The majority of academic writing is about empirical writing based on facts and figures, such as theses, dissertations, term papers, etc. There is no room for showing emotions or highlighting personal style that can become a signature for the writer.

On the other side, narrative writing is about writing an essay based on personal experience or incident. Since it is based on something truly personal or subjective, many writers believe that they are at complete liberty to treat the elements as they please.

This could not be further from the truth because the elements are defined and baked into the ecosystem. 

Choosing The Right Topic

Before a writer starts to learn and master the elements of narrative writing, it is necessary to understand the importance of a topic. A topic or a title is the first introduction or the first pitch of writers to the readers. Even those who do not have the time to read a narrative are sure to read the title. If they are motivated enough by the title, it is a job well done by the writer. 

That’s why coming up with a perfect topic is a necessary task that cannot be shirked. The idea here is to reveal the story just enough that it piques the interest of the reader.

Laying Solid Foundation With A Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a summary of what to expect in the writing. But this definition of the thesis statement is true for other forms of writing. In narrative essay writing, a thesis statement solidifies the theme and central point of the story in a sentence. That’s why it is written in the introduction paragraph, mostly as its last sentence.

It foreshadows the events of the narrative for readers or intensifies the suspense using different literary devices. A thesis statement is an essential element of a narrative essay and one cannot exist without it.

Narrative Writing Styles For Every Essay

Since the writing itself is subjective and there are more than one ways to approach a narrative, you can always find writers treating a single premise with different writing styles. Some employ first-person or third-person omniscient narratives to tell a story. Modern writers are even experimenting further and some are even using second-person narrative to tell a story while addressing the reader or leading them through the action. 

Descriptive 

Descriptive narrative is everywhere in narrative writing when a writer describes a person, a place, or an idea. It lends the element of imagery and invokes a sense of a being in readers as they can feel the presence of the thing described in the writing.

The descriptive narrative primarily fulfills the following purposes:

• Placing other elements of narrative writing in a time-space reference
• Conveying the mood or sense of the action through vivid description

That’s why as a reader, you can always invoke the same imagery when you read the passages from your favorite novels or short stories. This writing style relies heavily on the description so dialogues and exposition are hard to find in this instance.

Viewpoint

Narrative writing is subjective and readers only get to know the details that a writer wants to share through his writing. In a viewpoint writing style, all the other details are omitted and the narrative is strengthened based only on the revelations. In a sense, it is a subjective or fabricated truth that cannot be disapproved of by readers.

For school and college students, writing a viewpoint narrative essay can be challenging because of its limitations and unreliability.

Linear

A linear narrative writing style is the most commonly employed method in essay writing. It follows a simple chronological order to reveal the events that are extremely easy for readers to follow.

The best thing about this style is that it is the easiest and keeps the balance between the causes and effects of the story, so the logical end of the narrative remains intact for the most part.

As far as the purpose of narrative writing is concerned, this style makes it easier for readers to follow and relate to the story.

Non-Linear

Opposite to linear narrative writing, non-linear writing is about explaining events that suit the narrative best. Through the application of flashbacks, shifting narrators, and other literary devices, writers can weave a narrative that can be punchier than a linear one but readers would have to be more attentive to different details.

For students in schools and colleges, it is not recommended to dabble in this style because it is hard and complex to handle compared to the linear style.

Quest

In this writing style, the time and space elements of the narrative take a backseat in the favor of the actual action. The premise is simple: the story is all about how the narrator or protagonist achieved something important, either material or psychological. 

This style is often found in children’s stories and fables from cultures around the world. It is easier than the non-linear writing style but it does not give much room for details, such as the setting of the story, character development, and so on.

The Essentials of Narrative Essay

Now, let us dissect the essential elements of narrative essays and see why they are so important.