The first step in the process of writing a narrative is determining the subject. For some writers, it's the hardest step, perhaps because life is so rich with material to write about. After all, narratives can be based on any true event from your life as well as any situation you can imagine. Some tried and true approaches can help you narrow down the possibilities. Use the slides below to review some of these strategies for planning a narrative.
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Brainstorm interesting memories. Your own life is full of writable moments. Find inspiration for a narrative by listing events from your past that stand out to you for some reason. If you've ever kept a journal or if you own photo albums, look through those records of personally "historic" moments to find some ideas. What memory or image from your past might make for a good story?
Outline a sequence of events and determine a structure for your narrative. Once you decide on an idea for your narrative, you'll need to decide which details to include in the story and how to arrange these details. Often, when people write narratives based on real events, they feel obligated to describe every tiny aspect of the memory. Don't. Instead, distill your story to the most critical pieces and then think about how you'll fit them together in a way that tells a good story. Will you write in chronological order, or will you craft your story using an alternative form?
Use characterization to develop your main character or narrator. The narrator of your story, or its central character, can act as a human connection between you and the reader. To forge this connection, make sure that the narrator or the main character comes across as authentic. Consider which details about the character's appearance, speech, actions, and thoughts or feelings will bring the narrator or character to life.
Reflect on the theme or message of your narrative. Given a choice, you probably prefer reading narratives that fascinate or move you in some way. Your readers are no different. To help readers get into your story, think about why you selected the idea for your narrative. Most likely, what drew you to the story is related to a theme or larger message about life. You won't state this theme directly, but your readers should have a sense that they can take away some larger idea from the narrative. |
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When you are ready to begin planning your narrative, click the Activity button below to access the Planning a Narrative worksheet, which will guide you through a prewriting process.
