4 types of narrative writing

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General Education

A piece’s writing style can help you figure out what kind of writing it is, what its purpose is, and how the author’s voice is unique. With so many different types of writing, you may think it’s difficult to figure out the specific writing style of a piece or you'll need to search through a long list of writing styles.

However, there are actually just four main types of writing styles, and together they cover practically all the writing you see, from textbooks to novels, to billboards and more.  Whether you’re studying writing styles for class or trying to develop your own writing style and looking for information, we’ve got you covered.

In this guide, we explain the four styles of writing, provide examples for each one, go over the one thing you need to know to identify writing style, and give tips to help you develop your own unique style of writing.

The 4 Types of Writing

There are four main different styles of writing. We discuss each of them below, list where you’re likely to see them, and include an example so you can see for yourself what each of the writing styles looks like.

Writers who use the narrative style are telling a story with a plot and characters. It’s the most common writing style for fiction, although nonfiction can also be narrative writing as long as its focus is on characters, what they do, and what happens to them.

Common Places You’d See Narrative Writing

• Biography or autobiography
• Short stories
• Journals or diaries

“We had luncheon in the dining-room, darkened too against the heat, and drank down nervous gayety with the cold ale. ‘What’ll we do with ourselves this afternoon?’ cried Daisy, ‘and the day after that, and the next thirty years?’    ‘Don’t be morbid,’ Jordan said. ‘Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.’ ‘But it’s so hot,’ insisted Daisy, on the verge of tears, ‘and everything’s so confused. Let’s all go to town!’ - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

You can quickly tell that this passage from the novel The Great Gatsby is an example of narrative writing because it has the two key traits: characters and a plot. The group is discussing eating and drinking while trying to decide what to do for the rest of the day.

As in this example, narrative writing often has extended dialogue scenes since the dialogue is used to move the plot along and give readers greater insight into the characters.

Writers use the expository style when they are trying to explain a concept. Expository writing is fact-based and doesn’t include the author’s opinions or background. It’s basically giving facts from the writer to the reader.

Common Places You’d See Expository Writing

• Newspaper articles
• Academic journals
• Business memos
• Manuals for electronics
• How-to books and articles

“The 1995/1996 reintroduction of gray wolves (Canis lupus) into Yellowstone National Park after a 70 year absence has allowed for studies of tri-trophic cascades involving wolves, elk (Cervus elaphus), and plant species such as aspen (Populus tremuloides), cottonwoods (Populus spp.), and willows (Salix spp.). To investigate the status of this cascade, in September of 2010 we repeated an earlier survey of aspen and measured browsing and heights of young aspen in 97 stands along four streams in the Lamar River catchment of the park’s northern winter range. We found that browsing on the five tallest young aspen in each stand decreased from 100% of all measured leaders in 1998 to means of <25% in the uplands and <20% in riparian areas by 2010. Correspondingly, aspen recruitment (i.e., growth of seedlings/sprouts above the browse level of ungulates) increased as browsing decreased over time in these same stands.” -”Trophic cascades in Yellowstone: The first 15 years after wolf reintroduction” by William J. Ripple and Robert L. Beschta

This abstract from an academic journal article is clearly expository because it only focuses on facts. The authors aren’t giving their opinion of wolves of Yellowstone, they’re not telling a story about the wolves, and the only descriptions are number of trees, streams, etc. so readers can understand the study better.

Because expository writing is focused on facts, without any unnecessary details or stories, the writing can sometimes feel dense and dry to read.

Descriptive

Descriptive writing is, as you may guess, when the author describes something. The writer could be describing a place, person, or an object, but descriptive writing will always include lots of details so the reader can get a clear and complete idea of what is being written about.

Common Places You’d See Descriptive Writing

• Fiction passages that describe something

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or eat: it was a hobbit hole and that means comfort. It had a perfectly round door like a porthole, painted green, with a shiny yellow brass knob in the exact middle. The door opened on to a tube-shaped hall like a tunnel: a very comfortable tunnel without smoke, with panelled walls, and floors tiled and carpeted...” - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

This is the opening passage of the novel The Hobbit . While The Hobbit is primarily an example of narrative writing, since it explores the adventures of the hobbit and his companions, this scene is definitely descriptive. There is no plot or action going on in this passage; the point is to explain to readers exactly what the hobbit’s home looks like so they can get a clear picture of it while they read. There are lots of details, including the color of the door and exactly where the doorknob is placed.

You won’t often find long pieces of writing that are purely descriptive writing, since they’d be pretty boring to read (nothing would happen in them), instead many pieces of writing, including The Hobbit , will primarily be one of the other writing styles with some descriptive writing passages scattered throughout.

When you’re trying to persuade the reader to think a certain way or do a certain thing, you’ll use persuasive writing to try to convince them.  Your end goal could be to get the reader to purchase something you’re selling, give you a job, give an acquaintance of yours a job, or simply agree with your opinion on a topic.

Common Places You’d See Persuasive Writing

• Advertisements
• Cover letters
• Opinion articles/letters to the editor
• Letters of recommendation
• Reviews of books/movies/restaurants etc.
• Letter to a politician

“What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves, that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’ - “This was their finest hour” by Winston Churchill

In this excerpt from his famous “Their finest hour” speech, Prime Minister Winston Churchill is clearing trying to convince his audience to see his viewpoint, and he lays out the actions he thinks they should take. In this case, Churchill is speaking to the House of Commons (knowing many other British people would also hear the speech), and he’s trying to prepare the British for the coming war and convince them how important it is to fight.

He emphasizes how important the fight will be (“Upon this battle depends the survival of the Christian civilization.” and clearly spells out what he thinks his audience should do (“Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties…”).

Common Writing Styles to Know

Each of the four main types of writing styles has multiple subsets of styles within it. Here are nine of the most common and important types of writing you’ll see.

Narrative Writing

Character voice.

Character voice is a common writing style in novels. Instead of having an unknown narrator, the audience knows who is telling the story. This first-person narrator can help the reader relate more both to the narrator and the storyline since knowing who is telling a story can help the reader feel more connected to it. Sometimes the narrator is completely truthful in telling what happens, while other times they are an unreliable narrator and will mislead or outright lie to readers to make themselves look better. 

To Kill a Mockingbird (Scout is the narrator) and The Hunger Games (Katniss is the narrator) are two examples of this writing style.

Stream-of-Consciousness

This writing style attempts to emulate the thought process of the character. Instead of only writing about what the character says or does, stream-of-consciousness will include all or most of the characters thoughts, even if they jump from one topic to another randomly or include incomplete thoughts.

For example, rather than writing “I decided to take a walk to the ice cream shop,” an author using the stream-of-consciousness writing style could write, “It’s pretty hot out, and I feel like I should eat something, but I’m not really that hungry. I wonder if we have leftovers of the burgers Mom made last night? Is Mom staying late at work tonight? I can’t remember if she said. Ice cream would be a good choice, and not too filling. I can’t drive there though because my car is still in for repairs. Why is the repair shop taking so long? I should have listened when David said to check for reviews online before choosing a place. I should text David later to see how he is. He’ll think I’m mad at him if I don’t. I guess I’ll just have to walk to the shop.”

James Joyce and William Faulkner are two of the most well-known writers to have regularly used the  stream-of-consciousness writing style.

Epistolary writing uses a series of documents, such as letters, diary entries, newspaper articles, or even text messages to tell a story. They don’t have a narrator, there’s just whoever purportedly gathered the documents together. This writing style can provide different points of view because a different person can be the author of each document.

Well-known examples of epistolary writing include the novels Dracula  (written as a series of letters, newspaper articles, and diary entries) and Frankenstein (written as a series of letters).

Expository Writing

You’ll find this style in textbooks or academic journal articles. It’ll focus on teaching a topic or discussing an experiment,  be heavy on facts, and include any sources it cited to get the information. Academic writing often assumes some previous knowledge of the topic and is more focused on providing information than being entertaining, which can make it difficult to read and understand at times.

Business writing refers to the writing done in a workplace. It can include reports, memos, and press releases. Business writing typically has a formal tone and standard formatting rules. Because employees are presumably very busy at work, business writing is very concise and to the point, without any additional flourishes intended to make the writing more interesting.

You’ll see this writing style most commonly in newspaper articles. It focuses on giving the facts in a concise, clear, and easy-to-understand way. Journalists often try to balance covering all the key facts, keeping their articles brief, and making the audience interested in the story.

This writing style is used to give information to people in a specific field, such as an explanation of a new computer programming system to people who work in software, a description of how to install pipes within a house for plumbers, or a guide to new gene modifications for microbiologists.

Technical writing is highly specialized for a certain occupational field. It assumes a high level of knowledge on the topic, and it focuses on sharing large amounts of information with the reader. If you’re not in that field, technical writing can be nearly impossible to understand because of the jargon and references to topics and facts you likely don’t know.

Descriptive Writing

Poetry is one of the most challenging styles of writing to define since it can come in many forms. In general, poems use rhythmic language and careful word choice to express an idea. A poem can be an example of descriptive writing or narrative writing, depending on whether it’s describing something or telling a story. Poetry doesn’t need to rhyme, and it often won’t follow standard grammatical or structural rules. Line breaks can, and often do, occur in the middle of sentences.

Persuasive Writing

Copywriting.

Copywriting is writing that is done for advertising or marketing purposes. It’s attempting to get the reader to buy whatever the writer is trying to sell. Examples of copywriting include catalogs, billboards, ads in newspapers or magazines, and social media ads.

In an attempt to get the reader to spend their money, copywriters may use techniques such as descriptive language (“This vanilla was harvested from the lush and exotic island of Madagascar"), exciting language (Stop what you’re doing and learn about this new product that will transform your life!”) and exaggeration (“This is the best cup of coffee you will ever taste!”).

Opinion 

People write opinion pieces for the purpose of stating their beliefs on a certain topic and to try to get readers to agree with them. You can see opinion pieces in newspaper opinion sections, certain blog posts, and some social media posts. The quality of opinion writing can vary widely. Some papers or sites will only publish opinion pieces if all the facts in them can be backed up by evidence, but other opinion pieces, especially those that are self-published online, don't go through any fact-checking process and can include inaccuracies and misinformation.

What If You’re Unsure of a Work’s Writing Style?

If you’re reading a piece of writing and are unsure of its main writing style, how can you figure which style it is? The best method is to think about what the purpose or main idea of the writing is. Each of the four main writing styles has a specific purpose:

• Descriptive: to describe things
• Expository: to give facts
• Narrative: to tell a story
• Persuasive: to convince the reader of something

Here’s an example of a passage with a somewhat ambiguous writing style:

It can be tricky to determine the writing style of many poems since poetry is so varied and can fit many styles. For this poem, you might at first think it has a narrative writing style, since it begins with a narrator mentioning a walk he took after church. Character + plot = narrative writing style, right?

Before you decide, you need to read the entire passage. Once you do, it’ll become clear that there really isn’t much narrative. There’s a narrator, and he’s taking a walk to get a birch from another man, but that’s about all we have for character development and plot. We don’t know anything about the narrator or his friend’s personality, what’s going to happen next, what his motivations are, etc.

The poem doesn’t devote any space to that, instead, the majority of the lines are spent describing the scene. The narrator mentions the heat, scent of sap, the sound of frogs, what the ground is like, etc. It’s clear that, since the majority of the piece is dedicated to describing the scene, this is an example of descriptive writing.

How Can You Develop Your Own Writing Style?

A distinctive writing style is one of the hallmarks of a good writer, but how can you develop your own? Below are four tips to follow.

Read Many Different Styles of Writing

If you don’t read lots of different kinds of writing, you won’t be able to write in those styles, so before you try to get your own writing style, read different writing styles than what you’re used to.  This doesn’t mean that, if you mostly read novels, you suddenly need to shift to reading computer manuals. Instead, you can try to read novels that use unreliable narrators, stream-of-consciousness writing, etc.

The more you read, the more writing styles you’ll be exposed to, and the easier it’ll be able to combine some of those into your own writing style.

Consider Combining Multiple Types of Writing Styles

There’s no rule that you can only use one style for a piece of writing. In fact, many longer works will include multiple styles. A novel may be primarily narrative, but it can also contain highly descriptive passages as well as expository parts when the author wants the readers to understand a new concept.

However, make sure you don’t jump around too much. A paper or book that goes from dense academic text to impassioned plea for a cause to a story about your childhood and back again will confuse readers and make it difficult for them to understand the point you’re trying to make.

Find a Balance Between Comfort and Boundary-Pushing

You should write in a style that feels natural to you, since that will be what comes most easily and what feels most authentic to the reader. An academic who never ventures outside the city trying to write a book from the perspective of a weathered, unschooled cowboy may end up with writing that seems fake and forced.

A great way to change up your writing and see where it can be improved is to rewrite certain parts in a new writing style.  If you’ve been writing a novel with narrative voice, change a few scenes to stream-of-consciousness, then think about how it felt to be using that style and if you think it improved your writing or gave you any new ideas. If you’re worried that some writing you did is dull and lacking depth, add in a few passages that are purely descriptive and see if they help bring the writing to life.

You don’t always need to do this, and you don’t need to keep the new additions in what you wrote, but trying new things will help you get a better idea of what you want your own style to be like.

The best way to develop your own writing style is to expose yourself to numerous types of writing, both through reading and writing. As you come into contact with more writing styles and try them out for yourself, you’ll naturally begin to develop a writing style that you feel comfortable with.

Summary: The 4 Different Styles of Writing

There are four main writing styles, and each has a different purpose:

If you’re struggling to figure out the writing style of a piece, ask yourself what its purpose is and why the author wants you to read it.

To develop your own writing style, you should:

• Read widely
• Consider mixing styles
• Balance writing what you know and trying new things

What's Next?

Literary devices are also an important part of understanding writing styles. Learn the 24 literary devices you must know by reading our guide on literary devices.

Writing a research paper for school but not sure what to write about?   Our guide to research paper topics has over 100 topics in ten categories so you can be sure to find the perfect topic for you. 

Are you reading  The Great Gatsby for class or even just for fun?  Then you'll definitely want to check out our expert guides on the biggest themes in this classic book, from love and relationships to money and materialism .

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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• Narrative Writing

Narrative Writing - Definition, Types, Tips and Techniques

Narrative writing is a style of writing that uses the technique of narration to present a series of events that leads to an expected or unexpected end. In other words, it is a writing style that is used to tell a story. Read through the article to learn more about narrative writing, the types of narrative writing, and the tips and techniques you can use to write a narrative piece.

Table of Contents

What is narrative writing – meaning and definition, characteristics of a narrative – the 7 key elements, types of narrative writing, linear narrative, nonlinear narrative, descriptive narrative, viewpoint narrative, list of narrative forms, how to write a narrative piece – tips and techniques, examples of narrative writing, frequently asked questions on narrative writing.

A narrative gives an account of events that happen at a particular time and place; it can be fictional or non-fictional. The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines a narrative in three different ways – “a description of events”, “the part of a novel that tells the story, rather than the dialogue”, and “a way of explaining events to illustrate a set of aims or values”. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms explains ‘narration’ as “the process of relating a sequence of events”, and a ‘narrative’ as “a telling of some true or fictitious event or connected sequence of events, recounted by a narrator to a narratee (although there may be more than one of each)”.

