story vs an essay

The Difference between an Essay and a Story

There are several types of essays, and only a narrative essay resembles a story. The traditional length of a narrative essay would be comparable only to a short story in length.

A narrative essay is, in essence, a short version of a personal story from a writer's experience. In some ways, a narrative essay and a short story can feel similar to one another. Both require a certain amount of imaginative narrative from the writer and use descriptive words to convey emotions, lay out the scene, and place the reader inside the events.

However, there are quite a few differences, which is why you won't find a narrative essay in a compilation book of short stories.

Like all other forms of essays, a narrative essay needs a clear outline of ideas that organize the writer's thoughts. Essays will always include an introduction, a body of writing, and a conclusion that sums up the writer's points or describe what the writer learned from the experience they write about.

Short stories need no such structure. While there is technically a beginning, a middle, and an end, the linear structure of a narrative essay is often not followed in a short story. Some jump around in time and play with the reader's imagination to determine the sequence of events and how one event affects or leads to another.

Tell the Truth

One of the most notable differences between a narrative essay and a short story is that a short story does not always have to be true. A story can be fiction or non-fiction, as both fit the definition of a short story. A narrative essay, on the other hand, is expected by the reader to be an actual experience from the writer's life.

The intent of an essay is always to inform, so readers have an expectation that they will learn something by reading an essay regardless of its form. When reading a narrative essay, a reader expects to learn more on the topic being discussed through first-hand knowledge due to the lived experience of the writer.

The intent of a story is to entertain. Some short stories are fables, which include a moral that teaches a lesson. However, even the best lessons in short stories will not come across or even be remembered if the story itself isn't engaging and entertaining.

The Ultimate Narrative Essay Guide for Beginners

A narrative essay tells a story in chronological order, with an introduction that introduces the characters and sets the scene. Then a series of events leads to a climax or turning point, and finally a resolution or reflection on the experience.

Speaking of which, are you in sixes and sevens about narrative essays? Don’t worry this ultimate expert guide will wipe out all your doubts. So let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Everything You Need to Know About Narrative Essay

What is a narrative essay.

When you go through a narrative essay definition, you would know that a narrative essay purpose is to tell a story. It’s all about sharing an experience or event and is different from other types of essays because it’s more focused on how the event made you feel or what you learned from it, rather than just presenting facts or an argument. Let’s explore more details on this interesting write-up and get to know how to write a narrative essay.

Elements of a Narrative Essay

Here’s a breakdown of the key elements of a narrative essay:

A narrative essay has a beginning, middle, and end. It builds up tension and excitement and then wraps things up in a neat package.

Real people, including the writer, often feature in personal narratives. Details of the characters and their thoughts, feelings, and actions can help readers to relate to the tale.

It’s really important to know when and where something happened so we can get a good idea of the context. Going into detail about what it looks like helps the reader to really feel like they’re part of the story.

Conflict or Challenge 

A story in a narrative essay usually involves some kind of conflict or challenge that moves the plot along. It could be something inside the character, like a personal battle, or something from outside, like an issue they have to face in the world.

Theme or Message

A narrative essay isn’t just about recounting an event – it’s about showing the impact it had on you and what you took away from it. It’s an opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings about the experience, and how it changed your outlook.

Emotional Impact

The author is trying to make the story they’re telling relatable, engaging, and memorable by using language and storytelling to evoke feelings in whoever’s reading it.

Narrative essays let writers have a blast telling stories about their own lives. It’s an opportunity to share insights and impart wisdom, or just have some fun with the reader. Descriptive language, sensory details, dialogue, and a great narrative voice are all essentials for making the story come alive.

The Purpose of a Narrative Essay

A narrative essay is more than just a story – it’s a way to share a meaningful, engaging, and relatable experience with the reader. Includes:

Sharing Personal Experience

Narrative essays are a great way for writers to share their personal experiences, feelings, thoughts, and reflections. It’s an opportunity to connect with readers and make them feel something.

Entertainment and Engagement

The essay attempts to keep the reader interested by using descriptive language, storytelling elements, and a powerful voice. It attempts to pull them in and make them feel involved by creating suspense, mystery, or an emotional connection.

