In narrative description a place or
character drives the story, it sets the mood.
Sight, sound, taste, smell, and feel the surroundings or conflict with
another character. Crisp air is an
example to set the mood for a reader.
The reader is shown by surroundings, and with characters in descriptive
action. Narrative moves the story
forward. The flow of the following
paragraph increases drama and the reader will want to know what happens next. The progression of events or what comes next
with description engage the reader.
Slightly to his right, just below
the mountain top a gigantic shimmering red flat cloud was forming. Throughout the cloud there were small bright
white flashes, and then they stopped.
Now taking shape from the cloud, a red glowing disk had appeared on the
mountain side.
The next paragraph is how he reacts
to the red glowing disk. Narrative can
be used to help develop a character and settings. What you clearly define in your experience,
is the reaction you want your reader to be involved in.
Use narrative instead when
characters are having too much dialogue with their personal thoughts.
Sound, Smell, Feel: Cold air was
bringing the heavy mold smell of old growth forest into the van, Nancy
shivered. Near the road a loud low to
chilling high pitched scream pierced the air lingering. It turned to rolling shrill screams; and
ended with deep coughing, it was a mountain lion. That gave Nancy another reason to shiver, she
immediately closed her window.
Taste: “Coffee yes that sounds good,”
Knoton said, standing in the office door.
He breathed in, the air distinctly smelled of coffee. He raised his coffee cup.
Conflict: They had walked to where
Nar sat. He thought he had been talking
too quietly for Nar to hear him but he was wrong.
Nar gave them a cool gaze and
smiled. “We are at the pick-up site.”
Nar watched the loading crew walk
silently back across the war room and the entry doors slid solidly shut behind
them.