A narrative includes the smallest of details to the most important information. It is a mixture of these that make the narrative interesting, informative and appealing. A narrative, especially when written in the form of a story, must have the following elements.

• Point of view

Characters refer to the animate and inanimate objects that are involved in the story. They drive the story from the beginning till the end. A narrative story can have just one character or a number of characters, all of them contributing to the process in the most minute or most noticeable way.

Setting refers to the surroundings where the story or the events being narrated happen. It can be any place – a house, a forest, a car, a classroom, a playground, a bus, the middle of the road, etc. The setting of the narrative plays an important role in setting the mood of the entire piece.

Plot refers to all the events that contribute to the story. It has a starting point – the exposition – where the story begins, and the characters and the setting are introduced to the audience. This is followed by the rising action – the point where the main character(s) faces an impediment that disturbs the course of the narrative. Climax comes next and is the turning point in the story, which then leads to the falling action. It is here that the problem starts resolving. This finally leads the story to a conclusion. In simple words, it can be said that the plot is the order in which the events take place.

Conflict is the point of tension in the narrative where a problem arises. This point changes the course of the narrative and leads it to the expected or unexpected end.

Theme refers to the central idea the narrative is based on. The whole piece revolves around it. Popular themes include good and evil, justice, love, friendship, brotherhood, change, music, etc.

Style is characterised by the kind of language used by the writer to narrate, and this differs from genre to genre.

Point of view refers to who tells the story. It can be a first, second or third-person narrative. First-person narration is when a character who is part of what is happening tells the story from their perspective. It is characterised by the usage of pronouns such as ‘I’, ‘me’, ‘my’, ‘mine’, ‘myself’, ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’, ‘ourselves’, ‘ours’, etc. Second-person narration is characterised by the usage of pronouns such as ‘you’, ‘your’, ‘yourself’, and ‘yourselves’. Third-person narration is when there is a narrator (a character who is not part of the story) or a character in the story who narrates what is going on in the story. It is done with the usage of pronouns such as ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’, ‘they’, ‘his’, ‘hers’, ‘him’, ‘hers’, ‘their’, ‘theirs’, ‘himself’, ‘herself’, ‘themselves’, etc.

Narratives can include historical pieces, novels, short stories, epics, ballads, etc. Poetry can be narrative too. An example of a narrative poem would be ‘Snake’ by D.H. Lawrence. However, narrative writing can be divided into four main types, namely,

• Descriptive

In this type of narrative, the writer follows a chronological order of narration. The fictional or non-fictional narrative is presented from the beginning till the end. Bildungsroman (also known as coming-of-age novels) follow the linear narrative style. ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by J.D. Salinger, ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ by Mark Twain, ‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens, etc., are some famous examples of linear narratives. Historical pieces, biographies and autobiographies are also forms of writing that follow a narrative style.

The movie ‘Moana’ is a perfect example of a linear narrative. It starts with Moana as a little girl who is taught all about her culture and her duties towards her tribe. This style perfectly supports the theme and the plot. You see that Moana is always drawn to the ocean, identifies the purpose of her life and travels across the ocean to save her people from complete doom.

A nonlinear narrative is one in which the happenings are not narrated chronologically. This is the kind of narrative that includes flashbacks. It starts at a point and goes back and forth. Most suspense thriller novels and movies follow this style of narration. There are also lighter themes that are presented in this fashion. ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Bronte, ‘The Sound and the Fury’ by William Faulkner and ‘Catch-22’ by Joseph Heller are some examples of novels that follow the nonlinear narrative style.

Stream of consciousness is a nonlinear narrative technique that presents all the thoughts and feelings that go on in the mind of the narrator as things happen. Through this technique, one can also portray the character’s flow of thoughts in a realistic manner. James Joyce’s novel ‘Ulysses’ is a well-known example that uses this technique.

The series ‘This Is Us’ is a great example of the nonlinear narrative style. You will see the story of the Pearson family always oscillating between the past and present. Every episode is a series of events that happened on the same day during the different stages of their lives or the same emotion experienced by the different characters. This is an effective way of telling a story as it keeps the viewers always wanting to know more.

This is a narrative style in which the audience is made to see and feel the characters’ world. In a descriptive narrative, the writer uses descriptive words and phrases that create vivid images in the minds of the readers. ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ by Stephen Chbosky, ‘The Song of Achilles’ by Madeline Miller, and ‘The God of Small Things’ by Arundhati Roy are some examples of descriptive narrative.

Most of you may have watched both ‘Avatar’ and ‘Avatar: Way of the Water’. The descriptive technique is used in both movies. The way of the Avatar realm is portrayed in a manner that makes the audience feel one with the characters and the setting.

A viewpoint narrative is a style of writing in which there is the presence of a first, second or third-person narrator. The usage of pronouns changes based on who narrates the happenings in the story. The most common viewpoint narratives seen are the first-person narrative and the third-person narrative. Autobiographies are written in the first-person point of view, and biographies in the third-person point of view.

‘The Fault in our Stars’ by John Green and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee are examples of a first-person narrative. ‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott and ‘Beloved’ by Toni Morrison are two among the many examples of third-person narratives. There are not as many books in the second-person narrative as in the first and third-person narratives. However, there are some that are wonderfully presented. ‘Ghost Light’ by Joseph O’ Connor and ‘If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler’ by Italo Calvino are novels written in the second-person narrative. Try reading these novels and analyse the kind of effect the different viewpoints have on the readers.

Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi), the protagonist, narrates throughout the movie, ‘The Life of Pi’, thereby rendering it an example of a first-person narrative. Bagheera, the panther in ‘The Jungle Book’, narrates how Mowgli came to live with the wolves and all that has happened and is happening in the present. This, therefore, can be considered to follow a third-person narrative structure.

The narrative style of writing is commonly employed in the following forms.

• Short stories
• Biographies
• Autobiographies
• Travelogues

Here are some tips and techniques you can follow to write a good narrative piece.

• Before you start writing your first draft, brainstorm your ideas.
• You will not know what will inspire you. So, when you talk to people, pay attention to how they are narrating; read the works of different authors in the genre that you are planning to write; explore the different voices and employ them creatively to suit your characters and narrative on the whole.
• Jot down who your characters are and how you expect them to be; visualise the setting and lay out the details; think about the point at which you want your narrative to start and end.
• The point of view you are using to narrate plays a major role. If you want your readers to be a part of what is happening, use the first-person point of view. This will help your readers see and feel it just like you do. If you want your readers to be a spectator and analyse everything, you can use the third-person point of view. Contrary to both, if you want your readers to be a part of everything and have their own experiences, use the second-person narrative.
• Remember that you can have more than one narrator. Using multiple narrators will help you build different perspectives of a given situation.
• Use descriptions to give your readers a magnified and clearer view of the setting and characters.
• Have a strong theme and see to it that it reaches your audience.
• Bear in mind that every word matters. The diction you choose and the manner in which you employ them to form sentences is what builds the desired effect.
• Also, remember that you need not stick to one narrative style. For instance, you can write a linear or nonlinear descriptive first-person narrative. Do not limit yourself too much with the style. Choose what suits your narrative best and use them in the best possible way.
• When you write, you have your freedom. Make up your own techniques, style, and use literary devices to support your writing. Nothing works better than authenticity.
• Allow your creative mind to work at its own pace. Do not interrupt or force the flow of thoughts.
• Proofread before you finalise the final draft.

Here is an example of a narrative verse – the first few lines of the poem ‘Snake’ by D.H. Lawrence. See how the poet uses words to narrate the incident of the snake appearing at his water trough and everything that happens further.

“A snake came to my water-trough

On a hot, hot day, and I in pyjamas for the heat,

To drink there.

In the deep, strange-scented shade of the great dark carob tree

I came down the steps with my pitcher

And must wait, must stand and wait, for there he was at the trough

He reached down from a fissure in the earth-wall in the gloom

And trailed his yellow-brown slackness soft-bellied down, over

the edge of the stone trough

And rested his throat upon the stone bottom,

And where the water had dripped from the tap, in a small clearness,

He sipped with his straight mouth,

Softly drank through his straight gums, into his slack long body,

This short paragraph given below is an excerpt from the novel, ‘If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler’ by Italo Calvino. See how second-person narrative works. The narrative style makes the reader feel included and one with the characters in the story. In the following example, the writer instructs the reader to get comfortable and do everything that is necessary so as to not be disturbed in between the reading.

“Adjust the light so you won’t strain your eyes. Do it now, because once you’re absorbed in reading there will be no budging you. Make sure the page isn’t in shadow, a clotting of black letters on a gray background, uniform as a pack of mice; but be careful that the light cast on it isn’t too strong, doesn’t glare on the cruel white of the paper, gnawing at the shadows of the letters as in a southern noonday. Try to foresee now everything that might make you interrupt your reading.”

What is narrative writing?

Narrative writing is a style of writing that uses the technique of narration to present a series of events that leads to an expected or unexpected end. It can be fictional or non-fictional.

What is the definition of a narrative?

The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines a narrative in three different ways – “a description of events”, “the part of a novel that tells the story, rather than the dialogue”, and “a way of explaining events to illustrate a set of aims or values”. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms explains ‘narration’ as “the process of relating a sequence of events” and a ‘narrative’ as “a telling of some true or fictitious event or connected sequence of events, recounted by a narrator to a narratee (although there may be more than one of each)”.

What are the elements of a narrative?

A narrative, especially when written in the form of a story, must have the following elements.

What are the types of narrative writing?

Narrative writing can be characterised into four categories, namely,

• Linear narrative
• Nonlinear narrative
• Descriptive narrative
• Viewpoint narrative

List some narrative forms.

Some examples of narrative forms are epics, ballads, short stories, novels, biographies, autobiographies, and travelogues.

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Narrative Writing: A Complete Guide for Teachers and Students

MASTERING THE CRAFT OF NARRATIVE WRITING

Narratives build on and encourage the development of the fundamentals of writing. They also require developing an additional skill set: the ability to tell a good yarn, and storytelling is as old as humanity.

We see and hear stories everywhere and daily, from having good gossip on the doorstep with a neighbor in the morning to the dramas that fill our screens in the evening.

Good narrative writing skills are hard-won by students even though it is an area of writing that most enjoy due to the creativity and freedom it offers.

Here we will explore some of the main elements of a good story: plot, setting, characters, conflict, climax, and resolution . And we will look too at how best we can help our students understand these elements, both in isolation and how they mesh together as a whole.

WHAT IS A NARRATIVE?

A narrative is a story that shares a sequence of events , characters, and themes. It expresses experiences, ideas, and perspectives that should aspire to engage and inspire an audience.

A narrative can spark emotion, encourage reflection, and convey meaning when done well.

Narratives are a popular genre for students and teachers as they allow the writer to share their imagination, creativity, skill, and understanding of nearly all elements of writing.  We occasionally refer to a narrative as ‘creative writing’ or story writing.

The purpose of a narrative is simple, to tell the audience a story.  It can be written to motivate, educate, or entertain and can be fact or fiction.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING NARRATIVE WRITING

Teach your students to become skilled story writers with this HUGE   NARRATIVE & CREATIVE STORY WRITING UNIT . Offering a  COMPLETE SOLUTION  to teaching students how to craft  CREATIVE CHARACTERS, SUPERB SETTINGS, and PERFECT PLOTS .

Over 192 PAGES of materials, including:

TYPES OF NARRATIVE WRITING

There are many narrative writing genres and sub-genres such as these.

We have a complete guide to writing a personal narrative that differs from the traditional story-based narrative covered in this guide. It includes personal narrative writing prompts, resources, and examples and can be found here.

As we can see, narratives are an open-ended form of writing that allows you to showcase creativity in many directions. However, all narratives share a common set of features and structure known as “Story Elements”, which are briefly covered in this guide.

Don’t overlook the importance of understanding story elements and the value this adds to you as a writer who can dissect and create grand narratives. We also have an in-depth guide to understanding story elements here .

CHARACTERISTICS OF NARRATIVE WRITING

Narrative structure.

ORIENTATION (BEGINNING) Set the scene by introducing your characters, setting and time of the story. Establish your who, when and where in this part of your narrative

COMPLICATION AND EVENTS (MIDDLE) In this section activities and events involving your main characters are expanded upon. These events are written in a cohesive and fluent sequence.

RESOLUTION (ENDING) Your complication is resolved in this section. It does not have to be a happy outcome, however.

EXTRAS: Whilst orientation, complication and resolution are the agreed norms for a narrative, there are numerous examples of popular texts that did not explicitly follow this path exactly.

NARRATIVE FEATURES

LANGUAGE: Use descriptive and figurative language to paint images inside your audience’s minds as they read.

PERSPECTIVE Narratives can be written from any perspective but are most commonly written in first or third person.

DIALOGUE Narratives frequently switch from narrator to first-person dialogue. Always use speech marks when writing dialogue.

TENSE If you change tense, make it perfectly clear to your audience what is happening. Flashbacks might work well in your mind but make sure they translate to your audience.

THE PLOT MAP

This graphic is known as a plot map, and nearly all narratives fit this structure in one way or another, whether romance novels, science fiction or otherwise.

It is a simple tool that helps you understand and organise a story’s events. Think of it as a roadmap that outlines the journey of your characters and the events that unfold. It outlines the different stops along the way, such as the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, that help you to see how the story builds and develops.

Using a plot map, you can see how each event fits into the larger picture and how the different parts of the story work together to create meaning. It’s a great way to visualize and analyze a story.

Be sure to refer to a plot map when planning a story, as it has all the essential elements of a great story.

THE 5 KEY STORY ELEMENTS OF A GREAT NARRATIVE (6-MINUTE TUTORIAL VIDEO)

This video we created provides an excellent overview of these elements and demonstrates them in action in stories we all know and love.

HOW TO WRITE A NARRATIVE

Now that we understand the story elements and how they come together to form stories, it’s time to start planning and writing your narrative.

In many cases, the template and guide below will provide enough details on how to craft a great story. However, if you still need assistance with the fundamentals of writing, such as sentence structure, paragraphs and using correct grammar, we have some excellent guides on those here.

USE YOUR WRITING TIME EFFECTIVELY: Maximize your narrative writing sessions by spending approximately 20 per cent of your time planning and preparing.  This ensures greater productivity during your writing time and keeps you focused and on task.

Use tools such as graphic organizers to logically sequence your narrative if you are not a confident story writer.  If you are working with reluctant writers, try using narrative writing prompts to get their creative juices flowing.

Spend most of your writing hour on the task at hand, don’t get too side-tracked editing during this time and leave some time for editing. When editing a  narrative, examine it for these three elements.

• Spelling and grammar ( Is it readable?)
• Story structure and continuity ( Does it make sense, and does it flow? )
• Character and plot analysis. (Are your characters engaging? Does your problem/resolution work? )

1. SETTING THE SCENE: THE WHERE AND THE WHEN

The story’s setting often answers two of the central questions in the story, namely, the where and the when. The answers to these two crucial questions will often be informed by the type of story the student is writing.

