A good story does not simply report events; it makes a reader care what happens next. Narrative writing rewards imagination that is shaped by craft: structure, character and a well-judged ending.
Structure the plot
Most short narratives follow a five-part arc: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. In a timed exam, keep the plot small. One tense moment told well beats a sprawling adventure told badly.
- Exposition: introduce a character and a place
- Rising action: build a problem
- Climax: the turning point
- Resolution: the aftermath and change
Build character and voice
Reveal character through action and dialogue rather than long descriptions. What a person does under pressure tells us who they are. Punctuate dialogue correctly, with each new speaker on a new line.
Control tension and pace
Short sentences speed a scene up; longer ones slow it down. Delay information to create suspense. A single well-placed detail can carry more weight than a paragraph of explanation.
Start late, leave early: open close to the action and end before you over-explain.
End with purpose
Avoid the tired "and then I woke up" ending. The strongest closes show a small change in the character or circle back to an image from the opening, giving the story a sense of shape and meaning.