How to write a narrative

Narrative writing means, essentially, writing that tells a story. It might be fiction (see How to Write a Short Story), or non-fiction (as with writing personal narrative, or memoir writing). The main feature of narrative writing is that it spans time and has a plot--something happens that keeps readers reading to see what's next. A narrative often (but certainly not always) is written in chronological order.

WhiteSmoke English writing software can make your narrative writing easier than ever to do. With a large dictionary and powerful thesaurus, WhiteSmoke helps you find the precise words you need to write a good narrative. The writing enhancement tool offers adverbs and adjectives that will strengthen your writing. As you write your narrative, you can use the WhiteSmoke English grammar check software and spell check software to assure your narrative writing is error-free. WhiteSmoke checks for punctuation and mechanical errors, too.

A narrative essay makes its point, or thesis (see How to Write a Thesis Statement), by telling a story. The story is usually true for the narrative essay, and might be an example, a case study, a way to organize an interview, or a way to show history through narrative. A narrative essay might, for example, tell the story of how Madame Curie discovered radium. However, usually a narrative essay has a point besides simply telling the story--perhaps in the example of Madame Curie, to demonstrate the contributions women made in science against particular odds.

Memoir writing is life writing. As such, it's a form of autobiography (see How to Write an Autobiography), although usually in shorter form or written earlier in one's life than an autobiography. It comes from the memories of the writer, recounting stories of interest to others. Again, as with the narrative essay, memoir writing reveals themes and points that go beyond the mere telling of the story. It might be a lesson learned about life, how love conquers even family quarrels, or the humor that sometimes emerges from serious occasions. An experienced memoir writer selects details that reinforce the theme, and leaves out information that does not further the story or convey the point of the memoir.

If you write your life as a memoir, you will want your precise writing and correct writing. WhiteSmoke's all-in-one writing software solution will assure that you are writing your best English. Be sure to use the dictionary, thesaurus, and writing enhancement tools as you draft your memoir (see Learning to Write). Then use the English grammar software and English spell check software as you revise. WhiteSmoke provides you the equivalent of an online copyeditor, when and where you need it.

In general, all narrative writing makes a point beyond the story and contains selected details, not everything. A personal narrative is a memoir. The terms are interchangeable. A narrative poem is a poem that tells a story. Americans might think of "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," others might know "The Charge of the Light Brigade." Both poems tell the story of a memorable historic event, although a narrative poem need not be historical (see How to Write Poetry). WhiteSmoke's creative writing contextual package can help you with your poetry writing and your narrative writing. It is especially geared to help with all creative writing you might do.

Many people want to write a family narrative. This is something like a family memoir, or family history. It often tells the story of ancestors, grand parents, aunts, and uncles, of how the family came to be in a certain place, of how a family business began, or of some other interesting aspect of the family (such as obstacles overcome). Some family narratives tell of immigration, others of the depression in the 1930s, others of how family members did or did not survive the holocaust. As with other forms of narrative writing, a family narrative usually conveys a theme and has a point beyond the story itself. However, some family narratives are written as histories to be passed on, and might be written for the sake of telling the story alone.

All of these forms of narrative writing have in common the telling of a story. The story nearly always conveys a theme. Like any good short story (see How to Write a Short Story), non-fiction and poetic forms of narrative writing develop interesting, three-dimensional characters, describe scenes and settings, and move through a plot. A plot begins with a main character encountering conflict and obstructions while moving through life. The conflicts tend to increase to a crisis point, then resolve. The writer ties up loose ends as the action falls to the end. In short, narratives have a beginning, middle, and end.

Use WhiteSmoke English grammar software at the beginning, middle, and end of your writing. Anytime is the right time to use WhiteSmoke. Write right. Right now.

While it is common to write a narrative in chronological order (the order of time unfolding), it is not unusual for narrative writing begin in rising action and then unfold earlier times as they move forward. This is a familiar narrative writing strategy from the movie flashback. Experienced writers often experiment with narrative strategies that at once unfold the story (or plot), reveal a theme, and hold the reader's attention.

The movie Memento provides a unique narrative in that it moves backward through time as the main character uses a strategy to overcome his amnesia. The novels Ceremony (Leslie Marmon Silko) and Beloved (Toni Morrison) both use narrative strategies that circle around a central moment of the story, revealing it in layers. Anyone who wants to learn about narrative writing needs to read narratives--from histories to memoir (autobiography) to fiction. Reading will provide lots of examples of narrative writing.

Whatever narrative strategy you try for your narrative writing, WhiteSmoke can help you. No matter what software you use, WhiteSmoke is there. Use WhiteSmoke English writing software while you write, and know that your English writing will shine.