Conveying a Message or Insight

Narrative essays are more than just a story – they aim to teach you something. They usually have a moral lesson, a new understanding, or a realization about life that the author gained from the experience.

Building Empathy and Understanding

By telling their stories, people can give others insight into different perspectives, feelings, and situations. Sharing these tales can create compassion in the reader and help broaden their knowledge of different life experiences.

Inspiration and Motivation

Stories about personal struggles, successes, and transformations can be really encouraging to people who are going through similar situations. It can provide them with hope and guidance, and let them know that they’re not alone.

Reflecting on Life’s Significance

These essays usually make you think about the importance of certain moments in life or the impact of certain experiences. They make you look deep within yourself and ponder on the things you learned or how you changed because of those events.

Demonstrating Writing Skills

Coming up with a gripping narrative essay takes serious writing chops, like vivid descriptions, powerful language, timing, and organization. It’s an opportunity for writers to show off their story-telling abilities.

Preserving Personal History

Sometimes narrative essays are used to record experiences and special moments that have an emotional resonance. They can be used to preserve individual memories or for future generations to look back on.

Cultural and Societal Exploration

Personal stories can look at cultural or social aspects, giving us an insight into customs, opinions, or social interactions seen through someone’s own experience.

Format of a Narrative Essay

Narrative essays are quite flexible in terms of format, which allows the writer to tell a story in a creative and compelling way. Here’s a quick breakdown of the narrative essay format, along with some examples:

Introduction

Set the scene and introduce the story.

Engage the reader and establish the tone of the narrative.

Hook: Start with a captivating opening line to grab the reader’s attention. For instance:

Example:  “The scorching sun beat down on us as we trekked through the desert, our water supply dwindling.”

Background Information: Provide necessary context or background without giving away the entire story.

Example:  “It was the summer of 2015 when I embarked on a life-changing journey to…”

Thesis Statement or Narrative Purpose

Present the main idea or the central message of the essay.

Offer a glimpse of what the reader can expect from the narrative.

Thesis Statement: This isn’t as rigid as in other essays but can be a sentence summarizing the essence of the story.

Example:  “Little did I know, that seemingly ordinary hike would teach me invaluable lessons about resilience and friendship.”

Body Paragraphs

Present the sequence of events in chronological order.

Develop characters, setting, conflict, and resolution.

Story Progression : Describe events in the order they occurred, focusing on details that evoke emotions and create vivid imagery.

Example : Detail the trek through the desert, the challenges faced, interactions with fellow hikers, and the pivotal moments.

Character Development : Introduce characters and their roles in the story. Show their emotions, thoughts, and actions.

Example : Describe how each character reacted to the dwindling water supply and supported each other through adversity.

Dialogue and Interactions : Use dialogue to bring the story to life and reveal character personalities.

Example : “Sarah handed me her last bottle of water, saying, ‘We’re in this together.'”

Reach the peak of the story, the moment of highest tension or significance.

Turning Point: Highlight the most crucial moment or realization in the narrative.

Example:  “As the sun dipped below the horizon and hope seemed lost, a distant sound caught our attention—the rescue team’s helicopters.”

Provide closure to the story.

Reflect on the significance of the experience and its impact.

Reflection : Summarize the key lessons learned or insights gained from the experience.

Example : “That hike taught me the true meaning of resilience and the invaluable support of friendship in challenging times.”

Closing Thought : End with a memorable line that reinforces the narrative’s message or leaves a lasting impression.

Example : “As we boarded the helicopters, I knew this adventure would forever be etched in my heart.”

Example Summary:

Imagine a narrative about surviving a challenging hike through the desert, emphasizing the bonds formed and lessons learned. The narrative essay structure might look like starting with an engaging scene, narrating the hardships faced, showcasing the characters’ resilience, and culminating in a powerful realization about friendship and endurance.

Different Types of Narrative Essays

There are a bunch of different types of narrative essays – each one focuses on different elements of storytelling and has its own purpose. Here’s a breakdown of the narrative essay types and what they mean.

