3 Ways to Improve Your Narratives

 Let’s admit it; we’ve all been there. ‘The characters are not thinking straight’, or ‘the story is NOT ending well’. You want to share this really heartwarming romance or a blood-tingling horror story, but you just don’t know how to make it allfall in place without it sounding outlandish or cliché. You want to know how to get the next twist right and how to smash the villain to shreds in a believable manner. Fear not, for here are 3 effective checks to keep your writing enjoyable and entertaining:

Characters

Rewind and remember the guys who you remember the most from any book you’ve read. Poirot was known for his stout French-ness; Sherlock had his eccentricity and The Cat in the Hat had his love for anarchy. Make your characters different. Write from a fresh perspective, a perspective that forms an instant connection with the reader. Make them unique, like an anarchic cat who dances from place to place in a hat. Give them flaws. This makes them believable and in fact, is the main reason you resonate with them. Sherlock’s druggie side is one you will remember very clearly; even after the series, he remains imprinted in your memories. 

Building up

This is the part which makes or breaks a story. Build up the tension, the romance, the drama or the comedy up to your climax. Make it interesting to keep the reader hooked and guessing for what’s to come next, and to ensure this, keep rereading after a couple of lines till the climax. A most effective tool is describing the setting, atmosphere or actions of the characters. By describing a military encounter’s every sound and drop of sweat, you ensure that the reader edges towards the climax. Make the journey to the climax slow and make the reader crave for it.

Climax

Quiet literally the turning point of the story, the climax is quintessential. Make it too twisty, and you will be all confused at the end. Make it boring and unimaginative, and you leave the reader unsatisfied. Mastering the climax comes from reading quality narratives. While writing the climax, keep it short and quick like a bee sting. It should prick the reader at the turning point, but shouldn’t be long. You’ll enjoy reading your own story!
You’re all geared up now! So go out there and start writing! Use that imagination and if you do have a story to tell, tell it here, on The Literature Aficionados’ blog!

- Vedatman Sonpal