creative writing

• English
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

narrative structure

Today's lesson will focus on exploring narrative structure, character development, descriptive language, and effective pacing.

Narrative Structure

Narrative structure is the organization and flow of a story, including its beginning, middle, and end.

Typical components of narrative structure, include exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Here are examples of stories with different narrative structures:

Linear Structure

Example: "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien

"The Hobbit" follows a linear narrative structure, where events unfold chronologically from beginning to end. The story begins with Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, being recruited by Gandalf the wizard to accompany a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim their homeland from the dragon Smaug. The narrative progresses as Bilbo and the company encounter various obstacles and adversaries on their journey, leading to the climactic confrontation with Smaug and the resolution of the quest.

Epistolary Structure:

Example: "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

"Dracula" is written in the form of letters, journal entries, newspaper clippings, and other documents exchanged between multiple characters. This epistolary structure allows the story to unfold through different perspectives and voices, providing readers with insights into the characters' thoughts, feeings, and experiences as they grapple with the threat of the vampire Count Dracula.

Nonlinear Structure:

Example: "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut

"Slaughterhouse-Five" employs a nonlinear narrative structure, where the protagonist, Billy Pilgrim, experiences events out of chronological order due to his experiences with time travel and trauma. The story jumps between different moments in Billy's life, including his time as a prisoner of war during World War II, his post-war life, and his encounters with aliens on the planet Tralfamadore. This nonlinear approach reflects the novel's themes of fate, free will, and the nature of time.

Circular Structure:

Example: "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel García Márquez

"One Hundred Years of Solitude" employs a circular narrative structure, where the story begins and ends with the same event—the founding of the town of Macondo—and traces the rise and fall of the Buendía family over multiple generations. Events and motifs recur throughout the narrative, creating a sense of cyclical time and echoing the themes of history, memory, and the inevitability of fate.

Using Descriptive Language

Descriptive language is the use of vivid imagery, sensory details, and figurative language to create a rich and immersive story world.

Practice writing descriptive passages using your senses to evoke imagery and emotion.

Writing Exercise 

Choose a topic from the writing prompt. Incorporate elements of narrative structure, character development, and descriptive language.

Focus on crafting a well-structured narrative with engaging characters,