Personal Narrative

Description : Tells a personal story or experience from the writer’s life.

Purpose: Reflects on personal growth, lessons learned, or significant moments.

Example of Narrative Essay Types:

Topic : “The Day I Conquered My Fear of Public Speaking”

Focus: Details the experience, emotions, and eventual triumph over a fear of public speaking during a pivotal event.

Descriptive Narrative

Description : Emphasizes vivid details and sensory imagery.

Purpose : Creates a sensory experience, painting a vivid picture for the reader.

Topic : “A Walk Through the Enchanted Forest”

Focus : Paints a detailed picture of the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings experienced during a walk through a mystical forest.

Autobiographical Narrative

Description: Chronicles significant events or moments from the writer’s life.

Purpose: Provides insights into the writer’s life, experiences, and growth.

Topic: “Lessons from My Childhood: How My Grandmother Shaped Who I Am”

Focus: Explores pivotal moments and lessons learned from interactions with a significant family member.

Experiential Narrative

Description: Relays experiences beyond the writer’s personal life.

Purpose: Shares experiences, travels, or events from a broader perspective.

Topic: “Volunteering in a Remote Village: A Journey of Empathy”

Focus: Chronicles the writer’s volunteering experience, highlighting interactions with a community and personal growth.

Literary Narrative

Description: Incorporates literary elements like symbolism, allegory, or thematic explorations.

Purpose: Uses storytelling for deeper explorations of themes or concepts.

Topic: “The Symbolism of the Red Door: A Journey Through Change”

Focus: Uses a red door as a symbol, exploring its significance in the narrator’s life and the theme of transition.

Historical Narrative

Description: Recounts historical events or periods through a personal lens.

Purpose: Presents history through personal experiences or perspectives.

Topic: “A Grandfather’s Tales: Living Through the Great Depression”

Focus: Shares personal stories from a family member who lived through a historical era, offering insights into that period.

Digital or Multimedia Narrative

Description: Incorporates multimedia elements like images, videos, or audio to tell a story.

Purpose: Explores storytelling through various digital platforms or formats.

Topic: “A Travel Diary: Exploring Europe Through Vlogs”

Focus: Combines video clips, photos, and personal narration to document a travel experience.

How to Choose a Topic for Your Narrative Essay?

Selecting a compelling topic for your narrative essay is crucial as it sets the stage for your storytelling. Choosing a boring topic is one of the narrative essay mistakes to avoid . Here’s a detailed guide on how to choose the right topic:

Reflect on Personal Experiences

• Significant Moments:

Moments that had a profound impact on your life or shaped your perspective.

Example: A moment of triumph, overcoming a fear, a life-changing decision, or an unforgettable experience.

• Emotional Resonance:

Events that evoke strong emotions or feelings.

Example: Joy, fear, sadness, excitement, or moments of realization.

• Lessons Learned:

Experiences that taught you valuable lessons or brought about personal growth.

Example: Challenges that led to personal development, shifts in mindset, or newfound insights.

Explore Unique Perspectives

• Uncommon Experiences:

Unique or unconventional experiences that might captivate the reader’s interest.

Example: Unusual travels, interactions with different cultures, or uncommon hobbies.

• Different Points of View:

Stories from others’ perspectives that impacted you deeply.

Example: A family member’s story, a friend’s experience, or a historical event from a personal lens.

Focus on Specific Themes or Concepts

• Themes or Concepts of Interest:

Themes or ideas you want to explore through storytelling.

Example: Friendship, resilience, identity, cultural diversity, or personal transformation.

• Symbolism or Metaphor:

Using symbols or metaphors as the core of your narrative.

Example: Exploring the symbolism of an object or a place in relation to a broader theme.

Consider Your Audience and Purpose

• Relevance to Your Audience:

Topics that resonate with your audience’s interests or experiences.

Example: Choose a relatable theme or experience that your readers might connect with emotionally.

• Impact or Message:

What message or insight do you want to convey through your story?

Example: Choose a topic that aligns with the message or lesson you aim to impart to your readers.

