Narrative Writing

1. Narrative Writing What is narrative writing? In your opinion, what needs to go in ALL narrative writing? The following things are elements you need to include:

2. Point of view Establish a CLEAR point of view. It is very important that you start and finish in the same point of view. Therefore, you should not change from first person to third person at any time. Remember: point of view is talking about the narration.

3. Vivid Description The sun was warm on my back as I raced toward the waiting yellow school bus. As I nestled into the worn leather seat I was greeted by the friendly voices of other excited children. The look on my face was one of confidence and contentment. With a jerk the bus rumbled down the road and I was on my way into one of the worst days of my life. What do we use to create vivid description? 5 senses: touch, smell, hear, taste, and see

4. Paragraphs Even though this is a story, not a “paper…” Be sure your story has paragraphs. They tell when you're switching time, place, topic or speaker, and they help break the page up so it is not just a solid block of writing.

5. How Do I Know When To Start a New Paragraph? There are a few standard times to make a new paragraph: • When you start in on a new topic • When you skip to a new time • When you skip to a new place • When a new person begins to speak • When you want to produce a dramatic effect http://www.saidsimple.com/content/When-to-Make-a-New-Paragraph

6. Use Rich Words Remember words such as said, went, and put are DEAD. Use words that describe the action.

7. Went NOT My dad went to work. BUT My dad raced to work.

8. Said NOT Jane said she had a secret. BUT Jane whispered to Peter a wonderful secret.

9. Show, Don’t Tell The Show, Don’t Tell method of writing is when the writer is able to create a picture in the reader's mind, to get away from the repetition of such empty words like went, big, or said.

10. NOT Susan exercised. BUT Sweat poured from Susan’s forehead as she continued to do one hundred sit-ups .

11. Dialogue Your characters have to have some interaction. Even if there is only one character, there needs to be some dialogue. The character may just speak out loud.

12. Conversation The Five Rules for Writing Direct Quotations

13. Conversation Remember: you must make a new paragraph every time a different person speaks!!!! Correct: Johnny yelled, “Hey Jane. What time is it?” Jane replied, “Almost 6:00.”Johnny cried, “Ah! I’m going to be late!” Incorrect: Johnny yelled, “Hey Jane. What time is it?” Jane replied, “Almost 6:00.” Johnny cried, “Ah! I’m going to be late!”

14. Sentences • Vary your sentences. • Are some of your sentences long and others short? • Do you start the beginnings differently? • Do some sentences start with a part of speech other than a noun or pronoun?

15. Figurative Language Use a little figurative language to add interest to your story. • Simile • Metaphor • Alliteration • Onomatopoeia

16. Simile comparison between two unlike things that have something in common using like or as Examples • It's been a hard day's night and I've been working like a dog. - The Beatles • My heart is like an open highway. - Jon Bon Jovi • like two peas in a podlike Christmas in summer • as hungry as a bearas nutty as a fruitcakeas quick as lightning

17. Metaphor Metaphor– comparison between two unlike things that have something in common without using like or as Examples Patty was a raging tiger when she lost her lunch money. During the night the forest was a dark, frightening battlefield.

18. Plot Structure • a plot, including setting and characters • a climax (This is when the plot is solved.) • an ending

19. Beginning • In the beginning of your story, you should introduce your characters. • The reader should also know about the world your characters live in (the setting) and the something about each of the characters in your story. • The beginning of your story is also the place where your plot (the problem) is first introduced.

20. Middle Your story needs to build to something exciting, the climax. Write about a simple conflict, a task that must be completed, a question that must be answered, or a barrier that must be overcome. Climax Rising Action Resolution Beginning

21. Middle • Include • Actions • Dialogue • Sensory Details • Thoughts and Feelings • Suspense (Remember to build to a climax.)

22. The End This is the big finish. The end should reveal how you overcame your problem. All conflicts are resolved and everything goes back to normal.

23. Quick Write Write about your favorite place to go in the world… There is a catch. You cannot say what your favorite place is… Describe what you see, what you feel, what you hear, what you can touch, and what you can taste. Concert, deer stand, beach, mountains, bedroom, car, etc.

24. Showing your setting, not telling As I climb in, I hear the engine roaring. I sit back and relax as we begin our adventure. Looking to my left, I see boats zooming past us. There are children being pulled behind the boat, and they are screeching with laughter as the water continuously splashes them in the face. I smile as the breeze blows against my face and the sun sticks to my skin. As we are cruising, the spell of hamburgers permeates the air so much so that I can almost taste them. After we come to a stop, I step out onto the rocky bottom and the water splashes against me. Luckily, I cannot help but smile because I am at my favorite place on Earth.

25. Work with narrative components They say a picture is worth a thousand words. One thing that is SO important in writing is description. The reader should be able to see the story as they read it.

26. Assignment I am going to put two different pictures on the screen. You can choose either one to write a story about. Remember, a story needs a clear beginning, middle, and end, but it should not be rushed. It also should have dialogue, conflict, setting, description, variety, and transition words.

27. Assignment Choose a character or characters and writer from the character's point of view. You need to write about the character's feelings and thoughts, their interactions with others, and tell the story that leads up to the picture. You need to not only describe the picture but invent an original story related to the event illustrated.  This should be AT LEAST one page. Remember, if a new character speaks, start a new paragraph!

28. Picture Options

29. Vivid Detail Her math class sixth period seemed to last a thousand years. She stared intently at the clock on the wall, wishing that, somehow, she could push the hands around the clock simply with her eyes. The seconds ticked by slowly, the second hand moving past the 2, now the 3, crawling toward 4 and 5. Ten minutes more--each minute lasting an hour--and she would be free. She had it all planned out with the precision of a space shuttle launch: out the door, turn right, three doors down to the next hallway, turn left, grab the phone (she clutched the quarter in her pocket, rubbing it between her fingers.) Dial the number of the hospital—and at last! She would finally find out the results of her mother’s surgery.

30. Closer look at a TN Ready Narrative Writing • What part of the plot is here? So what do we have to finish. • POV? • List a few events that will take place next. How will we include sensory detail throughout this narrative? • How will we include dialogue? • How will the story conclude? • I woke up and it was all a dream is not acceptable.