Writing Narratives
Writing Skills Lesson – Telling stories clearly
1. Why narrative writing matters
Narratives describe events in a clear, engaging way. They can be used in presentations, personal journals, job interviews, creative writing, and daily communication. A well-told story makes information memorable and persuasive. When you control sequence, pace, and detail, you control how readers feel and what they take away. That’s why writers choose specific tenses, sensory language, and structure to shape meaning.
Good narratives use past tenses, sequencing, descriptive details, and emotion. They help your reader understand what happened and why it mattered.
2. Key features of a good narrative
Clear sequence of events
- first, then, after that, finally
- last year, suddenly, before that
Past tenses
- past simple: for main actions. Example: We reached the summit.
- past continuous: for background or ongoing actions. Example: It was snowing as we climbed.
- past perfect: for events that happened before the main story. Example: I had packed extra water before we left.
Descriptive details
- Feelings and thoughts: show internal reactions. Example: My heart pounded; I wondered if we’d make it back before dark.
- Sensory language: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch. Example: The trail smelled of pine; my boots squelched in mud.
- Pacing: mix longer descriptive sentences with short dramatic ones for emphasis.
Structure
- Beginning: set the scene and introduce characters and context.
- Middle: present the main events, conflict, or turning point.
- End: show the result, reflection, or emotional resolution.
3. Useful language
Time expressions
- One day…
- Suddenly…
- A few minutes later…
- In the end…
Sequencing
- First…
- Next…
- After that…
- Finally…
Describing feelings
- I felt excited / nervous / relieved.
- I couldn’t believe it.
- It was the best/worst moment of my day.
4. Model narrative
Last weekend, I decided to go hiking with a friend. At first the trail was quiet and the sun warmed our faces as we walked. While we were climbing, we talked about work and laughed as the path wound through tall pines that smelled like resin. A little earlier that morning, I had checked the forecast, so I was surprised when dark clouds appeared and it started raining heavily. We ran back down the trail, slipping on wet roots; my shoes were soaked and my hair clung to my forehead. By the time we reached the car, we were drenched, shivering, and covered in mud. In the end, we laughed about it, and it became one of our favourite memories.
5. Practice: Add time expressions
Task: Add at least two time expressions to each sentence and combine into a short paragraph (4–6 sentences).
- I woke up late.
- I missed the bus.
- I arrived at work.
- My boss wasn’t happy.
6. Practice: Improve the narrative
Task: Rewrite the short narrative using descriptive detail, one past continuous, and one past perfect sentence.
I went to a restaurant. The food was good. I had pasta. I went home.
7. Writing task
Write a short narrative (8–10 sentences) about a real or imagined event. Include:
- a beginning, middle, and end
- past simple, past continuous, and past perfect
- four time expressions
- descriptive details and feelings
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Answer key – Practice (Section 5)
- First, I woke up late.
- As a result, I missed the bus.
- A few minutes later, I arrived at work.
- In the end, my boss wasn’t happy.
Sample Answer – Practice (Section 6)
Last Friday I went to a small Italian restaurant near the river. While I was waiting for my friend, the waiter brought warm bread that smelled of garlic. The food was excellent; I had a creamy mushroom pasta that tasted rich and comforting. I had already been craving a quiet evening, so after dessert I walked home slowly, feeling content.
