Narrative Text

1. developing effective
creative writing skills
Narrative
Writing
E N G L I S H L A N G U A G E A R T S
Y E A R 1 1 A N D 1 2

2. Learning Objectives
Write an engaging
opening to a story
that hooks the
reader's interest.
01
Use sensory detail
to create mood
and atmosphere
when describing a
setting.
03
Carefully select
specific verbs to
create movement
during a scene
that includes
action.
04
Use direct and
indirect
characterisation to
write a detailed
passage
describing a
character.
02
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:

3. 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.
to begin

4. writing an
engaging
exposition
creative writing skill

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

6. the activity:
One way of learning how to create interesting
story openings is to observe the methods used
by other writers.
If you have the opportunity, book a library
session and conduct a scavenger hunt for some
engaging opening lines and/or passages! You
might work individually or with a partner.
Aim to find five successful expositions that you
found particularly effective. For each passage
you find, record the following details in your
notebook.
library scavenger hunt 1. Title and Author:
2. Opening passage:
3. Analysis notes:
• specific stylistic features or
choices made by the writer
• why they were effective
• ideas you could mirror or
adapt in your own writing.

7. 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.
In walks the new
company director
A shoplifter who
was spotted
An elderly woman
peering through
her window
A strange
neighbour who
does the same
thing every day
A woman who has
been hiding
something from her
partner
A 3:00 am
phone call
An ambulance
races through the
streets
A student waiting
to enter the
principal's office

8. using direct &
indirect
characterisatio
n
creative writing skill

9. 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'.
Direct
Characterisation
Tells the reader about a character's personality explicitly and
directly. It is usually quite general and concise. E.g. She was easily
annoyed / He was a kind man.
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.
Indirect
Characterisation
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 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.

10. 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
sample:

11. the activity:
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
an interesting character

12. 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 ballerina
obsessed with
perfection
A frustrated
businessman
A laid back
surfer
An elderly
gentleman with a
sharp mind
A curious
five-year-old
A public speaker
with anxiety
A teenager who is
the class clown
An exhausted
waitress

13. using
sensory
detail to
establish
setting

14. the skill:
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 various reasons) but it also
embodies a sense of mood and
atmosphere that can be crucial in
setting the scene for the events to take
place.
Effective writers bring their settings to
life by adding detail upon detail and
creating sensory imagery that
immerses the reader in the story.
Some key tips for effectively describing
your settings are:
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"
Include sensory imagery that evokes all of the senses
including visual (sight), aural (sound), olfactory (smell), tactile
(touch), gustatory (taste) and kinaesthetic (movement).
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 visualise your setting so you can convey
it authentically.
Experiment with using some figurative language such as
similes, metaphors and personification. This can help create
memorable details through abstract comparisons.

15. 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 sample:

16. the activity:
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.
visualising setting

17. 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 camping ground
at night
A waiting room at
a doctors surgery
A bustling music
concert
A crowded freeway
traffic jam
A school sports
day
A rooftop view of a
suburban
neighbourhood
A busy coffee shop
A dusty basement

18. using verbs to
create action
& movement

19. 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.
Passage 1
Passage 2
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 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 tore down her driveway onto the busy highway,
narrowly missing the oncoming traffic.

20. 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 sample:

21. 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.
Some old, rusty
farm equipment
An awe inspiring
dance
performance
A dramatic police
chase
A vibrant
underwater
ecosystem
A group of skiers An injured athlete
A skilled
skateboarder
A busy cleaner

22. 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!
to conclude