Descriptive, Narrative, and Persuasive Writing Guides – Page 5

✍️ Part 4: Narrative Writing Essentials — Structure, Tension, and Voice

This section helps students master the core elements that make a narrative compelling — ideal for IGCSE, AS Level, and IB English exams that require original fiction writing.

🔧 What is Narrative Writing?

Narrative writing tells a story. It has:

A plot (sequence of events)
Characters (realistic or stylized)
A clear setting
A central conflict or problem
An emotional or thematic resolution

🏗️ STRUCTURE: The Backbone of a Strong Narrative

🧭 Use a Simple, Flexible Framework:

1. Exposition

Set the scene
Introduce the character(s) and their situation

“I sat on the edge of the cliff, watching the sun melt into the sea.”

2. Rising Action

Build tension
Introduce a problem or obstacle

“The phone buzzed again. No name. Just the message: ‘I know what you did.’”

3. Climax

The emotional or action-packed turning point

“I ran. Not from him, but from the truth clawing at the back of my throat.”

4. Falling Action

The immediate aftermath — short and purposeful

“The silence between us was heavier than anything we had said.”

5. Resolution

The emotional or narrative closure — not necessarily ‘happy’, but meaningful

“Some truths you don’t bury — you carry.”

🎯 Tip: You can write a snapshot story (like a single event or scene) using this structure in mini form. It doesn’t have to cover years — just moments with meaning.

🔥 TENSION: The Fuel that Drives the Plot

Tension keeps the reader asking, “What happens next?”

🧠 Techniques to Create Tension:

Withhold key information: Let readers guess or worry

“There was something behind the door. I didn’t want to know what.”

Use sensory detail to evoke fear or suspense

The air was thick, the kind that makes breathing feel like a risk.

Short sentences to increase pace

“He ran. Slipped. Got up. The footsteps behind him didn’t stop.”

Create internal conflict (doubt, regret, fear)

“She wanted to speak — but the words threatened to drown her.”

🎯 Use tension not only in horror or action, but even in emotional moments — hesitation, guilt, or confession.

🗣️ VOICE: The Personality of Your Story

Voice is how the story is told — the tone, style, and personality behind the words.

👇 Choose a Narrative Perspective:

First Person (“I”)
- Deep emotional insight
- Subjective and intimate
- ✅ Useful for internal monologue or unreliable narrators
Third Person Limited (“He/She”)
- Outside narrator but limited to one character’s thoughts
- ✅ Offers both storytelling and emotional focus
Third Person Omniscient
- Knows all — less common in short exam pieces
- ❌ Harder to pull off without losing connection

🎯 Consistency is key: Don’t jump from one perspective to another mid-story.

🧠 Internal Voice vs External Voice

External: What characters say or do
Internal: What they think, feel, remember, regret

💡 Weave both to build rich, layered characters.

“She smiled politely, but her stomach clenched. He didn’t remember her — and maybe that was worse than if he had.”

🎯 Quick Dos and Don’ts

✅ Do…	❌ Don’t…
Use a clear structure	Ramble with no direction
Build slow, rising tension	Reveal everything at once
Use vivid sensory imagery	Overuse clichés
Keep voice consistent	Shift between perspectives
Show emotion through action	Say “He felt sad” without detail

📝 Practice Prompt

Write a short narrative (250–300 words) based on the prompt:

“The knock at the door changed everything.”

Your task:

Start in the middle of the action (in medias res)
Use rising tension and emotional voice
Finish with a meaningful or thought-provoking resolution

🎓 Examiner Insight

IGCSE: Focus on plot clarity, language control, and originality
AS/IB: Look for voice, structure, and stylistic control
Avoid overcomplicated plots — aim for a single moment well told