The story’s setting can be chosen to quickly orient the reader to the type of story they are reading. For example, a fictional narrative writing piece such as a horror story will often begin with a description of a haunted house on a hill or an abandoned asylum in the middle of the woods. If we start our story on a rocket ship hurtling through the cosmos on its space voyage to the Alpha Centauri star system, we can be reasonably sure that the story we are embarking on is a work of science fiction.

Such conventions are well-worn clichés true, but they can be helpful starting points for our novice novelists to make a start.

Having students choose an appropriate setting for the type of story they wish to write is an excellent exercise for our younger students. It leads naturally onto the next stage of story writing, which is creating suitable characters to populate this fictional world they have created. However, older or more advanced students may wish to play with the expectations of appropriate settings for their story. They may wish to do this for comic effect or in the interest of creating a more original story. For example, opening a story with a children’s birthday party does not usually set up the expectation of a horror story. Indeed, it may even lure the reader into a happy reverie as they remember their own happy birthday parties. This leaves them more vulnerable to the surprise element of the shocking action that lies ahead.

Once the students have chosen a setting for their story, they need to start writing. Little can be more terrifying to English students than the blank page and its bare whiteness stretching before them on the table like a merciless desert they must cross. Give them the kick-start they need by offering support through word banks or writing prompts. If the class is all writing a story based on the same theme, you may wish to compile a common word bank on the whiteboard as a prewriting activity. Write the central theme or genre in the middle of the board. Have students suggest words or phrases related to the theme and list them on the board.

You may wish to provide students with a copy of various writing prompts to get them started. While this may mean that many students’ stories will have the same beginning, they will most likely arrive at dramatically different endings via dramatically different routes.

A bargain is at the centre of the relationship between the writer and the reader. That bargain is that the reader promises to suspend their disbelief as long as the writer creates a consistent and convincing fictional reality. Creating a believable world for the fictional characters to inhabit requires the student to draw on convincing details. The best way of doing this is through writing that appeals to the senses. Have your student reflect deeply on the world that they are creating. What does it look like? Sound like? What does the food taste like there? How does it feel like to walk those imaginary streets, and what aromas beguile the nose as the main character winds their way through that conjured market?

Also, Consider the when; or the time period. Is it a future world where things are cleaner and more antiseptic? Or is it an overcrowded 16th-century London with human waste stinking up the streets? If students can create a multi-sensory installation in the reader’s mind, then they have done this part of their job well.

Popular Settings from Children’s Literature and Storytelling

• Fairytale Kingdom
• Magical Forest
• Village/town
• Underwater world
• Space/Alien planet

2. CASTING THE CHARACTERS: THE WHO

Now that your student has created a believable world, it is time to populate it with believable characters.

In short stories, these worlds mustn’t be overpopulated beyond what the student’s skill level can manage. Short stories usually only require one main character and a few secondary ones. Think of the short story more as a small-scale dramatic production in an intimate local theater than a Hollywood blockbuster on a grand scale. Too many characters will only confuse and become unwieldy with a canvas this size. Keep it simple!

Creating believable characters is often one of the most challenging aspects of narrative writing for students. Fortunately, we can do a few things to help students here. Sometimes it is helpful for students to model their characters on actual people they know. This can make things a little less daunting and taxing on the imagination. However, whether or not this is the case, writing brief background bios or descriptions of characters’ physical personality characteristics can be a beneficial prewriting activity. Students should give some in-depth consideration to the details of who their character is: How do they walk? What do they look like? Do they have any distinguishing features? A crooked nose? A limp? Bad breath? Small details such as these bring life and, therefore, believability to characters. Students can even cut pictures from magazines to put a face to their character and allow their imaginations to fill in the rest of the details.

Younger students will often dictate to the reader the nature of their characters. To improve their writing craft, students must know when to switch from story-telling mode to story-showing mode. This is particularly true when it comes to character. Encourage students to reveal their character’s personality through what they do rather than merely by lecturing the reader on the faults and virtues of the character’s personality. It might be a small relayed detail in the way they walk that reveals a core characteristic. For example, a character who walks with their head hanging low and shoulders hunched while avoiding eye contact has been revealed to be timid without the word once being mentioned. This is a much more artistic and well-crafted way of doing things and is less irritating for the reader. A character who sits down at the family dinner table immediately snatches up his fork and starts stuffing roast potatoes into his mouth before anyone else has even managed to sit down has revealed a tendency towards greed or gluttony.

Understanding Character Traits

Again, there is room here for some fun and profitable prewriting activities. Give students a list of character traits and have them describe a character doing something that reveals that trait without ever employing the word itself.

It is also essential to avoid adjective stuffing here. When looking at students’ early drafts, adjective stuffing is often apparent. To train the student out of this habit, choose an adjective and have the student rewrite the sentence to express this adjective through action rather than telling.

When writing a story, it is vital to consider the character’s traits and how they will impact the story’s events. For example, a character with a strong trait of determination may be more likely to overcome obstacles and persevere. In contrast, a character with a tendency towards laziness may struggle to achieve their goals. In short, character traits add realism, depth, and meaning to a story, making it more engaging and memorable for the reader.

Popular Character Traits in Children’s Stories

• Determination
• Imagination
• Perseverance
• Responsibility

We have an in-depth guide to creating great characters here , but most students should be fine to move on to planning their conflict and resolution.

3. NO PROBLEM? NO STORY! HOW CONFLICT DRIVES A NARRATIVE

This is often the area apprentice writers have the most difficulty with. Students must understand that without a problem or conflict, there is no story. The problem is the driving force of the action. Usually, in a short story, the problem will center around what the primary character wants to happen or, indeed, wants not to happen. It is the hurdle that must be overcome. It is in the struggle to overcome this hurdle that events happen.

Often when a student understands the need for a problem in a story, their completed work will still not be successful. This is because, often in life, problems remain unsolved. Hurdles are not always successfully overcome. Students pick up on this.

We often discuss problems with friends that will never be satisfactorily resolved one way or the other, and we accept this as a part of life. This is not usually the case with writing a story. Whether a character successfully overcomes his or her problem or is decidedly crushed in the process of trying is not as important as the fact that it will finally be resolved one way or the other.

A good practical exercise for students to get to grips with this is to provide copies of stories and have them identify the central problem or conflict in each through discussion. Familiar fables or fairy tales such as Three Little Pigs, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Cinderella, etc., are great for this.

While it is true that stories often have more than one problem or that the hero or heroine is unsuccessful in their first attempt to solve a central problem, for beginning students and intermediate students, it is best to focus on a single problem, especially given the scope of story writing at this level. Over time students will develop their abilities to handle more complex plots and write accordingly.

Popular Conflicts found in Children’s Storytelling.

• Good vs evil
• Individual vs society
• Nature vs nurture
• Self vs others
• Man vs self
• Man vs nature
• Man vs technology
• Individual vs fate
• Self vs destiny

Conflict is the heart and soul of any good story. It’s what makes a story compelling and drives the plot forward. Without conflict, there is no story. Every great story has a struggle or a problem that needs to be solved, and that’s where conflict comes in. Conflict is what makes a story exciting and keeps the reader engaged. It creates tension and suspense and makes the reader care about the outcome.

Like in real life, conflict in a story is an opportunity for a character’s growth and transformation. It’s a chance for them to learn and evolve, making a story great. So next time stories are written in the classroom, remember that conflict is an essential ingredient, and without it, your story will lack the energy, excitement, and meaning that makes it truly memorable.

4. THE NARRATIVE CLIMAX: HOW THINGS COME TO A HEAD!

The climax of the story is the dramatic high point of the action. It is also when the struggles kicked off by the problem come to a head. The climax will ultimately decide whether the story will have a happy or tragic ending. In the climax, two opposing forces duke things out until the bitter (or sweet!) end. One force ultimately emerges triumphant. As the action builds throughout the story, suspense increases as the reader wonders which of these forces will win out. The climax is the release of this suspense.

Much of the success of the climax depends on how well the other elements of the story have been achieved. If the student has created a well-drawn and believable character that the reader can identify with and feel for, then the climax will be more powerful.

The nature of the problem is also essential as it determines what’s at stake in the climax. The problem must matter dearly to the main character if it matters at all to the reader.

Have students engage in discussions about their favorite movies and books. Have them think about the storyline and decide the most exciting parts. What was at stake at these moments? What happened in your body as you read or watched? Did you breathe faster? Or grip the cushion hard? Did your heart rate increase, or did you start to sweat? This is what a good climax does and what our students should strive to do in their stories.

The climax puts it all on the line and rolls the dice. Let the chips fall where the writer may…

Popular Climax themes in Children’s Stories

• A battle between good and evil
• The character’s bravery saves the day
• Character faces their fears and overcomes them
• The character solves a mystery or puzzle.
• The character stands up for what is right.
• Character reaches their goal or dream.
• The character learns a valuable lesson.
• The character makes a selfless sacrifice.
• The character makes a difficult decision.
• The character reunites with loved ones or finds true friendship.

5. RESOLUTION: TYING UP LOOSE ENDS

After the climactic action, a few questions will often remain unresolved for the reader, even if all the conflict has been resolved. The resolution is where those lingering questions will be answered. The resolution in a short story may only be a brief paragraph or two. But, in most cases, it will still be necessary to include an ending immediately after the climax can feel too abrupt and leave the reader feeling unfulfilled.

An easy way to explain resolution to students struggling to grasp the concept is to point to the traditional resolution of fairy tales, the “And they all lived happily ever after” ending. This weather forecast for the future allows the reader to take their leave. Have the student consider the emotions they want to leave the reader with when crafting their resolution.

While the action is usually complete by the end of the climax, it is in the resolution that if there is a twist to be found, it will appear – think of movies such as The Usual Suspects. Pulling this off convincingly usually requires considerable skill from a student writer. Still, it may well form a challenging extension exercise for those more gifted storytellers among your students.

Popular Resolutions in Children’s Stories

• Our hero achieves their goal
• The character learns a valuable lesson
• A character finds happiness or inner peace.
• The character reunites with loved ones.
• Character restores balance to the world.
• The character discovers their true identity.
• Character changes for the better.
• The character gains wisdom or understanding.
• Character makes amends with others.
• The character learns to appreciate what they have.

Once students have completed their story, they can edit for grammar, vocabulary choice, spelling, etc., but not before!

As mentioned, there is a craft to storytelling, as well as an art. When accurate grammar, perfect spelling, and immaculate sentence structures are pushed at the outset, they can cause storytelling paralysis. For this reason, it is essential that when we encourage the students to write a story, we give them license to make mechanical mistakes in their use of language that they can work on and fix later.

Good narrative writing is a very complex skill to develop and will take the student years to become competent. It challenges not only the student’s technical abilities with language but also her creative faculties. Writing frames, word banks, mind maps, and visual prompts can all give valuable support as students develop the wide-ranging and challenging skills required to produce a successful narrative writing piece. But, at the end of it all, as with any craft, practice and more practice is at the heart of the matter.

TIPS FOR WRITING A GREAT NARRATIVE

• Start your story with a clear purpose: If you can determine the theme or message you want to convey in your narrative before starting it will make the writing process so much simpler.
• Choose a compelling storyline and sell it through great characters, setting and plot: Consider a unique or interesting story that captures the reader’s attention, then build the world and characters around it.
• Develop vivid characters that are not all the same: Make your characters relatable and memorable by giving them distinct personalities and traits you can draw upon in the plot.
• Use descriptive language to hook your audience into your story: Use sensory language to paint vivid images and sequences in the reader’s mind.
• Show, don’t tell your audience: Use actions, thoughts, and dialogue to reveal character motivations and emotions through storytelling.
• Create a vivid setting that is clear to your audience before getting too far into the plot: Describe the time and place of your story to immerse the reader fully.
• Build tension: Refer to the story map earlier in this article and use conflict, obstacles, and suspense to keep the audience engaged and invested in your narrative.
• Use figurative language such as metaphors, similes, and other literary devices to add depth and meaning to your narrative.
• Edit, revise, and refine: Take the time to refine and polish your writing for clarity and impact.
• Stay true to your voice: Maintain your unique perspective and style in your writing to make it your own.

NARRATIVE WRITING EXAMPLES (Student Writing Samples)

Below are a collection of student writing samples of narratives.  Click on the image to enlarge and explore them in greater detail.  Please take a moment to read these creative stories in detail and the teacher and student guides which highlight some of the critical elements of narratives to consider before writing.

Please understand these student writing samples are not intended to be perfect examples for each age or grade level but a piece of writing for students and teachers to explore together to critically analyze to improve student writing skills and deepen their understanding of story writing.

We recommend reading the example either a year above or below, as well as the grade you are currently working with, to gain a broader appreciation of this text type.

NARRATIVE WRITING PROMPTS (Journal Prompts)

When students have a great journal prompt, it can help them focus on the task at hand, so be sure to view our vast collection of visual writing prompts for various text types here or use some of these.

• On a recent European trip, you find your travel group booked into the stunning and mysterious Castle Frankenfurter for a single night…  As night falls, the massive castle of over one hundred rooms seems to creak and groan as a series of unexplained events begin to make you wonder who or what else is spending the evening with you. Write a narrative that tells the story of your evening.
• You are a famous adventurer who has discovered new lands; keep a travel log over a period of time in which you encounter new and exciting adventures and challenges to overcome.  Ensure your travel journal tells a story and has a definite introduction, conflict and resolution.
• You create an incredible piece of technology that has the capacity to change the world.  As you sit back and marvel at your innovation and the endless possibilities ahead of you, it becomes apparent there are a few problems you didn’t really consider. You might not even be able to control them.  Write a narrative in which you ride the highs and lows of your world-changing creation with a clear introduction, conflict and resolution.
• As the final door shuts on the Megamall, you realise you have done it…  You and your best friend have managed to sneak into the largest shopping centre in town and have the entire place to yourselves until 7 am tomorrow.  There is literally everything and anything a child would dream of entertaining themselves for the next 12 hours.  What amazing adventures await you?  What might go wrong?  And how will you get out of there scot-free?
• A stranger walks into town…  Whilst appearing similar to almost all those around you, you get a sense that this person is from another time, space or dimension… Are they friends or foes?  What makes you sense something very strange is going on?   Suddenly they stand up and walk toward you with purpose extending their hand… It’s almost as if they were reading your mind.

NARRATIVE WRITING VIDEO TUTORIAL

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

When teaching narrative writing, it is essential that you have a range of tools, strategies and resources at your disposal to ensure you get the most out of your writing time.  You can find some examples below, which are free and paid premium resources you can use instantly without any preparation.

FREE Narrative Graphic Organizer

THE STORY TELLERS BUNDLE OF TEACHING RESOURCES

A MASSIVE COLLECTION of resources for narratives and story writing in the classroom covering all elements of crafting amazing stories. MONTHS WORTH OF WRITING LESSONS AND RESOURCES, including:

NARRATIVE WRITING CHECKLIST BUNDLE

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES ABOUT NARRATIVE WRITING

Narrative Writing for Kids: Essential Skills and Strategies

7 Great Narrative Lesson Plans Students and Teachers Love

Top 7 Narrative Writing Exercises for Students

How to Write a Scary Story

Types of Writing Styles

There are four main types of writing: expository, descriptive, persuasive, and narrative. Each of these writing styles is used for a specific purpose. A single text may include more than one writing style.

