Narrative writing is of the most widely used writing style, mainly used for telling a story and a narrative. It contains some techniques known as narrative conventions which help the narrator to enhance their writing and effectively grasp the attention of their reader. Narrative conventions are commonly used in literature to give a contextual flow in giving a description of related events. It is used especially in fiction writing to help the audience and readers visualize the different elements of the story.
Generally, most literary works such as novels, stories, plays, stories, poems, etc., are prepared using the tools of narrative conventions. It is especially used in narrative writing to help the audience and readers to visualize the different elements of the story. Hence, we below discuss some tips for narrative conventions that you can include in your writing and take your storytelling skills to the next level.
Narrative conventions are of two types –
Primary narrative conventions – which affect the whole writing and enhance the quality of the writing.
Secondary narrative conventions – affect only the section where they are used.
Conflict – conflict can be used to show the differences between the main characters of the narrative. It is a very important element of any narrative as it dictates how the plot unfolds. Conflict can be implied in three ways in any narrative –
• Conflict against the society
• Conflict within the character as the lead character faces the dilemma.
• Conflict with other characters
• The narrator can use one or a mix of all three modes to show conflicts in the
narrative.
1) Setting –
This is the foundation of the whole story, as it provides the context in which the story is built. It can define as the backbone of storytelling as all elements of the narrative are linked to its setting.
2) Theme –
These can be described as town and style of narration. It is the core framework that describes the narration of the literature and it tells how the events unfold in the story and their nature.
3) Plot development –
A plot is the main storyline that comprises all the events in the narrative. It is the progression of the plot which makes the story interesting for the audience. The progression of the plot in a narrative can take place in 5 Stages which are –
• Exposition
• Complications
• Climax
• Resolution/ conclusion
• Denouncement
4) Character and the characterization –
The characters are the most important element in the story as the whole revolves around them. Traditionally there is a protagonist as the hero or lead character of the story and the antagonist or a villain of the story who opposes the protagonist. The narrator puts extra effort into illustrating their additional features as both characters have significance in the narrative.
The main purpose of the characterization is to give life to the Character and make them imaginable for the audience.
5) Point of view-
It is the perspective, through which the author presents the narrative to the audience. It can be done in three ways –
• First-person perspective as the point of view of the protagonist
• Second person perspective as the storyline narrated by the character involved in
the story.
• Third person perspective as the storyline narrated of the protagonist as it unfolds,
for the audience.
Each point of view presents the story differently and therefore, the author selects the point of view or perspective to use the narrative.
These are the important narrative conventions that you can use while writing any story. These elements make your story more interesting and impressive. Hope you find these tips useful for your writing.
Narrative conventions are the important elements that define a literary genre according to the content
Narrative conventions are the specific writing tools that every writer employs to create a literary work of art. A writer uses different elements and aspects that help him to define a genre about which he is writing. These elements fall under the category of narrative conventions. Some popular examples of these aspects can be tropes, clichés, arcs, metaphor, irony and allusion. It helps the readers to differentiate between different fields and classify the literary work.
For example, readers interested in romance novels look for happy endings and pure love among the protagonists. Those who are love to read science fiction will expect to read subject matter dealing with aliens, space , robots, exotic creatures and technology ahead of its time. Tragedy lovers will expect some kind of deadly events with ups and down of fortunes in the life of main characters.
