E N G L I S H L A N G U A G E A RT S

Narrative
Writing
developing effective
creative writing skills
YEAR 11 AND 12
 Learning Objectives
The focus of this lesson is to develop students creative writing skills in order to construct effective narratives about
real or imagined experiences using effective language techniques and well-chosen details. The lesson will focus on
four key skills. By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

01
Write an engaging
opening to a story
that hooks the
reader's interest.
02 03 04
Use direct and
Carefully select
indirect Use sensory detail to
specific verbs to
characterisation to create mood and
create movement
write a detailed atmosphere when
during a scene that
passage describing a describing a setting.
includes action.
character.
to begin
Practicing different creative writing skills is a valuable experience for anyone
looking to write effective narratives. With the right tools and techniques, you
can craft compelling stories that capture the reader's attention, explore important
themes and leave a lasting impression.

Showing creativity in your writing will allow you to engage readers with unique
storylines, vivid descriptions, excitement and drama and memorable characters
that come to life.

No matter the type or style of narrative you're writing, creative writing skills can
help you communicate your ideas in a more engaging and memorable way. The
following lesson will guide you in practicing four key skills for writing an
effective narrative.
creative writing skill

writing an
engaging
exposition
the skill:
The first few sentences, paragraphs or pages of a story are a thought-provoking question or comment about
the reader's entry point into a new world. Often, a reader 01 your central theme
will decide whether or not to continue reading based
purely off a story's exposition!
02
a powerful piece of dialogue or conversation to
set the scene
The exposition is an opportunity to introduce your
writing style, set the scene and establish your central
03
a surprising, strange or unexpected statement or
characters and conflict. It's extremely important that we detail to intrigue the reader
practice the skill of grabbing a reader's attention straight
away through an interesting and engaging introduction.
04
jumping right into the action to create tension or
suspense
Try to avoid boring cliche openings and instead consider
the following:
05
a foreshadowing clue about the character's
potential fate to make the reader wonder
the activity:
library scavenger hunt 1. Title and Author:

One way of learning how to create interesting story 2. Opening passage:

openings is to observe the methods used by other
writers. 3. Analysis notes:
• specific stylistic features or
If you have the opportunity, book a library session and choices made by the writer
conduct a scavenger hunt for some engaging opening • why they were effective
lines and/or passages! You might work individually or • ideas you could mirror or adapt
with a partner. in your own writing.

Aim to find five successful expositions that you found

particularly effective. For each passage you find, record
the following details in your notebook.
the practice:
Choose one of the following story prompts and practice drafting an engaging exposition. You might draw inspiration from
the suggestions on the skill slide or from the examples you saved during your library scavenger hunt. If you have time, use
the same prompt and complete another practice experimenting with a completely different style of opening.

An elderly woman
A shoplifter who was In walks the new A 3:00 am
peering through her
spotted company director phone call
window

A strange neighbour A woman who has been A student waiting to

An ambulance races
who does the same hiding something from enter the principal's
through the streets
thing every day her partner office
 creative writing skill

using direct &

indirect
characterisation
the skill:
When describing the characters in your story, try to use a combination of direct and indirect characterisation, focusing
slightly more on indirect characterisation to make your story interesting and engaging. A simple rule to remember is 'show,
don't tell'.

Tells the reader about a character's personality explicitly and directly. It is

Direct Characterisation usually quite general and concise. E.g. She was easily annoyed / He was a kind
man.

Shows a reader what a character is like or communicates their traits without

explicitly telling them. They might do this in various ways such as describing
Indirect Characterisation their appearance (facial features, body type, clothing etc.), speech or dialogue,
actions or behaviours, thoughts, and how they interact with or respond to, or
are treated by other characters.

Using lots of descriptive detail through indirect characterisation can keep your readers engaged in your story, making
characters true-to-life and interesting through creating plenty of imagery.
the sample:
The street artist sauntered down the sidewalk, his skinny jeans hugging his
legs and his thrifted flannel shirt hanging loosely over his lanky frame. His
unruly curly hair was pulled back into a messy bun, and his thick-framed
glasses perched atop his nose. As he walked, he hummed a tune and twirled
a spray paint can in his hand, creating a rhythm with the clinking of the
metal ball inside.

Graffiti adorned the walls around him, evidence of his artistic prowess. He
stopped in front of a blank brick wall, his movements deliberate and fluid.
With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a burst of color onto the surface,
creating a masterpiece before the eyes of passersby. The aroma of spray
paint filled the air, and the sound of the can spraying was like a symphony.
He was a true creative force, making the world a little more beautiful one
stroke at a time.
the activity:
an interesting character

Choose a character from a story you've read that was

particularly memorable and try to find examples of the
descriptions the author used.

Identify at least one example of each of the following:

• appearance (facial features, hair, body clothing)
• speech or dialogue
• actions or behaviour
• thoughts
• relationships or interactions with other characters
the practice:
Choose one of the following character prompts and practice writing 1-2 descriptive paragraphs about them. Try to use a
mix of direct and indirect characterisation describing elements such as appearance, speech, thoughts, actions or behaviours
and interactions with others.