Expository writing is one of the most common types of writing. When an author writes in an expository style, all they are trying to do is explain a concept, imparting information from themselves to a wider audience. Expository writing does not include the author’s opinions, but focuses on accepted facts about a topic, including statistics or other evidence.

Examples of Expository Writing

• How-to articles
• News stories (not editorials or Op-Eds)
• Business, technical, or scientific writing

Descriptive

Descriptive writing is often found in fiction, though it can make an appearance in nonfiction as well (for example, memoirs, first-hand accounts of events, or travel guides). When an author writes in a descriptive style, they are painting a picture in words of a person, place, or thing for their audience. The author might employ metaphor or other literary devices in order to describe the author’s impressions via their five senses (what they hear, see, smell, taste, or touch). But the author is not trying to convince the audience of anything or explain the scene – merely describe things as they are.

Examples of Descriptive Writing

• Journal/diary writing
• Descriptions of Nature
• Fictional novels or plays

Persuasive writing is the main style of writing you will use in academic papers. When an author writes in a persuasive style, they are trying to convince the audience of a position or belief. Persuasive writing contains the author’s opinions and biases, as well as justifications and reasons given by the author as evidence of the correctness of their position. Any “argumentative” essay you write in school should be in the persuasive style of writing.

Examples of Persuasive Writing

• Cover letters
• Op-Eds and Editorial newspaper articles
• Reviews of items
• Letters of complaint
• Advertisements
• Letters of recommendation

Narrative writing is used in almost every longer piece of writing, whether fiction or nonfiction. When an author writes in a narrative style, they are not just trying to impart information, they are trying to construct and communicate a story, complete with characters, conflict, and settings.

Examples of Narrative Writing

• Oral histories
• Novels/Novellas
• Poetry (especially epic sagas or poems)
• Short Stories

About Writing: A Guide Copyright © 2015 by Robin Jeffrey is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

7 Narrative Types & Examples + When to Use Each (with tips)

• February 19, 2024

Unlock the secret to crafting stories that linger in the minds and hearts of your readers long after the final page is turned.

This guide isn’t just an exploration of narrative types; it’s an essential toolkit for any storyteller determined to elevate their craft.

In this article, you’re not just learning about storytelling techniques; you’re gaining access to a transformative approach that will breathe life into your narratives, ensuring they resonate deeply with your audience. 

If you’re ready to take your stories from merely engaging to truly unforgettable, missing out on this guide isn’t an option. 

Embrace the journey to mastering narrative types and watch as your storytelling transforms into an art form that captivates and enchants .

What is a Narrative?

A narrative is essentially a storytelling technique that connects events, experiences, or stories in a way that engages and resonates with others. It’s the structure behind every captivating book, every movie that keeps you glued to the screen, and the stories we share that bring us closer.

Narratives can take multiple forms, from the intricate plots of narrative novels to the vivid scenes painted by descriptive narratives. They serve to immerse you in varied worlds , offering new perspectives and evoking a wide range of emotions. 

Whether it’s through the factual recounting of narrative non-fiction or the imaginative realms of narrative texts, each style and genre has its unique way of bringing stories to life. 

Crafting a narrative isn’t just about laying out events; it’s about weaving experiences that deeply connect with the audience, employing narrative writing styles that enhance the story’s impact. In essence, narratives are powerful tools that turn simple words into compelling, living worlds.

The 7 Types of Narratives

Diving into the world of storytelling reveals a rich tapestry of ways to convey tales that captivate, educate, and entertain . Each narrative type offers a unique lens through which we can explore stories, characters, and worlds. 

From the straightforward to the complex, the real to the imagined, and the visual to the descriptive, storytelling is an art form with endless possibilities. 

Let’s explore the 7 types of narratives that showcase the diversity and power of storytelling, inviting you into a universe where every story finds its perfect mode of expression.

1. Linear Narrative

Linear narratives take you on a straightforward journey , where events unfold in a chronological order from beginning to end. Imagine walking through a story like following a clear, well-marked path in a forest. 

Each step forward is a progression in time , where past events lead to present situations, and present actions set the stage for future outcomes. This narrative style builds anticipation and understanding seamlessly, as you witness causes leading to their effects without any temporal jumps. 

It’s the traditional storytelling format that many of us grew up with, offering a sense of predictability and comfort as we navigate through the narrative, knowing that each piece of the plot is a stepping stone to the climax and ultimately, the resolution.

Here’s an example:

John’s life in the quiet town of Maplewood was simple yet fulfilling. As a child, he spent his days exploring the lush forests surrounding the town. As a teenager, he worked part-time at the local bookstore, discovering his love for literature. College years saw him move to the city, facing the challenges of independence and education.

After graduation, John returned to Maplewood, applying his learned skills to open a bookstore of his own. His journey, from a curious boy to a successful businessman, unfolded in a clear, chronological order, reflecting the linear narrative of his life.

Here’s a list on when you should use this type of narrative best:

• For straightforward, chronological storytelling.
• In traditional novels and biographies.
• With new or young readers.
• For historical accounts.
• When clarity and simplicity are key.

2. Non-linear Narrative

In contrast, non-linear narratives are like paths that fold back on themselves , creating a story that doesn’t follow the traditional beginning, middle, and end sequence. Instead, these narratives might start at the end, begin in the middle, or jump back and forth in time , offering glimpses of the future before returning to the past. 

This style challenges readers to actively piece the story together, creating a more engaging and often thought-provoking experience. 

Non-linear storytelling can reveal the outcome at the beginning and then delve into the how and why, or it can intertwine multiple storylines that converge in unexpected ways. The intrigue lies in the puzzle-like structure, where understanding deepens with each temporal twist and turn.

The story opens with Mia standing at the podium, receiving an award for her achievements in environmental science. A flashback takes us to her childhood, where she’s seen planting trees in her backyard. 

The narrative then jumps to her college years, working on a groundbreaking research project. Another leap, and we’re with Mia at a crucial environmental conference years before the award ceremony. 

This non-linear approach reveals Mia’s passion and contributions to environmental conservation, illustrating how her past shaped her present.

• To add mystery and engage readers.
• In stories with thematic depth.
• For exploring multiple storylines.
• When revealing outcomes before causes.
• In films or books with complex structures.

3. Descriptive Narrative

Descriptive narratives are all about immersing you in vividly painted scenes, using language to create a rich sensory experience . This style focuses on the details—colors, sounds, textures, and emotions—to bring stories to life in the reader’s mind. 

Descriptive narratives invite you to feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, hear the rustle of leaves in the wind, or sense the tension in a room. 

By focusing on the sensory details, these narratives make you an active participant in the story , experiencing the world just as the characters do. It’s a powerful way to connect with the narrative, as the descriptive language paints a vivid picture that’s hard to forget.

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the beach. The sand felt cool and soft under Emma’s feet, the waves whispered secrets as they gently kissed the shore. 

A distant lighthouse blinked, its light cutting through the twilight. Emma inhaled the salty air, feeling a sense of peace she hadn’t known in years. 

This moment, rich in sensory details, allowed readers to experience the beach alongside Emma, connecting deeply with her tranquil escape.

• To create immersive settings.
• In fantasy or horror genres.
• When evoking sensory experiences.
• For character-driven stories.
• In travel and nature writing.

4. Narrative Nonfiction

Narrative nonfiction blurs the line between factual reporting and storytelling , offering true stories told with the narrative techniques of fiction. This genre encompasses a wide range of works, including biographies, memoirs, and historical accounts, all told in a compelling, engaging manner. 

These stories are grounded in reality but are narrated in a way that captures the imagination, making facts and information as captivating as any fictional tale. 

Narrative non-fiction provides a deep dive into real-life events and personalities, presenting them in a way that’s informative yet utterly absorbing , proving that truth can be just as strange—or even stranger—than fiction.

In the heart of the Amazon, Dr. Elena Ramirez discovered a new plant species with the potential to revolutionize medicine. The narrative chronicles her journey, from the initial excitement of the discovery through the challenging expeditions, to the breakthroughs in her lab. 

Interviews, diary entries, and photographs complement the story, blending factual content with a compelling narrative style that highlights Elena’s dedication and the impact of her work.

• For compelling biographies and memoirs.
• In educational and documentary content.
• To engage readers with true stories.
• In journalistic storytelling.
• When factual content needs a narrative touch.

5. Genre-based Narrative

Genre-based narratives transport you into specific worlds , each with its own conventions, settings, and tropes. 

Whether it’s the unknown frontiers of science fiction, the dark alleys of a mystery thriller, or the emotional whirlwinds of a romance, genre narratives offer a framework within which stories unfold. 

These narratives play within the boundaries of their genres while also pushing against them, offering fresh takes on familiar themes. Each genre brings its own expectations, which can guide the narrative structure, character development, and plot twists, providing a familiar backdrop for new and exciting stories to emerge.

In the realm of Eridia, where magic flows as freely as the rivers, Kai, a young mage, embarks on a quest to retrieve the Crystal of Light from the Dark Sorcerer. Alongside allies he gathers along the way, Kai battles mythical creatures and solves ancient puzzles.

This fantasy narrative, rooted in the genre’s conventions, takes readers on an adventure through a meticulously crafted world brimming with magic and mystery.

• In specific genre writing (sci-fi, mystery).
• To meet and twist genre expectations.
• For fan fiction and genre communities.
• When building worlds within genre rules.
• In thematic exploration within genres.

6. Point of View Narrative

Point of view narratives delve into the perspective through which a story is told , which can significantly influence the reader’s connection to the events and characters. 

From the intimate glimpse into a character’s thoughts and feelings in first-person narration to the broader, more detached overview of third-person, the narrative point of view shapes the story’s impact. 

This style explores the subjective nature of storytelling , highlighting how different perspectives can alter the interpretation of events. It’s a fascinating exploration of narrative voice, offering a unique way to experience and understand the story through the eyes of its characters.

Liam’s Perspective : The day we lost the championship game, I felt as if the world had ended. My missed shot in the final seconds haunted me, a mistake I couldn’t forgive myself for.

Sophie’s Perspective : Watching Liam blame himself for the loss broke my heart. From where I stood, it was a team effort, and no single moment defined the outcome. His determination and passion had carried us this far.

Alternating between Liam and Sophie’s perspectives offers a multifaceted view of the event, highlighting how personal interpretations of the same situation can differ.

• For deep character connection.
• When perspective influences the plot.
• In stories with multiple viewpoints.
• To explore subjective experiences.
• For experimenting with narrative voice.

7. Visual Narrative

Visual narratives tell their stories through images, employing the sequential art of graphic novels , the storyboard-like progression of films, or even photo essays. This narrative type leans on visual elements—drawings, photographs, film shots—to convey emotion, action, and narrative progression. 

Visual narratives can bypass language barriers and evoke immediate emotional responses, making them a universally powerful storytelling medium. 

They combine the artistry of visual composition with narrative depth, creating a dynamic experience where the visual and the textual interplay to tell a story that neither could convey alone.

A series of illustrations depict Sarah, a young girl with the power to communicate with animals. 

The first panel shows her surrounded by wildlife in a dense forest, a look of concentration on her face. Subsequent panels illustrate her journey, using visual cues instead of text to show her efforts to save the forest from destruction. 

The final panel, a full-page spread, depicts Sarah and the animals she saved, standing in a thriving, protected forest. Through visuals alone, the narrative conveys Sarah’s connection to nature and her triumph.

• In graphic novels and comics.
• For children's books.
• In film and video game storytelling.
• When appealing to diverse audiences.
• To transcend language barriers.

Tips and Tricks in Writing a Narrative and Choosing the Right Narrative Type

Choosing the right narrative type is crucial for bringing your story to life in the most engaging way possible. Here’s how you can ensure your narrative hits the mark and leaves a lasting impression on your readers:

• Tailor the narrative style to your story's essence . The heart of your tale should dictate whether you opt for a linear progression, a non-linear puzzle, or another narrative form.
• Dive into different viewpoints . Experimenting with various perspectives can unveil new dimensions within your characters and plot.
• Craft vivid scenes with descriptive language . Make your narrative world tangible to your readers by engaging all their senses.
• Utilize AI novel writing tools . These tools come in handy to help write your narratives, from brainstorming ideas to adding plot twists.
• Play with genre conventions . Use the expected tropes as a foundation, then twist them to create something uniquely yours.
• Incorporate visual storytelling techniques . Even in text, painting pictures with words can captivate your audience’s imagination.
• Pay attention to pacing . The rhythm of your narrative can greatly affect the tension and emotional journey of your readers.
• Keep your intended audience in mind . Choose and tailor your narrative approach to connect deeply with your readers.

Focusing on these tips and tricks can make the difference between a story that’s simply read and one that’s truly experienced. By carefully selecting and mastering your narrative type, you set the stage for stories that resonate, entertain, and endure.

Frequently Asked Questions About Narrative Types

Diving into storytelling often raises questions about how to effectively use different narrative types to enrich your tales. 

This FAQ section tackles common inquiries around blending narrative styles, understanding the role of conflict, and mastering perspective shifts. Our goal is to clear up any confusion and boost your storytelling confidence by providing straightforward answers and tips. 

Let’s dive into these key questions to help you navigate the complexities of narrative crafting with ease.

How can I blend multiple narrative types in one story?

Integrating multiple narrative types into one story is akin to crafting a complex dish with various ingredients. Begin with a dominant narrative type to form your story’s foundation, then strategically incorporate elements from other narrative styles to add depth and richness. 

For instance, merge a linear narrative’s straightforward path with non-linear flashbacks for backstory depth or descriptive moments to bring the setting alive. The goal is balance—each narrative element should complement the others, creating a layered and engaging story.

What role does conflict play in different narrative styles?

Conflict is crucial across all narrative styles, acting as the driving force that propels the plot and deepens character development . In linear narratives, conflict typically builds through a sequence of rising action, climax, and resolution. 

Non-linear narratives present conflict in a more fragmented manner, compelling readers to piece together the narrative puzzle. 

Descriptive narratives use conflict to enhance the sensory and emotional depth of the story, making challenges more visceral. No matter the narrative type, conflict is essential for momentum and growth within the story.

How can I effectively switch narrative perspectives?

Smoothly transitioning between narrative perspectives is essential for maintaining clarity and engagement . Use clear markers such as chapter breaks or distinct voice shifts, especially in first-person narratives, to signal perspective changes. 

This technique prevents reader confusion and enriches the narrative by providing diverse viewpoints on the story’s events. 

Effective perspective shifts offer a broader, more nuanced understanding of the plot and characters, enriching the reader’s experience by showing different angles of the narrative.

Key Takeaways on These Narrative Types

In our exploration of narrative writing, we discovered that the type of narrative you choose significantly shapes your storytelling journey. From linear to non-linear, descriptive to narrative non-fiction, each style serves a unique purpose and enriches your story in different ways. 

