a moral dimension to it and the one which taught you something of immense value.

Draft an Outline for Writing

Once the topic and event to be narrated is decided, you must make a rough outline of how you will want to shape your piece of writing. It is better to start with an introduction to the theme and then writing down your personal experiences.

Write in First Person

A narrative essay or story should be written in the first person to develop a strong connection between the reader and the characters. Usually, "I" is used but "it", "she", and "he" can also be used.

Write in Order

A narrative form of writing should make sense to the reader. It should be written in chronological order so that the reader understands each and every detail of it.

Include All Parts

A good narrative writing contains all the essential parts of the story. This includes an introduction, plot, setting, characters, climax, and resolution.