This document provides guidance on developing effective creative writing skills for narratives. It outlines four key skills: 1) Writing an engaging story opening, 2) Using sensory details to describe settings, 3) Employing direct and indirect characterization techniques, and 4) Carefully selecting verbs to create movement and action. Each skill is explained and examples are provided. Students are then prompted to practice each skill through various writing exercises to strengthen their narrative writing abilities.

1. C L A S S W I T H M A S O N P R E S E N T S
developing effective
creative writing skills
Narrative
Writing
W W W . C L A S S W I T H M A S O N . C O M

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
characterisation
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