The key takeaway? The narrative type is more than a stylistic choice—it’s foundational to how your story is perceived and experienced .

Choosing the right narrative style involves aligning it with your story’s essence, experimenting with perspectives, and immersing your audience with vivid details. 

Remember, the magic of storytelling lies not just in the tale itself but in how you choose to tell it . As you embark on your storytelling journey, keep these insights in mind to craft narratives that captivate and resonate. 

After all, at the heart of storytelling is the power to transport readers through the art of narrative

Edgar Abong

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Narrative Structure: Definition, Examples, and Writing Tips

As you plot out your novel, story structure will likely be at the top of your mind. But there’s something else you’ll need to consider in addition to that: narrative structure. While story structure is the overall flow of the story, from the exposition to the rising and falling action, narrative structure is the framing that supports it. Let’s take a deeper dive into what that means.

What is narrative structure?

A narrative structure is the order in which a story’s events are presented. It is the framework from which a writer can hang individual scenes and plot points with the aim of maximizing tension, interest, excitement, or mystery.

Traditionally, most stories start at the chronological beginning ("once upon a time") and finish at the end ("and they lived happily ever after"). However, a story can technically be told in any order. Writers can arrange their plot points in a way that creates suspense — by omitting certain details or revealing information out of order, for example. 

Sometimes, storytellers will begin in the middle and literally 'cut to the chase' before revealing the backstory later on. In short, narrative structure is a powerful tool that writers can wield to great effect if handled with care and consideration. 

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Types of narrative structure

There’s a whole branch of literary criticism dedicated to studying narrative structure: narratology. We won’t quite go into academic depth, but it’s important to know the main types of structure available for your narrative so you can best choose the one that serves your story’s purpose. Here are four of the most common types of narrative structure used in books and movies. 

Linear narrative structure is exactly what it sounds like — when a story is told chronologically from beginning to end. Events follow each other logically and you can easily link the causality of one event to another. At no point does the narrative hop into the past or the future. The story is focused purely on what is happening now. It’s one of the most common types of narrative structures seen in most books, movies, or TV shows.

Example: Pride and Prejudice

A great example of a linear narrative is Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice . We follow Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy's love story from their first disastrous meeting to when they fall in love and admit their feelings for each other. All of the events are presented in the order that they occur, and we can easily see how one misunderstanding led to another right until the very end. 

2. Nonlinear

On the flip side, a nonlinear narrative is when a story is told out of order — where scenes from the beginning, middle, and end are mixed up, or in some cases, the chronology may be unclear. With this freedom to jump around in time, new information or perspectives can be introduced at the point in the story where they can have maximum impact. A common feature of this type of narrative is the use of extended flashbacks. 

These types of stories tend to be character-centric. Hopping through time allows the author to focus on the emotional states of the characters as they process different events and contrast them against their previous or future selves .

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But why would you choose to tell a whole story in such a confusing way? One thing nonlinear structures allow a writer to do is heighten suspense . Since events don’t necessarily logically follow each other, you never know what will happen next. They can also disorient the audience and leave them feeling off-kilter, which is incredibly useful if you’re writing horror or suspense, though this structure certainly isn’t limited to these genres.

Example: A mores perros

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s 2000 film Amores Perros is a prime example of how a nonlinear narrative can heighten suspense and create a character-centric story. The film is a triptych, three stories following different characters in Mexico City whose lives intersect with a car crash shown in the opening scene. 

The first third of the movie flashes back to tell the story of Octavio, a young man involved in underground dog fights who is in love with his brother’s wife. Most of the second story takes place after the crash and centers on Valeria, a Spanish model injured in that wreck, while the final storyline takes place in both timelines and focuses on a hitman, El Chivo, who we first meet in Octavio’s story.

The nonlinear nature of the film allows the director to explore and juxtapose the nuances of each character's struggles. Every character’s story is anchored by the opening. As Octavio, Valeria, and El Chivo move closer to the time of the car crash that will upend their lives, there’s a mounting tension as the audience knows what’s going to happen, but has no idea how it will affect them. 

This is a general type of nonlinear narrative. However, some subtypes are more commonly seen in fiction, such as the parallel narrative. 

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3. Parallel

A parallel narrative is where two or more stories are told concurrently, though they may not always be happening at the same time. This is common in stories with multiple lead characters and viewpoints . They tend to be interconnected, though how they relate may not be immediately obvious. 

Eventually, the story threads in a parallel structure will dovetail, resulting in some kind of plot twist or revelation. As a result, parallel structures are often used in thrillers or historical fiction novels. 

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Learn to master different POVs and choose the best for your story.

Example: Gone Girl

Gillian Flynn’s best-selling domestic thriller is a masterclass in parallel narratives. The story of suburban teacher Nick’s reaction to his wife’s mysterious disappearance is interspersed with flashbacks taken from Amy’s diary, revealing the shaky state of Nick and Amy's relationship.

The reader is presented with two unreliable narrators : the idealized life Nick presents to the media following Amy’s disappearance stands in stark contrast to the diary entries that reveal Nick's affair and the difficulties of their personal lives. The back and forth of the narrative only increases the tension as the readers try to figure out what’s real, what’s a lie, and what will happen next. 

4. Episodic

You can think of episodic narratives as interconnected short stories that contribute to a larger story arc. Each individual story has a beginning, middle, and end, but the larger arc unites them in some way. Usually, this type of structure follows the same set of characters in a specific setting or situation. You’ll recognize this type of narrative in TV programs like sitcoms and medical dramas, where episodes can, broadly speaking, be watched in any order. 

Example: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The popular 90’s TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is something of a pioneering show, balancing its monster-of-the-week format (“the gang must stop a vampire cheerleader!”) with a slow unraveling of a season-long plot that culminates in a fight against a larger enemy (“the town’s mayor is a demon!”).

While many other episodic TV shows prioritized maintaining the status quo at the end of each episode, one of Buffy’s strengths was its willingness to tell grander stories within the framework of episodic storytelling. With these narrative seeds being planted across 20-plus episodes, its season finales were often more impactful than those of its contemporaries.  

Choosing a structure to fit your story

Now that you have an understanding of some of the most popular narrative structures, you need to decide which one to use for your story. It’s important that the structure you choose works with the kind of story you want to tell and adds something to the overall experience, but that doesn’t mean you need to reinvent the wheel. 

Experimenting with non-traditional structure can be a great way to improve your writing and challenge yourself but if you’re finding it difficult or more confusing than helpful, there’s nothing wrong with using a linear structure. After all, it’s popular for a reason — it works, and many famous and well-regarded stories have been written that way. 

If you do want to try your hand at non-linear structure, consider these tips. 

Identify your beginning, middle, and end

Every story has a beginning, middle, and end, even if you’re telling it out of order. In some cases, the story you’re telling narratively might rely a lot on events outside the plot's main focus. Often, that also means the inciting incident and the climax happen in a compressed amount of time. In that case, a nonlinear structure might be helpful. It will introduce the exposition that’s needed for the “beginning” throughout the story without derailing your plot and pacing . In cases like this, figuring out your chronology is incredibly important — and we recommend mapping it out on paper to avoid confusion.

Find the right place to reveal information

Many stories rely on the careful reveal of information to keep the plot moving and the tension high. In a typical linear narrative, this timing is fairly straightforward — the reader finds out new things at the same time the characters do. However, when using a nonlinear or parallel structure, you’ll need to be even more judicious with how you feed readers this information.

When the reader knows something the character doesn’t, it creates suspense. When the character knows something the reader doesn’t, it creates intrigue. Both of these are great tools for a writer, but they can’t be maintained over a full narrative — that would be tedious and confusing for a reader. Rather, suspense and intrigue should be created and dissipated throughout the story. And if you aren’t sure you’ve done this successfully, you’ll know it’s time to consult beta readers or a professional editor .

Whatever narrative structure you choose, remember that it should work for you and for your story. If you’re not having fun or it’s proving too difficult, changing course and trying another one is alright. Experimentation is all a part of the process. Happy writing!

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Writing Styles

Your audience and writing purpose will determine your writing style. The four main types of writing styles are persuasive, narrative, expository, and descriptive.  In this blog post, we’ll briefly explore the defining features of these four writing styles. For more help using these writing styles, schedule an appointment at the GWC!

Persuasive:  For this writing style, the writer is trying to convince the reader of the validity of a certain position or argument. Persuasive writing includes the writers’ opinions, and provides justifications and evidence to support their claims.

Examples: Letters of recommendation; cover letters; Op-Eds and Editorial newspaper articles; argumentative essays for academic papers

Narrative:  Often seen in longer writing samples, the purpose of this writing style is to share information in the context of a story. Narratives should include characters, conflicts, and settings.

Examples: Short stories; novels; poetry; historical accounts 

Expository: This type of writing is used to explain a concept and share information to a broader audience. Expository writing provides evidence, statistics, or results and focuses on the facts of a certain topic. This type is not meant to express opinions.

Examples: How-to articles; textbooks; news stories (not editorials or Op-Eds); business, technical, or scientific writing

Descriptive: This type of writing is used to depict imagery to create a clear picture in the mind of the reader. This method helps the readers become more connected to the writing by appealing to their senses. Descriptive writing employs literary techniques such as similes, metaphors, allegory, etc to engage the audience.

Examples: Poetry; fictional novels or plays; memoirs or first-hand accounts of events

*This post was adapted from “Types of Writing Styles” by Robin Jeffrey.

Blog post prepared by Danielle Perry, GWC tutor. Published January 27, 2020.

What is narrative? 5 narrative types and examples

Narration and narrative are two key terms in writing fiction. Read on to learn what narrative is, as well as five types of narrative, with examples:

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Narration and narrative are two key terms in writing fiction. Read on to learn what a narrative story is, as well as five types of narrative, with examples:

What is narrative?

Narrative is a style of writing that connects ideas, concepts or events. It shows a sequence of events. Humans like to tell and listen to a coherent story .The definitions below show three important aspects of narration in storytelling:

• It  connects  events, showing their patterns, relating them to each other or to specific ideas, themes or concepts.
• It is a  practice  and  art in that when we tell a story, we shape the narrative – the connection between events.
• Narrating a story involves shaping events around an overarching set of aims or effects (whether consciously or unconsciously). For example, in a comedic narrative, the overarching aim is to surprise/shock or otherwise lead the audience or reader to be amused.

Here are three definitions of narrative technique via the  Oxford English Dictionary that illustrate the above ideas:

• A spoken or written account of connected events; a story.
• The practice or art of telling stories.
• A representation of a particular situation or process in such a way as to reflect or conform to an overarching set of aims or values.

A number of literary techniques are used to create narrative: figures of speech, dialogue rhetorical devices and so on.

Now that we’ve clarified what narrative is, here are several types of narration, with examples and tips for using them well:

Common types of narrative:

Descriptive narrative.

• Viewpoint narrative
• Historical narrative
• Linear narrative
• Non-linear narrative

Let’s explore each narrative type with examples:

Descriptive narrative connects imagery, ideas, and details to convey a sense of time and place.

The purpose of descriptive narrative

Descriptive narrative has two key purposes:

• To create a sense of setting, of time and place.
• To convey the mood and tone of said time and place (e.g. threatening, peaceful, cheerful, chaotic).

When we describe a pastoral scene in a rural setting, for example, we might linger on specific images (such as a wide, empty field, an abandoned tractor) to build up an overarching mood (such as peaceful simplicity).

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Descriptive narrative examples

The Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a master of this type of narration. In Love in the Time of Cholera  (1985), the third person narrator describes the unnamed seaside city in the Carribbean where much of the novel takes place. Marquez narrates the passage through the eyes of Dr. Urbino, one of the city’s most distinguished doctors:

The city, his city, stood unchanging on the edge of time: the same burning dry city of his nocturnal terrors and the solitary pleasures of puberty, where flowers rusted and salt corroded, where nothing had happened for four centuries except a slow aging among whithered laurels and putrefying swamps. In winter sudden devastating downpours flooded the latrines and turned the streets into sickening bogs. (p. 16-17)

In the space of a paragraph, Marquez shows how the city changes (or doesn’t change) over centuries. This makes Marquez’s setting more vivid and real. The narration passes from showing the city’s history to its citizens’ current ways of life. The narrator proceeds to describe the lives of poor inhabitants:

During the weekend they danced without mercy, drank themselves   blind on home-brewed alcohol, made wild love among the icaco plants, and on Sunday at midnight they broke up their own party with bloody free-for-alls. (p. 17)

Over the course of two pages, Marquez masterfully shows the city’s mood, culture, unique spirit. His narration then zooms in closer on individuals’ lives. The multiple time-scales in his narrative – past and present day – combine to give a rich sense of time and place .

2: Viewpoint narrative

Often, the express purpose of a section of narration is to help us understand the views and feelings of the narrating character or ‘viewpoint narrator’. Point of view or POV is thus a key element of narration ( read about different types of POV here  and a definition of narration here ).

The purpose of viewpoint narrative

Viewpoint narrative presents events or scenes to us so that we see understand them through narrators’ feelings, desires, beliefs or values.

In omniscient narration, the narrator may share multiple characters’ private thoughts, even in a single scene. In limited narration, by contrast, we can only know what a single person’s perception (and its subjective limitations) tells us. Tweet This

[You can read more about different points of view here .]

Viewpoint narrative has power. We might interpret story events the way the narrator does. Because we don’t have a different viewpoint for comparison, or because their voice is strong, self-assured. Yet the viewpoint narrator in a scene may be unreliable (they could lie about what truly happened, or gloss over details that, for example, make them look worse to others).

Authors like Vladimir Nabokov have written novels featuring protagonists who are unethical or even abusive. In novels such as Nabokov’s  Lolita , the reader has to remember that the narrating voice has its own agenda. The narrative voice is in first-person, through Humbert Humbert.

The most common viewpoint narratives are generally in either first-person narrative or third-person. There are some stories that have been written in second-person ‘you’ but these are far less common. The Fault in our Stars by John Green and To Kill a Mockingbird  by Harper Lee are other examples of a first-person narrative.

Other third-person narratives are Middlemarch by George Eliot in which she employs third-person omniscient narration to delve into the lives and relationships of the characters in the provincial town of Middlemarch. In Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky: the writer uses third-person limited narration to delve into the psyche of the protagonist, Raskolnikov, as he grapples with morality and guilt. The thriller You by Caroline Kepnes is an example of a book written in both first-person and second-person narration. In Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney, he novel follows the life of a young man in New York City during the 1980s. The second-person narrative immerses the reader directly into the protagonist’s experiences.

Viewpoint narrative example

Virginia Woolf is a master of filtering events via individual characters’ perceptions. She often switches between multiple characters’ viewpoints within a single page. This approach (called ‘stream of consciousness’) lets her reveal characters’ different fixations and personalities.

