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Note how Kaling uses the phrase “Thinking back on her now” to quickly transition into
the flashback. Using phrases like this will allow you to go back and forth in time when
necessary, while helping your reader to follow the plot and time shifts. writing workshop

Structure activity
1. Sketch out the brief details of the event or events you plan to recount in your /
narrative in chronological order:
a. Before the event
b. During the event Writing a Narrative
c. After the event
2. What important background information might the reader need to understand the
importance of the event in your narrative? When will you share this information?
Will you have a flashback?
3. Where might be an appropriate and effective place for you to insert your older/
wiser voice into your narrative (like the example from Kaling’s narrative)? Write a
line or two of this kind of insertion and consider why it might be effective.

Step 7. Your Narrative — the Opening

No matter what type of writing you are engaged in, sometimes the most difficult thing is
just figuring out how to start. The goal of beginning a narrative — like any piece of
writing — is to hook the reader’s attention, and there are a number of ways to try to do
this besides the old and tired ones like, “It all started when . . .” or “When I went on my
trip to . . .” Look at these example beginnings from narratives in this chapter:

Dramatic Statement
I know every person who comes into this store, and they know me. Burnell’s Market. It’s
my name above the door. These are my neighbors, but now we’re eyeing each other like
strangers, paranoid and suspicious.
—Burnell Cotlon, Wearing a Mask Won’t Protect Us from Our History
Setting the Scene
When my family first moved to North Carolina, we lived in a rented house three blocks
from the school where I would begin the third grade. My mother made friends with one
of the neighbors, but one seemed enough for her. Within a year we would move again
and, as she explained, there wasn’t much point in getting too close to people we would
have to say good-bye to.
—David Sedaris, Us and Them
Each of these examples is intended to quickly draw the reader in, while giving us just
a hint of the issues that the narrator will face. Other possible openings are to start with
some dialogue (“Hurry up! Run,” he shouted ), or with a piece of action (Running away
from the house, I didn’t dare to look back over my shoulder). A good opening should
cause the reader to ask questions and wonder what conflicts the narrator will face. 239
Uncorrected proofs have been used in this sample.
Copyright © Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers.
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers.
For review purposes only. Not for redistribution.

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