Writing Well: Narrative Building Blocks

Narrative Building Blocks

Autobiographies and oral histories are both narratives, but they have distinct differences. The same is true of fairy tales, fables, and feature stories. You can tell a novel from a short story, too, even when you're bleary-eyed from staying up until 3:00 to find out whodunit. So what makes these diverse types of narration similar? All narratives contain the following elements:

• Plot

• Speaker

• Characters

• Setting

• Theme

• Point of view

The Plot Thickens: Plot

All narratives center around a plot, the arrangement of events. Plots have a beginning, middle, and end. The writer (that's you!) arranges the events of the plot to keep the reader's interest and convey your message about life. In most stories and novels, the events of the plot can be divided as follows:

• Exposition. Introduces the characters, setting, and conflict.

• Rising action. Builds the conflict and develops the characters.

• Climax. Shows the highest point of the action.

• Denouement or resolution. Resolves the story and ties up all the loose ends.

Here's the classic diagram of plot structure. Why not use this plot map as you brainstorm ideas for your stories?