Take, for example, this scene in Mrs Dalloway (1925). Septimus Smith is a World War I veteran whose mental health is crumbling. His Italian wife Rezia feels unease and longs for her home country. Woolf switches from paragraph to paragraph between Septimus and Rezia’s viewpoints, in third person:

Human nature, in short, was on him – the repulsive brute, with the blood-red nostrils. Holmes was on him. Dr. Holmes came quite regularly every day. Once you stumble, Septimus wrote on the back of a postcard, human nature is on you. Holmes is on you. Their only chance was to escape, without letting Holmes know; to Italy – anywhere, anywhere, away from Dr. Holmes. Virginia Woolf, Mrs Dalloway (1925), p. 81

Then to Rezia’s POV in limited third person:

But Rezia could not understand him. Dr. Holmes was such a kind man. He was so interested in Septimus. He only wanted to help them, she said. Woolf, p. 81.

Woolf’s gift for clear viewpoint and narration means that she can narrate individuals’ differing fears and obsessions from their viewpoints within a single page without breaking the flow.

Woolf reports Rezia’s words within narration, instead of using dialogue. This allows Woolf’s narrative (and changing viewpoints) to flow into each other without interruption.

Other novels that use this device are Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. The novel is narrated by both husband and wife, Nick and Amy, providing conflicting perspectives of the series of events as the mystery unfolds.

In The Martian by Andy Weir,  the novel alternates between the first-person perspective of astronaut Mark Watney, stranded on Mars, and the third-person perspectives of those working to rescue him.

3: Historical narrative

In genres such as biography, autobiography and various historical subgenres (e.g. historical romance or WWII fiction), a lot of narration recounts events in the past. Of course, the author may choose to tell a war story in a tumultuous present tense. There’s no  single  way to narrate the past. Yet it serves a common purpose:

Historical narrative example

One thing common to historical narrative in different genres is it shows historical process. It links causation from event to event, showing the chain reactions that lead to how things pan out.

This is why in historical narrative, such as narration sharing a character’s backstory , we often have  words showing order of events . Such as the words bolded in this example:

First,  the city was a fledgling thing.  In the early days , there was one traffic light, and if you were doing your driver’s license, you could be damned sure you’d have to drive past it.  In later years , as the local publishing industry grew, it became a hotbed of hotshot journalists-in-training.  So the city needed  more traffic lights (and the related tender corruption to write about).

A sense of historical cause and effect, of  long stretches of time condensed,  is typical of historical narrative.

Historical narrative and time words

Arundhati Roy’s novel The God of Small Things  (1997), about tragedies that strike twin siblings born in Ayemenem in India and their family, is full of rich historical narration. Note the phrases and words that convey time’s passage, e.g. ‘Six months later…’.

Rahel was first blacklisted in Nazareth Convent at the age of eleven ,  when she was caught outside her Housemistress’s garden gate decorating a knob of fresh cowdung with small flowers. At Assembly the next morning, she was made to look up depravity in the Oxford Dictionary and read aloud its meaning. Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things (1997), p. 16

Roy proceeds to narrate Rahel’s expulsion, revealing Rahel’s inquisitive mind in the process:

Six months later she was expelled after repeated complaints from   senior girls. She was accused (quite rightly) of hiding behind doors and deliberately colliding with her seniors. When she was questioned by the Principal about her behaviour (cajoled, caned, starved), she eventually admitted that she had done it to find out whether breasts hurt. Roy, p. 16.

Through narrating events in the past , in Rahel’s schooling, Roy fleshes out a sense of her character. She shows her inquiring, rule-breaking nature while also showing the strict social backdrop that conflicts with it. By narrating Rahel’s history, or backstory, Roy foreshadows future conflicts between Rahel’s individualism and society’s expectations.

4: Linear narrative

Linear narrative is narration where you tell events in the order they happened , i.e. in sequence. This type of narrative is typical of realist fiction where the author wants to create the sense of a life unfolding as a character experiences day to day or year to year.

The purpose of linear narrative

Linear narrative shows causation clearly. When we see what happened to a character yesterday, then today, then tomorrow, its often easier to notice patterns and chains of cause and effect.

Stories told in a linear time-frame might be told mainly using past, present, or even future tense. Yet each event flows on simply from the previous incident described. Often this helps to create what Will Self calls ‘the texture of lived life’, as we see characters going through this, then that, then the next thing.

Example of linear narrative

David Mitchell’s genre-bending Cloud Atlas  (2004) spans multiple eras, settings and characters, and is nonlinear as a whole. Yet one section of his book, titled ‘Half-Lives – The First Luisa Rey Mystery’ is written as a mystery/thriller. This section in itself is linear narrative, told in the present tense.

Luisa Rey is a young journalist who becomes a target of powerful people when she investigates health and safety failings at a nuclear power plant.

Mitchell creates suspense and tension by placing Luisa’s narration in third person and the present tense. The present tense narrative creates a sense of immediate action, unfolding now . Mitchell also creates tension by separating Rey’s inner monologue from events happening around her:

Luisa Rey hears a clunk from the neighbouring balcony. ‘Hello?’ Nobody . Her stomach warns her to set down her tonic water. It was the bathroom you needed, not fresh air , but she can’t face weaving back through the party and, anyway, there’s no time – down the side of the building she heaves: once, twice, a vision of greasy chicken, and a third time. David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas (2004), p. 90.

The linear chain of events – feeling uneasy and ill at a party, getting sick – occur on a simple timeline of ‘this happens, then that’.

Bildungsroman (also known as coming-of-age novels) also follow the linear narrative style. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens are some examples of linear narratives.

Prose narrative, relating personal experience narratives, is another form of narrative that takes a linear form. These are often found in mythological narratives, as well. Sometimes there are life lessons imbedded in these narratives. Some popular examples include the fable of Icarus (not listening to the advice about flying too close to the sun). This type of story is well known to many of us from a children’s stories. Fables are a type of narrative genre that have a particular focus on illustrating a moral lesson.

5: Nonlinear narrative

Different types of narrative include narration that does not follow events in the order they happened.

Chronological events (e.g. what happens in 1990 followed by what happens in 1991) don’t have to match up with the order of  narrative  events. The author might share key details from 1990 before going back to the events of 1987 in the story.

However, as novel writing coach Romy Sommer says, avoid making the first several chapters of your novel all backstory:

An issue I see with a lot of beginner writers is they tend to write the backstory as the story itself. If you do find yourself writing the first few chapters being all about the backstory […] you may need to ditch the first few chapters. Romy Sommer, ‘Understanding character arcs: How to create characters’, webinar preview here.

The purpose of non-linear narrative

Non-linear narrative has various uses:

• It can represent the narrator’s emotional state or consciousness. For example, a severely traumatized narrator who has flashbacks might tell events in a jumble of chapters set in different years, out of sequence, as they try to piece together fragments and memories.
• It can show stories with related arcs or themes unfolding in different places and times.  In Michael Cunningham’s retelling (of a sort) of Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway , characters living in different time periods have personal experiences and tragedies that echo events from Woolf’s book as well as Woolf’s own life.
• It can build suspense.  For example, Donna Tartt opens  The Secret History by telling the reader about a murder. We next meet the murder victim alive, as the story jumps back to the events leading to his killing.

Example of nonlinear narrative

Donna Tartt’s prologue to The Secret History  (1992) is a masterful piece of non-linear narration . Within the first page, we know there’s been a murder and the first person narrator is somehow complicit. Tartt’s opening paragraph reveals a lot but still builds anticipation:

‘The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation. He’d been dead for ten days before they found him, you know. It was one of the biggest manhunts in Vermont history – state troopers, the FBI, even an army helicopter; the college closed, the dye factory in Hampden shut down, people coming from New Hampshire, upstate New York, as far away as Boston.’ (p. 1)

Yet next thing we know, we’re back in the days when the narrator first met Bunny, and Bunny Corcoran is very much alive. This non-linear recalling of events gives us a dramatic moment before its buildup. Yet Tartt still delays our complete gratification by making us wait for full understanding of what happened, and why.

Other good examples include The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. This novel revolves around a man with a rare genetic disorder that causes him to time travel involuntarily. The narrative alternates between the perspectives of the time-traveling husband and his wife, presenting their lives out of chronological order. 

Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar, provides multiple ways to be read. The author offers a “Table of Instructions” that allows readers to choose between two possible orders for the chapters. The narrative follows the life of an Argentine intellectual living in Paris and explores themes of existentialism and identity.

Use examples of narrative to improve your own narration

Read through the examples of narrative above and try exercises based on these authors’ narrative styles and techniques:

1. Write a paragraph  of historical narrative  describing a character’s home city and how it has changed over the years. In the next paragraph, describe how a character or section of the population spends a typical weekend in the city, showcasing more of the city’s unique details.

2. Write a scene using viewpoint narrative  showing two characters preoccupied with different worries, in the third person. Write the scene entirely in narration. Any speech must be reported speech and not dialogue. For example: ‘He told her that he was tired of the city and was thinking about moving abroad.’ In the first half, filter narration through the first character’s thoughts, but then switch to the other character’s point of view. How do they see things differently?

Does your skill in narration need developing? Our writing coaches will help you craft better narrative.

Related Posts:

• Types of narration infographic - 6 narrative POVs
• What is an omniscient narrator? Narrative examples and tips
• How to build narrative pace using grammar
• Tags examples of narrative , narration

Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town.

20 replies on “What is narrative? 5 narrative types and examples”

Tips are one thing, but aptly differentiating the types is MONEY. Can’t wait to share this.

Thanks, Elias!

[…] first chapter must get the reader comfortable with your narration style. Make it clear how the story will be told. Through one person’s perspective, jumping around […]

very informative

Thank you for the feedback, Richard!

where are the examples

Hi Rory, thank you for asking – they are throughout the article under the subheadings with ‘examples’.

What is the difference between a narrative techniques listed here and the first person narrator and third person?

Hi James, Happy New Year and thank you for your question. The types of narrative in this article refer to functions of narrative rather than viewpoint. First person and third person narration are different points of view (narration using ‘I’ or ‘We’, versus narration using ‘He’, ‘She’, ‘They’, or a gender neutral or non-binary pronoun. I hope this helps? Let us know any questions you have about narration!

[…] But this escapism doesn’t have to always mean detachment. Puzzles are highly involved activities, where good ones are designed to teach the player. But they often lack a viewpoint or narrative that is often included in games. We don’t see puzzles the same way that we see narrative storytelling or narrative games where we experience the narrators’ values, beliefs, and other underlying motivations. […]

I need help. I have an examination tomorrow on Narrative Essays. What should I do?

Hi Tariemi, it’s already the day of your exam so this is probably reaching you a little late. Good luck! I hope you remember to breathe, take your time, and read through the questions twice (and flip over the question sheet in case – I once finished an exam 15 minutes early and wondered why everyone was still writing and only 5 minutes later turned over the question sheet to see there were more questions on the back 🙂). I hope you ace it.

I’m studying for GCSEs, again, and I’ve noticed that the website I bought the English course from uses exactly what you’ve wrote above word by word. I was wondering if you work for them? Since you don’t mention them and they don’t mention you.

Hi Anna, that’s concerning. Could you perhaps share the link? Every article here on our blog is original, we don’t repost others’ full pieces (but there are websites out there that post what I’ve written word for word that I’ve come across, often without permission). Education service providers have asked to properly license my articles for republication, so it may be one of them. Thanks for letting us know (and good luck with your GCSEs!).

Hi Jordan. I double checked and the education service provider gives you credit for the information they’ve used. Great material by the way. Quite explicit hence very helpful. Thank you 😊

Hi Anna, I’m glad to hear that 🙂 Thank you, I’m glad you liked this article and found it helpful (and thank you for letting me know about the citation).

Hello can i ask when was this made? Need it for giving proper credits in my homework!

Hi Cakeri, it was published August 2nd 2018, good luck with your homework!

Hi jordan.thank you i’m glad you helped me to do homeword. Thank you very much

Dear Farah, So pleased you found the blog useful. Thanks for reading and commenting.

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The Four Writing Styles and When to Use Them

The internet and technology have changed our lives so much that we read all day, every day. We’re surrounded by content, ranging from poems, fiction, and news articles to blogs like this one. While the world is full of writing, in actuality, there are only four main writing styles.

This might sound confusing. How can all of the world’s writing just fall into four styles? There is certainly some overlap between them, and the categories themselves are very broad. Regardless, each style is still distinctive and used for a different purpose.

Let’s look at the four writing styles, explore some examples for each one, and discuss when you should use them.

Table of Content:

What are the four writing styles.

• Which Writing Style to Use?

Make Your Writing Clear and Compelling

The four writing styles are expository, narrative, persuasive, and descriptive. They can be defined as follows:

                Expository: Expository writing informs the audience about a particular topic. It cites statistics, provides evidence, and relates factual information. It does not include the writer’s opinion. This blog you are reading is an example of expository writing. In addition, restaurant menus, product descriptions, technical how-to guides, and cookbooks are all types of expository writing.

                Narrative: Narrative writing is used to tell a story . Narrative writing includes characters, a setting, and a plot. Memoirs, novels, and many television shows use narrative writing. Narrative writing can be fact or fiction.

                Persuasive: Persuasive writing aims to persuade or convince the audience to agree with a specific opinion or position. Persuasive writing includes opinions, facts and justifications to support the opinion. Some examples include newspaper editorials and letters of recommendation.

                Descriptive: Descriptive writing is used to describe a person, place, or thing . It includes a high level of detail and is very specific, as it tries to paint a picture using words. Poems, lyrics, and a great deal of fiction fall into this category.

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These are just a few examples of the type of writing that falls into each category.

Should You Use a Narrative, Persuasive, Expository, or Descriptive Writing Style?

As you can see from the brief definitions above, each of these writing styles has its own purpose and use. How do you choose which writing style is right for you? The writing style that you choose will depend on your target audience and the goal of your writing.

Whom do you hope to read your writing, and what do you want them to learn? Do you want to tell a personal story? Convince someone to change their mind about an issue? Describe a place or person? Or teach someone something new?

Once you know your aim and intended audience, you can choose the most appropriate writing style to achieve your goal.

If you’re still unclear about the exact difference between each of these writing styles, don’t worry! We have some examples to help you understand each style of writing.

Persuasive writing: This opinion article about the importance of vaccinating children against COVID-19 utilizes statistics and data about the pandemic and the safety and efficacy of the vaccine to support the author’s argument. The author acknowledges potential counterarguments (those vaccinated can still get sick) and responds to them (vaccines prevent the worst outcomes).

Descriptive writing: This short story by Carmen Maria Machado utilizes poetic language to create powerful images. The story, written for adults, uses metaphorical expressions (everything is soft, like a fresh oil painting) to describe the scenes and powerful language to help the reader envision the scenes.

Narrative writing: This narrative essay includes a setting, a series of events, and characters, which all of which combine to tell the reader a story about something that happened. In this case, it is a story about the author realizing how others perceive her and her mother because of an event.

Expository writing: This blog offers readers tips and tricks on how to write a scientific manuscript. It uses clear, simple language to target non-native English speakers who write scientific articles. It does not put forth an opinion or argument.

Content can be written in a variety of ways, which is why it is essential to understand what you hope your writing will accomplish when choosing a writing style. All four writing styles differ in tone, word choice, and even grammar structure.

Expository writing, like an academic article aimed at an audience of other academics, will convey complex ideas utilizing highly technical language. In contrast, a narrative targeting young children might use creative words to express a simple storyline.

