Narrative Writing: Drafting and Technique
Understand how to control narrative pacing
Learn to expand important moments in storytelling
Practice summarizing less significant narrative details
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1 (WEB)Understanding how different moments in a story have different importance, just as different moments in life have unique purposes
Demonstrate storytelling with intentional pacing variations. Use a personal story, showing how some moments can be quickly summarized while others are described in rich detail.
Explain narrative pacing as controlling the speed of storytelling through description length and detail intensity.
Students will rewrite a biblical story scene, intentionally controlling pacing
Simpler: Use a shorter story with clear dramatic moments
Challenge: Add dialogue and sensory details to control pacing
Reflect on how pacing can make storytelling more engaging
Dear God, thank you for giving us the ability to tell stories that can inspire and teach others.
Coming up: Next class, we'll begin drafting our personal narratives
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1 (WEB)🎯 Activity: Create hand motions representing different story pacing speeds
Narrative pacing is a sophisticated writing skill that helps make stories more dynamic and interesting
Students might struggle with knowing which moments to expand or summarize
Evidence of intentional description length variation