A frustrated A ballerina obsessed A teenager who is the A laid back

businessman with perfection class clown surfer

An elderly gentleman
An exhausted A curious A public speaker with
with a sharp mind
waitress five-year-old anxiety
using sensory
detail to
establish
setting
the skill: Be specific by naming and describing everything you can about a
scene. E.g. Instead of saying, “the car drove down the road” say, “the
sleek and shiny red convertible sped and swerved down Anywhere
Street"
The setting of a narrative includes the time
and place in which the events of the story
take place (and these can be chosen for Include sensory imagery that evokes all of the senses including visual
(sight), aural (sound), olfactory (smell), tactile (touch), gustatory (taste)
various reasons) but it also embodies a sense
and kinaesthetic (movement).
of mood and atmosphere that can be crucial
in setting the scene for the events to take
place.
Ensure you know the world of your story really well. If it's based on a
real place, ensure you read, research or view pictures to help you
Effective writers bring their settings to life by
visualise your setting so you can convey it authentically.
adding detail upon detail and creating
sensory imagery that immerses the reader in
the story.
Experiment with using some figurative language such as similes,
metaphors and personification. This can help create memorable details
Some key tips for effectively describing your
through abstract comparisons.
settings are:
the sample:
As he entered the gym, the smell of sweat and leather filled his nostrils and the
thudded sound of gloves hitting punching bags echoed all around him. He scanned
the walls that were lined with mirrors, reflecting the grit and determination on the
faces of the boxers as they trained. The ropes of the ring creaked and groaned as
two fighters sparred.

He threw his bag onto the scuffed wooden floor and crossed the room, noticing
the pungent aroma of liniment and ammonia mingling with the musk of the
fighters. He knew the gym was a place of discipline, where the sound of heavy
breathing and the sight of sweat pouring down faces were as common as the sight
of battered gloves and broken noses.

It was a place where he knew his human spirit would be tested and the limits of
his body would be pushed to their breaking point, but it was also a place where the
sweet science of boxing would be practiced with reverence and respect.
the activity:
visualising setting

Before you undertake the writing activity on the next

slide, choose one of the prompts and create a quick 10
minute 'vision board' for your setting.

Research to find names, details or historical references

that might aid in authenticity and/or use the image
search to find at least five pictures that might help you
visualise your setting clearly so you can create strong
and engaging imagery for your reader.
the practice:
Write a detailed description of one of the following scenes that establishes a clear sense of mood or atmosphere. Focus on
giving lots of specific detail and on including multiple types of sensory imagery.

A waiting room at a A camping ground at A bustling music

A busy coffee shop
doctors surgery night concert

A rooftop view of a
A crowded freeway
A dusty basement A school sports day suburban
traffic jam
neighbourhood
 using verbs to
create action &
movement
the skill:
Verbs are used to create action and movement and the careful selection of verbs can result in conveying specific
moods, ideas and/or imagery.

Although the character, setting and order of events are similar, consider how changing the verbs (as well as some
adverbs and adjectives) can alter the mood and meaning of the following passages.

She reluctantly picked up her car keys and slowly trudged out the front door,
leaving it to close softly behind her. She sat in her car, the engine slowly idling
Passage 1
as she contemplated the day before her. After a minute or so had passed she
cruised out her driveway onto the quiet street.

She snatched her car keys and stormed out the front door, leaving it to slam
behind her from the impact. She slid quickly into her car, revved the engine and
Passage 2
tore down her driveway onto the busy highway, narrowly missing the
oncoming traffic.
the sample:
The two boys lunged towards each other, their hands grasping at
the same brightly-colored lollipop.

They tugged and pulled at each others limbs and clothes, their
bodies swaying back and forth as they vied for control. Their
eyes widened with determination as they pushed and shoved,
each refusing to give up their hold on the sugary prize.

The lollipop bounced between their fingers, the stick wobbling

dangerously as they jostled for position.

Finally, with one sharp yank, one of the boys triumphantly pulled
the lollipop free, thrusting it high above his head like a victory
prize, leaving the other boy to stare dejectedly at the empty
wrapper.
the practice:
After selecting one of the following prompts, write a couple of detailed paragraphs describing a scene, incident or
situation that involves action or movement.

An awe inspiring Some old, rusty farm A skilled skateboarder A dramatic police
dance performance equipment chase

A vibrant underwater
ecosystem A busy cleaner A group of skiers An injured athlete
to conclude
Writing an effective narrative requires you to juggle a number of skills and
techniques depending on the style of story you are aiming for.

The most important things to remember are to use lots of descriptive detail,
create imagery for your reader and make the story interesting and engaging for
them to read.

Hopefully you can utilise some of these skills the next time you write a
narrative.

Good luck and happy writing!