The line between the writing styles is not always clear-cut. While academic writing in the hard sciences is likely to take a dry tone, academic writing in the social sciences may very well blur the line between itself and persuasive writing. This is because social scientists sometimes write about topics that have been politicized, like the causes of poverty or social behaviors.

Persuasive writing, like newspaper editorials, can use the narrative writing style to tell a story that bolsters the main point of the article. There is nothing wrong with combining writing styles! Many writers do so effectively to better convey their intended message to their target audience. The only note of caution is to make sure that your writing doesn’t become muddled or unclear.

If you need more help ensuring that your writing style, tone, word choice, and grammatical structure are all appropriate for your intended audience, AI writing tools can help you while you write. These days, AI writing tools have gone beyond simple spelling and grammar checking capabilities.

Some AI writing tools like Trinka can check your paper for tone, style, and word choice. Whether you’re writing about the latest scientific development or your memoirs, AI writing tools can help you refine your writing style for your target audience and purpose. Try one today for your next writing project.

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The 4 Main Types of Writing Styles and How to Use Them as a Writer

Understanding the 4 main types of writing styles can help you grow as a writer and attract an audience for your written work. Here’s how to identify each style of writing and tips for using each of the 4 common writing styles to develop your written skills.

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One of the things that can help you grow as a writer is to learn the 4 main types of writing styles and use the characteristics of each to further develop your own personal voice as a writer.

By learning how to use the different writing styles in your work, you will not only improve your skills as writer, but also learn ways to better connect with your audience of readers.

In this post we’ll cover the 4 main types of writing styles and how to use them as a writer to create compelling books, stories, essays, poetry, articles and more.

What are Writing Styles?

Writing styles are basically another way of saying the form or type of written work you are creating. Think of it as a classification for being able to identify what kind of writing you are creating.

For example, if you are writing a cookbook, that is a completely different style of writing than if you were writing a steamy romance novel!

Each writing style has a different purpose – and therefore, different characteristics are present when you are writing each type of different work.

Now that we understand what a writing style is – let’s talk about the 4 main writing styles which are commonly talked about amongst writers and literary educators.

The 4 Main Writing Styles & What They Mean

The four main writing styles which are commonly recognized are expository , descriptive , narrative , and persuasive .

Style #1: Expository

The definition of expository is this: “intended to explain or describe something.”

Most types of written work that fall into this category explain something in more detail, or provide insight and instruction in regards to a particular topic.

What types of writing fall into this category of expository writing style?

While there are many different types of written work which can be categorized as expository style of writing, you can often identify this type of writing by noticing the purpose of the work.

• Does the work intend to explain something in more detail?
• Does the written piece inform?
• Does the written piece answer questions such as “what, how and why?”

Here are some examples of the different types of writing pieces which can fall into the category of expository writing:

• Newspaper and Magazine Articles {not including editorials}
• Non-Fiction Books
• How-To Books
• Self Help Books
• Writing about Hobbies & Interests
• Recipes & Cookbooks
• Instructional Guides
• Scientific Research
• Textbooks & Educational Resources
• Business Articles & Books
• Medical Research, Journals and Articles

When you write expository style pieces, your main goal as a writer is to inform your readers with insight and facts that pertain to the subject of your piece.

For example, if you are writing about the history of ice cream, you would be including a lot of research and fun facts into your piece.

Note that this type of writing style is not intended to persuade or influence your audience. In writing your piece on the history of ice cream, you would NOT be trying to persuade your readers.

You would not want to say things like “Everybody should eat ice cream!” and “These 5 reasons will convince you forever to choose strawberry swirl flavored ice cream as your favorite flavor.”

Sometimes it can be confusing on whether an article is expository or persuasive. For example, an article called “The 5 Unexpected Health Benefits of Ice Cream” – would not fall into expository writing, even though it is providing information.

The word “benefits” has a positive connotation to the title. If you were to be writing an article on possible health benefits on ice cream, it would be very important that you as the writer keep your opinion separated from the facts and information if you plan for it to be an expository style piece. To be expository in nature, you would want to use a title such as “Scientists Research The Health Effects of Ice Cream.”

Books and articles that explain how to do something are also very popular examples of expository writing. Cookbooks are very popular, as they explain to others the tips, techniques, and recipes on how to cook something. How-to books for hobbies and crafts are also a good example of this type of writing.

Style #2: Descriptive Writing

Descriptive writing goes deeper than expository writing. While expository writing might have some descriptive details and factual information, descriptive writing will make use of many writing elements and literary devices such as metaphors and similes.

The purpose and goal of descriptive writing is to bring your reader into the written work as if the reader were to be experiencing it first hand.

Most fictional pieces fall under the category of descriptive writing, and even some non-fiction pieces such as memoirs and creative non-fiction can fall under the category of a descriptive writing style.

If you are writing fiction, the more descriptive you can be with your words, the more relatable your story will be to the reader.

For example, we recommend that writers ask their characters questions as one way to really intimately understand the details about a character. Details about the setting, events, and people present in a story will help your readers be able to imagine and understand the piece.

This style also includes poetry. If you browse through some of our poetry writing prompts , you will see there is a lot of attention put on using details to create a scene or feeling in writing a poem!

Here are some examples of types of descriptive writing pieces:

• Poetry & Prose
• Travel Diaries
• Personal Journals
• Lyrics in Music and Songwriting

Most pieces using only a descriptive writing style are not very long. It is uncommon for a fictional novel to be 100% fully descriptive without getting into our next writing style, which is narrative writing.

Style #3: Narrative Writing

Narrative writing is far more complex that simple descriptive writing.

While a poem for example may describe a scene or even events or people – generally you do not get into the deep inner thoughts of the characters or even get a full story with a clear middle, beginning, and end complete with conflict and dialogue.

Nearly all fiction novels fall into the case of narrative writing, as well as longer epic poems and sagas.

In narrative writing, there is a story to be told – a clear plot complete with setting, characters, dialogue, conflict and resolution. A narrative piece often has a timeline or sequence of events which further build to the point of conflict and resolution.

Here are some examples of the works which would be considered to have a narrative writing style:

• Fiction Novels
• Memoirs & Biographies
• Screenplays
• Myths, Legends, and Fables
• Historical accounts
• Essays which talk about a lesson learned or valuable insight from an experience

Narrative writing pieces are generally easy to identify, although sometimes it can be confused with descriptive writing styles. The key difference in determining which one a written work might be is whether or not there is a developed storyline or plot.

If there is a well developed plot and storyline, you are most likely reading narrative writing.

Style #4: Persuasive Writing

Persuasive writing is a type of writing style where the purpose is to influence someone into believing or doing something. As the word “persuasive” suggests – your goal is to persuade someone’s actions or thoughts to align with your own goals as the writer.

The persuasive writing essay is a popular homework assignment for many kids. For example, a student might be assigned to write an essay to convince their parents of something. “Why We Should Get a Pet Rabbit” and “5 Reasons You Should Not Make Me Clean My Room”.

Persuasive writing is intended to convince someone of something, and so it usually needs to have a good bit of research and logical analysis – but also should attempt to make an emotional connection to the desired audience as well.

A classic piece of writing which serves as an example of persuasive writing is Thomas Paine’s book Common Sense , which was written in the Colonial times of the American Revolutionary War, urging citizens that separating from England was of utmost importance.

Here are some examples of types of writing which are persuasive writing:

• Editorial & Opinion pieces in Newspapers and Magazines
• Essays on a specific belief or “hot button” topic
• Letters written to request an action or file a complaint
• Advertisements {Convincing you to buy something}
• Copywriting {Note, copywriting is different from copyright!}
• Company Brochures
• Business Proposals
• Political speeches

When the intention of the work is to convince the audience of something – this falls into persuasive writing.

How to Use the 4 Main Different Writing Styles as a Writer

Now that we know the different types of writing styles, you may be wondering how do you use each style?

The first thing to do is think about what you are planning to write and what the intention is. What is your goal and what type of message are you trying to communicate to your readers?

Expository Style Writing:

In this type of writing your goal is to inform your readers about research or data.

When writing expository style pieces, follow these guidelines:

• Avoid using words which have a positive or negative connotation
• Do not insert your opinion or attempt to persuade your audience into thinking, feeling, or doing something based on your beliefs
• Use research and cite your sources
• When writing online, link to additional resources or websites
• Use quotes, illustrations or informative graphics to highlight the information
• Give concise and clear directions

Descriptive Writing Style:

This type of writing has the goal to describe something and bring into your reader’s imaginations

Here are some tips for writing with descriptive writing styles:

• Use literary devices such as metaphors and similes.
• Use well thought out adjectives and adverbs to describe nouns and verbs.
• Bring attention to small details
• Use the 6 senses: sight, touch, taste, smell, sound, and feeling

Narrative Writing Style:

In narrative writing style, your goal is to convey a storyline to your readers.

Here is how to achieve this type of writing style:

• Outline a storyline, plot or timeline sequence of events
• Include detailed descriptions of your characters and scenes
• Give your readers insight into the inner thoughts or behind-the-scenes information to elements of your story
• Answer the 6 W questions in your writing: Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why?
• Make it so your piece of work conveys an important lesson or insight – what is the moral of the story? What was the outcome of this experience?
• Use concrete language which gives readers a specific image to visualize and relate to

Persuasive Writing Style:

When you are writing to persuade, your intention is to convince your readers to side with you. This can be as simple as convincing them to buy your latest new product, or even writing about important social and humanitarian issues.

Here are some tips for writing persuasively:

• Include information, data, and facts to back up your argument
• Cite your sources and give readers access to additional information
• Appeal to your readers on an emotional level – how will siding with your opinion connect with them and make them feel?
• Take into consideration your reader’s needs, wants, and desires and how your message will help your reader achieve these.

Understanding Writing Styles Can Help You Be a Better Writer

No matter what type of writing you enjoy creating – understanding the basic main 4 types of writing styles can help you become a better writer.

If you are writing a how-to article for example, you will be able to understand what types of elements to ensure your piece of work includes. If you’re writing a descriptive poem, knowing what type of language to use can help convey your message for abstract concepts.

Use these different writing styles as a fun writing exercise!

Even if you typically only write for one style, it can be a lot of fun to push yourself to try to write for the different types of styles. For example, try writing a persuasive essay, and then a descriptive essay on the same topic. It can also be fun to write a descriptive poem and then turn it into a narrative essay or short story.

Not sure what to write about using these different writing styles? We have TONS of ideas for you with many different writing prompts! Check out our list of 365 writing prompts ideas which are sure to inspire your creative muse!

Using prompts is a great way to help you start writing in different writing styles and push yourself to a new exciting challenge for your writing skills!

I hope this article about the different writing styles and how you can use them as a writer will be helpful for you in building and developing your written skillset.

What types of writing styles do you enjoy writing the most? Have any tips for writing in expository, descriptive, narrative or persuasive styles of writing? We’d love to hear your ideas and experiences in the comments section below!

Chelle Stein wrote her first embarrassingly bad novel at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped writing since. As the founder of ThinkWritten, she enjoys encouraging writers and creatives of all types.

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15 comments.

Enjoyed reading this artice. I stumbled across this website by chance and I don’t regret it. Best thing I read today. I am sure this information will be pretty helpful for my Notes in future. Thank you. 👍

Thank you! Glad you found it helpful 🙂

I am grateful I came across this article. It will come in handy in my writing work

Great! This is very helpful.

I am glad it is helpful for you Nazz!

I teach English to non-native speakers and I stress, on a regular basis, about the value of being able to write as well as speak. So when I stumbled across this article I had to post it to my linkedIn page.

Very informative article! Thank you.

Wow! Very exciting article. This help me rebuild my bad foundation. I have really had hard times writing a piece to finish. I never get to communicate my message the way i intend to because i get to a cross road of how best to relate with my audience with clarity. Quite EXPOSITORY! thanks

It’s really helpful 😊 it’s worth.

very helpful

To which writing style would a conversational manner apply best?

A writing that talks about the cages people Live can be classified as what type?

Great work!

Thanks Very useful It will be very helpful for me as a writer. I really appreciate this words of wisdom and knowledge. It was very insightful.

An article one can easily connect with. It brings clarity and understanding to the different writing styles as discussed. Kudos.

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• The four main types of essay | Quick guide with examples

The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples

Published on September 4, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays.

Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way. At university level, argumentative essays are the most common type. 

In high school and college, you will also often have to write textual analysis essays, which test your skills in close reading and interpretation.

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Table of contents

Argumentative essays, expository essays, narrative essays, descriptive essays, textual analysis essays, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about types of essays.

An argumentative essay presents an extended, evidence-based argument. It requires a strong thesis statement —a clearly defined stance on your topic. Your aim is to convince the reader of your thesis using evidence (such as quotations ) and analysis.

Argumentative essays test your ability to research and present your own position on a topic. This is the most common type of essay at college level—most papers you write will involve some kind of argumentation.

The essay is divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion:

• The introduction provides your topic and thesis statement
• The body presents your evidence and arguments
• The conclusion summarizes your argument and emphasizes its importance

The example below is a paragraph from the body of an argumentative essay about the effects of the internet on education. Mouse over it to learn more.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a topic. It doesn’t require an original argument, just a balanced and well-organized view of the topic.

Expository essays test your familiarity with a topic and your ability to organize and convey information. They are commonly assigned at high school or in exam questions at college level.

The introduction of an expository essay states your topic and provides some general background, the body presents the details, and the conclusion summarizes the information presented.

A typical body paragraph from an expository essay about the invention of the printing press is shown below. Mouse over it to learn more.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

A narrative essay is one that tells a story. This is usually a story about a personal experience you had, but it may also be an imaginative exploration of something you have not experienced.

Narrative essays test your ability to build up a narrative in an engaging, well-structured way. They are much more personal and creative than other kinds of academic writing . Writing a personal statement for an application requires the same skills as a narrative essay.

A narrative essay isn’t strictly divided into introduction, body, and conclusion, but it should still begin by setting up the narrative and finish by expressing the point of the story—what you learned from your experience, or why it made an impression on you.

Mouse over the example below, a short narrative essay responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” to explore its structure.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

A descriptive essay provides a detailed sensory description of something. Like narrative essays, they allow you to be more creative than most academic writing, but they are more tightly focused than narrative essays. You might describe a specific place or object, rather than telling a whole story.

Descriptive essays test your ability to use language creatively, making striking word choices to convey a memorable picture of what you’re describing.

A descriptive essay can be quite loosely structured, though it should usually begin by introducing the object of your description and end by drawing an overall picture of it. The important thing is to use careful word choices and figurative language to create an original description of your object.

Mouse over the example below, a response to the prompt “Describe a place you love to spend time in,” to learn more about descriptive essays.

On Sunday afternoons I like to spend my time in the garden behind my house. The garden is narrow but long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house, and I sit on a lawn chair at the far end to read and relax. I am in my small peaceful paradise: the shade of the tree, the feel of the grass on my feet, the gentle activity of the fish in the pond beside me.

