Deciding to write a narrative

DECIDING TO WRITE A NARRATIVE. Narratives describe events that people want to share with readers in words or through other media, including photographs, film, songs, cartoons, and more (see the Introduction for more on choosing a genre). These stories may be about family or work experiences, growing up, personal tragedies, relationships, and so on. Expect a narrative you compose to do the following.

Tell a story. In a narrative, something usually happens. Maybe all you do is reflect on a moment when something peculiar caught your attention. Or your story could recount a series of events — the classic road-trip script. Or you might spin a tale complicated enough to resemble a movie plot, with a connected beginning, middle, and end. But your job is always to focus on some action. Otherwise you are rambling.

Introduce characters. They may be people or animals or animate objects, but a story usually needs someone or something for readers to care about. You needn’t pile on physical descriptions or build elaborate backstories. But you ordinarily need characters with names and interesting relationships who speak believable dialogue. Sometimes that fascinating person is you.

image

Telling stories — sometimes competitively — in clubs and restaurants has become a form of entertainment in cities across the United States.

Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images.

Make a point — usually. There’s usually a reason for writing a narrative. When an insurance agent asks about your recent fender bender, she expects you to explain what happened and how you are involved. Most narratives, however, will be less clinical and more reflective, enabling you to connect with readers creatively — to amuse, enlighten, and, perhaps, even to change them. (develop a statement) Some narratives are therapeutic too, helping you confront personal issues or get a weight off your chest.

Report details. What brings a narrative to life are its details — the colors, shapes, sounds, textures, and other physical impressions that convince people a story is credible and authentic. They prove that you were close enough to an experience to have an insider’s perspective and that the story really belongs to you. Don’t fall back on clichés.