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Narrative Creative Writing Skills English
Narrative Creative Writing Skills English
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 02 03 04
Use direct and
Carefully select
Write an engaging indirect Use sensory detail to
specific verbs to
opening to a story characterisation to create mood and
create movement
that hooks the write a detailed atmosphere when
during a scene that
reader's interest. 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!
a powerful piece of dialogue or conversation to
02 set the scene
The exposition is an opportunity to introduce your
writing style, set the scene and establish your central
a surprising, strange or unexpected statement or
characters and conflict. It's extremely important that we 03 detail to intrigue the reader
practice the skill of grabbing a reader's attention straight
away through an interesting and engaging introduction.
jumping right into the action to create tension or
the following:
a foreshadowing clue about the character's
05 potential fate to make the reader wonder
the activity:
library scavenger hunt 1. Title and Author:
An elderly woman
A shoplifter who was In walks the new A 3:00 am
peering through her
spotted company director phone call
window
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
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
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.
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.