My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from above. From his perch he can watch over his little kingdom and keep an eye on the neighbours. He does this until the barking of next door’s dog scares him from his post and he bolts for the cat flap to govern from the safety of the kitchen.

With that, I am left alone with the fish, whose whole world is the pond by my feet. The fish explore the pond every day as if for the first time, prodding and inspecting every stone. I sometimes feel the same about sitting here in the garden; I know the place better than anyone, but whenever I return I still feel compelled to pay attention to all its details and novelties—a new bird perched in the tree, the growth of the grass, and the movement of the insects it shelters…

Sitting out in the garden, I feel serene. I feel at home. And yet I always feel there is more to discover. The bounds of my garden may be small, but there is a whole world contained within it, and it is one I will never get tired of inhabiting.

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Though every essay type tests your writing skills, some essays also test your ability to read carefully and critically. In a textual analysis essay, you don’t just present information on a topic, but closely analyze a text to explain how it achieves certain effects.

Rhetorical analysis

A rhetorical analysis looks at a persuasive text (e.g. a speech, an essay, a political cartoon) in terms of the rhetorical devices it uses, and evaluates their effectiveness.

The goal is not to state whether you agree with the author’s argument but to look at how they have constructed it.

The introduction of a rhetorical analysis presents the text, some background information, and your thesis statement; the body comprises the analysis itself; and the conclusion wraps up your analysis of the text, emphasizing its relevance to broader concerns.

The example below is from a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech . Mouse over it to learn more.

King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous “dream” part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to the Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate valley of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of this prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the “bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of his vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in expressing this vision.

Literary analysis

A literary analysis essay presents a close reading of a work of literature—e.g. a poem or novel—to explore the choices made by the author and how they help to convey the text’s theme. It is not simply a book report or a review, but an in-depth interpretation of the text.

Literary analysis looks at things like setting, characters, themes, and figurative language. The goal is to closely analyze what the author conveys and how.

The introduction of a literary analysis essay presents the text and background, and provides your thesis statement; the body consists of close readings of the text with quotations and analysis in support of your argument; and the conclusion emphasizes what your approach tells us about the text.

Mouse over the example below, the introduction to a literary analysis essay on Frankenstein , to learn more.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

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• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

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At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

• In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
• In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
• In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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There are 4 Types of Writing Styles. Here’s How to Develop Your Own

Expl ore the four writing styles, discover the nuances of each, and use these tips to craft your own.

By Natasha Khullar Relph

Your writing style is a powerful tool for telling a story uniquely. It’s your creative fingerprint, showcasing your personality and unique form of expression. From the words you choose to the rhythm of your sentences, writing style is all about how you put things together. It sets you apart and creates connection, making your reader feel like they’re right there with you, experiencing your story. But what exactly constitutes writing style?

JUMP TO SECTION

What constitutes writing style? The difference between voice and writing style Types of writing styles

• Expository writing style
• Descriptive writing style
• Persuasive writing style
• Narrative writing style

How to develop your own writing style How to write better—and faster

What constitutes writing style?

When we talk about writing style, we’re basically talking about the various elements that collectively shape how you express yourself. These elements include:

• Word choice: Selecting the right words that convey your tone, mood, and intended meaning.
• Sentence structure: Think of this as the beat of the writing—the length, the complexity, and the rhythm, shaping how smoothly the words flow.
• Punctuation and grammar: The use of punctuation and grammar rules, which helps in clarity and emphasis within the writing.
• Narrative structure: How the story’s laid out —flashbacks, foreshadowing, or straight-up linear storytelling.
• Imagery and descriptions: The use of vivid descriptions and imagery that evoke sensory experiences in the reader’s mind.
• Dialogue and speech patterns: Making characters talk in a way that’s real, reflecting their personalities and keeping it authentic.
• Figurative language: Bringing in metaphors and similes for that extra flair, adding depth and color to the writing.
• Point of view: How you tell the story—first-person, third-person, or omniscient.
• Cultural and contextual influences: What cultural, historical, or societal contexts do you reference that influence the language and themes?
• Syntax: Playing around with word order in sentences, arranging them to give the writing a certain rhythm and impact.
• Economy and concision: Saying what needs to be said by avoiding unnecessary or verbose language.
• Context and purpose: Thinking about the big picture and the intended purpose of the writing, which influences both your style and your content.

The difference between voice and writing style

When it comes to writing skills, the two essential components are writing style and voice. They’re the dynamic duo of expression, each bringing something to the table.

Writing style deals with the technical side of things. Nuts and bolts like word choice, sentence structure, punctuation, and overall presentation. It acts as the framework, determining how a story is crafted. Style sets the tone, controls the narrative rhythm, and influences how information is conveyed.

Voice is the personality in the mix. It’s the author’s unique flavor, the “who” behind the words. It’s about attitude and individuality, making your writing recognizable even without a name attached. Voice encompasses tone, authenticity, and the emotional connection with the reader.

So, in a nutshell, writing style is the how-to of writing, the shaping of the story, while voice is the author’s personal stamp, making their writing stand out.

Types of writing styles

Think of writing styles as the artist’s palette for crafting narratives and delivering messages. Knowing these different styles of writing empowers you to play with language—whether it’s to inform, persuade, describe, or whisk readers away into captivating tales.

The main types of writing styles include:

1. Expository writing style

Expository writing is a form of writing that focuses on delivering information, explaining concepts, or presenting ideas in a clear, concise manner. It aims to inform or educate the audience on a particular topic, and is often devoid of personal opinions, emotions, or biases. Expository writing relies on facts, evidence, and logical explanations to convey the intended message.

This style is commonly found in textbooks, reports, essays, and articles, where the primary goal is to explain complex subjects or ideas.

Examples of expository writing include:

Textbooks/Academic writing

Academic writing, including textbooks, academic papers, and research papers, adopts an expository style to present factual information, theories, or research findings in a structured and informative manner. It focuses on providing evidence-based insights to educate readers.

How-to articles

How-to articles employ expository writing to explain step-by-step processes or instructions, guiding readers on completing tasks or acquiring new skills in a clear, logical manner.

In the culinary world, recipes use expository writing by providing precise instructions and ingredient lists in a clear format, enabling readers to replicate specific dishes accurately.

News stories or news articles

News articles and journalistic writing commonly employ an objective tone to present information straightforwardly and keep readers informed about current events. They achieve this through the use of facts, interviews, and research. For example, American journalistic styles (including newspapers such as The New York Times or the Washington Post) adhere to specific conventions and citation practices, ensuring accuracy and objectivity in any piece of writing.

Business writing

Expository writing in a business context involves clear, concise communication in memos, reports, or emails. It aims to convey information, instructions, or proposals to colleagues, clients, or stakeholders with precision and clarity.

Technical writing

Technical documents, manuals, or guides use an expository style to explain complex technical concepts or procedures to users or consumers. This writing style prioritizes clarity and comprehensibility in conveying technical information.

Scientific writing

Scientific writing follows an expository approach by presenting research findings, hypotheses, or experimental data in a systematic, evidence-based manner. It emphasizes objectivity, precision, and clarity to communicate scientific concepts to peers and the broader scientific community.

2. Descriptive writing style

Descriptive writing captivates readers by skillfully portraying scenes, events, or experiences through vivid sensory details, evocative language, and rich imagery. Its goal is to craft a detailed and immersive picture in the reader’s mind, employing sensory descriptions, figurative language, and precise details to evoke emotions, establish atmosphere, and engage the reader’s senses.

This writing style effectively appeals to the imagination, capturing sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures to create a vivid and immersive reading experience.

Examples of descriptive writing include:

Descriptive writing flourishes in poetry, where vivid imagery, sensory details, and figurative language create evocative verses. Poets use descriptive elements to paint vivid pictures or express emotions through metaphorical language and sensory descriptions.

Journal or diary writing

In personal journals or diaries, descriptive writing captures personal experiences, feelings, and observations. It often employs vivid descriptions and detailed accounts to convey thoughts, emotions, and personal reflections. This writing style is also commonly found in personal essays .

Descriptions of nature

Nature writing extensively utilizes descriptive language to depict landscapes, environments, and natural phenomena. It immerses readers in the beauty of nature through vivid and sensory-rich descriptions.

Fiction writing or script writing

Descriptive writing serves a pivotal role in the realm of fiction, encompassing fictional novels, plays, screenwriting, and scripts. This style plays a key role in constructing immersive worlds and storylines, breathing life into characters, and crafting captivating scenes.

3. Persuasive writing style

Persuasive writing is often a formal writing style that aims to sway or convince the audience to adopt a particular viewpoint, take a specific action, or agree with a particular argument. It employs various techniques and strategies, including logical reasoning, emotional appeal, evidence, and persuasive language to influence the reader’s opinions or behavior.

This style often presents a strong and compelling argument while acknowledging and counteracting opposing views, aiming to create a convincing narrative.

Persuasive writing is commonly found in editorials, advertisements, speeches, and personal opinion pieces.

Examples of persuasive writing style include:

Cover letters

In job applications, cover letters utilize persuasive writing to highlight skills, qualifications, and experiences to convince employers of a candidate’s suitability for a position.

Copywriting

Copywriting in marketing and advertising employs persuasive language to influence consumer behavior, encouraging them to buy products or services by emphasizing benefits, solving problems, or creating desire.

Op-eds and opinion pieces

Op-eds and opinion pieces use persuasive writing to present personal viewpoints or arguments on societal issues, aiming to sway public opinion or prompt action.

Product reviews

Review writing incorporates persuasive elements to convince readers of a product’s merits or drawbacks, guiding purchasing decisions through detailed evaluations.

Letters of recommendation

Written in a persuasive style, letters of recommendation aim to advocate for an individual’s abilities, character, or qualifications to support their applications or endeavors.

Social media posts

Social media content often uses persuasive writing to engage and influence audiences, encouraging actions such as likes, shares, or purchases through persuasive language, visuals, or emotional appeals.

4. Narrative writing style

Narrative writing is a style that focuses on storytelling, weaving a sequence of events, characters, settings, and conflicts to create a cohesive and engaging narrative. It often follows a structured plot , including a beginning, middle, and end, and may incorporate various literary devices like dialogue, characterization, and descriptive language to captivate readers.

This style aims to entertain, inform, or engage the audience by immersing them in a compelling storyline, whether in fiction, non-fiction, novels, short stories, or memoirs. Narrative writing transports readers to different worlds, emotions, and experiences through its storytelling techniques.

Examples of narrative writing style include:

Oral histories

Narrative writing often involves recounting personal experiences, anecdotes, or oral histories that convey events, emotions, and insights from one’s life or others’, aiming to preserve stories and pass down knowledge through storytelling.

Novels or novellas

Long-form narrative writing appears in novels and novellas, presenting intricate plots, developed characters, and immersive worlds.

Some narrative writing is expressed through poetry, especially in epic sagas or narrative poems, using poetic devices such as rhythm, meter, and vivid imagery.

Short Stories

Narrative writing takes concise forms in short stories, delivering complete, engaging narratives within a shorter framework, often focusing on a specific event, character, or theme.

Creative writing

Narrative writing is at the core of creative writing, encompassing a broad range of imaginative and expressive writing forms, such as fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, or speculative fiction.

Anecdotes, brief narratives or accounts, are used in various contexts to illustrate a point, entertain, or provide examples, drawing on storytelling techniques to engage audiences and convey a specific message or experience. Autobiographies and memoirs are a good example of this style of writing.

How to develop your own writing style

Here are some practical steps to help you develop your own writing style and enhance your voice and creativity:

• Explore widely: Read a variety of genres, authors, and writing styles. See how famous authors employ different types of writing styles and writing techniques to connect with their target audience.
• Write regularly: Make writing a habit. Experiment with styles, tones, and topics. Discover what works for you and for your readers. It’s all about finding your own unique style through consistent practice.
• Find your voice: Be you. Write in a way that feels like home. Let your personality, thoughts, and experiences shine through. Your writing becomes uniquely yours when it’s authentically you.
• Experiment fearlessly: Don’t play it safe! In the beginning, you need to try out new stuff. Write for different purposes and audiences. Play around with your written words and be unafraid to change them. And while yes, you want to learn from the myriad of writing tips available, don’t be afraid to go against the grain (yes, you can use adverbs if you know what you’re doing!) English is an incredible language with a variety of tools. Use them!
• Identity influences: Who are the writers who speak to you? Figure out what makes their writing pop, and sprinkle a bit of that magic into your own writing.
• Trust the process: Crafting your unique style is a journey. It takes time and patience. Keep at it, and trust that your voice will find its way.

How to write better—and faster

Developing your unique writing style doesn’t just help you connect with your readers, it’s also the key to attracting agents, editors, and publishers to your work. And the faster you can find your unique and authentic voice, the more you’ll write—and sell!

At Wordling Plus , we’re all about diving deep into the psychology of the creative process, while offering super practical advice to help you bust through those pesky roadblocks.

Our unique approach helps you figure out what’s holding you back, whether it’s a certain mindset or some other not-so-helpful behaviors, and gives you the tools you need to tackle them head-on.

Ready to get started? Join us for your first free training session today.

FREE RESOURCE:

MASTERCLASS: The $100K Blueprint for Multipassionate Writers

In this masterclass, I’m going to give you  a step-by-step strategy  to build multiple sources of income with your creative work in less than a year. 

If you’ve been told you need to focus on  one thing  in order to succeed, this class will be an eye-opener.  Watch it here.

Natasha Khullar Relph

Founder and Editor, The Wordling

Natasha Khullar Relph is an award-winning journalist and author with bylines in  The New York Times, TIME CNN, BBC, ABC News, Ms. Marie Claire, Vogue,  and more. She is the founder of  The Wordling , a weekly business newsletter for journalists, authors, and content creators. Natasha has  mentored over 1,000 writers , helping them break into dream publications and build six-figure careers. She is the author of  Shut Up and Write: The No-Nonsense, No B.S. Guide to Getting Words on the Page  and  several other books .

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Classifying Four Types of Sentences

Declarative sentences

Declarative sentences make statements and relay information. They provide facts, opinions, or explanations. Declarative sentences typically end with a period.

Example: "The sun sets in the west."

Interrogative sentences

Interrogative sentences ask questions. They seek information or clarification. Interrogative sentences usually end with a question mark.

Example: "What time does the movie start?"

Imperative sentences

Imperative sentences give commands or instructions. They express a request, suggestion, or directive. Imperative sentences can end with a period or an exclamation mark, depending on the tone.

Example: "Please turn off the light."

Exclamatory sentences

Exclamatory sentences express strong emotions or feelings. They convey excitement, surprise, anger, or other intense emotions. Exclamatory sentences typically end with an exclamation mark.

Example: "What a beautiful day it is!"

These four types of sentences serve different communicative functions and can be combined in various ways to convey different meanings and tones in writing and speech.

Grade 4 classifying sentences worksheets

In our grade 4 grammar section, we have a couple of sets of worksheets for students to work on classifying sentences.

Practice classifying sentences

In these worksheets, students classify sentences by the four types . There is also space for them to write their own sentences.

Write different types of sentences

Students are given topics and asked to write different types of sentences in these worksheets.

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