Narrative Writing Revision Checklist
Did I write it like a narrative author?
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Starting
to
Yes!
Overall: Bit by bit, I told a story with tension, believable
characters, and a meaningful resolution.
STRUCTURE
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Starting
to
Yes!
Lead
To get readers into the world of
the story, I showed what was
happening and where.
I not only set the plot in motion,
but gave some clues to what
would later become a problem
for the character.
Transitions
I used transitions to show when
time passed (
just then, suddenly,
meanwhile, earlier that year...
)
and to connect what happened to
why it happened
(because of,
although, If I hadn’t...
).
Organization
I created a sequence of events
that was clear and showed
changes in time or setting.
I chose several key parts to
stretch out and several to move
through more quickly.
Ending
I gave readers a sense of
closure by connecting back to
the beginning or middle of the
story. I may have developed a
new realization or change in a
character.
What are your STRUCTURE revision goals?
DEVELOPMENT
Not yet
Starting
to
Yes!
Elaboration
I developed characters, plot
points, and details that were
important to the deeper
meaning of the story. To do this,
I used a blend of description,
action, dialogue, and inner
thinking.
Craft: Tone
I used a storytelling voice and
conveyed emotion through
description and word choice.
Craft:
Character
I showed
why
characters did what
they did by including their
thinking and responses to what
happened.
Craft:
Imagery
I used precise and sometimes
sensory details and figurative
language (simile, metaphor,
personification) to bring
setting, characters, and events
to life.
I may have used objects or
actions as symbols to bring
forth meaning.
What are your DEVELOPMENT revision goals?
Narrative Writing Editing Checklist
CONVENTIONS
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Starting
to
Yes!
Punctuation
I used a variety of
punctuation to fix run-on
sentences.
I used quotation marks when
characters were speaking.
When writing complex
sentences, I used commas to
make them clear and
correct.
Paragraphs
I used paragraphs to
separate different parts or
times of the story, to show
when a new character was
speaking, or to create
suspense.
Word choice
I used what I know about word
families and spelling
patterns to help me spell. I
checked resources, like the
dictionary, when I was not
sure.
I tried not to repeat a word
unless I wanted to draw the
reader’s attention to it.
Syntax
I varied my sentences to
create a pace that fit each
part of my story.
Capitalization
I used capital letters at the
beginning of sentences and
to show proper nouns.
What do you need to edit before you create your final draft?