Brainstorm and Evaluate Ideas

• Free Writing or Mind Mapping:

Process: Write down all potential ideas without filtering. Mind maps or free-writing exercises can help generate diverse ideas.

• Evaluate Feasibility:

The depth of the story, the availability of vivid details, and your personal connection to the topic.

Imagine you’re considering topics for a narrative essay. You reflect on your experiences and decide to explore the topic of “Overcoming Stage Fright: How a School Play Changed My Perspective.” This topic resonates because it involves a significant challenge you faced and the personal growth it brought about.

Narrative Essay Topics

50 easy narrative essay topics.

• Learning to Ride a Bike
• My First Day of School
• A Surprise Birthday Party
• The Day I Got Lost
• Visiting a Haunted House
• An Encounter with a Wild Animal
• My Favorite Childhood Toy
• The Best Vacation I Ever Had
• An Unforgettable Family Gathering
• Conquering a Fear of Heights
• A Special Gift I Received
• Moving to a New City
• The Most Memorable Meal
• Getting Caught in a Rainstorm
• An Act of Kindness I Witnessed
• The First Time I Cooked a Meal
• My Experience with a New Hobby
• The Day I Met My Best Friend
• A Hike in the Mountains
• Learning a New Language
• An Embarrassing Moment
• Dealing with a Bully
• My First Job Interview
• A Sporting Event I Attended
• The Scariest Dream I Had
• Helping a Stranger
• The Joy of Achieving a Goal
• A Road Trip Adventure
• Overcoming a Personal Challenge
• The Significance of a Family Tradition
• An Unusual Pet I Owned
• A Misunderstanding with a Friend
• Exploring an Abandoned Building
• My Favorite Book and Why
• The Impact of a Role Model
• A Cultural Celebration I Participated In
• A Valuable Lesson from a Teacher
• A Trip to the Zoo
• An Unplanned Adventure
• Volunteering Experience
• A Moment of Forgiveness
• A Decision I Regretted
• A Special Talent I Have
• The Importance of Family Traditions
• The Thrill of Performing on Stage
• A Moment of Sudden Inspiration
• The Meaning of Home
• Learning to Play a Musical Instrument
• A Childhood Memory at the Park
• Witnessing a Beautiful Sunset

Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

• Discovering a New Passion
• Overcoming Academic Challenges
• Navigating Cultural Differences
• Embracing Independence: Moving Away from Home
• Exploring Career Aspirations
• Coping with Stress in College
• The Impact of a Mentor in My Life
• Balancing Work and Studies
• Facing a Fear of Public Speaking
• Exploring a Semester Abroad
• The Evolution of My Study Habits
• Volunteering Experience That Changed My Perspective
• The Role of Technology in Education
• Finding Balance: Social Life vs. Academics
• Learning a New Skill Outside the Classroom
• Reflecting on Freshman Year Challenges
• The Joys and Struggles of Group Projects
• My Experience with Internship or Work Placement
• Challenges of Time Management in College
• Redefining Success Beyond Grades
• The Influence of Literature on My Thinking
• The Impact of Social Media on College Life
• Overcoming Procrastination
• Lessons from a Leadership Role
• Exploring Diversity on Campus
• Exploring Passion for Environmental Conservation
• An Eye-Opening Course That Changed My Perspective
• Living with Roommates: Challenges and Lessons
• The Significance of Extracurricular Activities
• The Influence of a Professor on My Academic Journey
• Discussing Mental Health in College
• The Evolution of My Career Goals
• Confronting Personal Biases Through Education
• The Experience of Attending a Conference or Symposium
• Challenges Faced by Non-Native English Speakers in College
• The Impact of Traveling During Breaks
• Exploring Identity: Cultural or Personal
• The Impact of Music or Art on My Life
• Addressing Diversity in the Classroom
• Exploring Entrepreneurial Ambitions
• My Experience with Research Projects
• Overcoming Impostor Syndrome in College
• The Importance of Networking in College
• Finding Resilience During Tough Times
• The Impact of Global Issues on Local Perspectives
• The Influence of Family Expectations on Education
• Lessons from a Part-Time Job
• Exploring the College Sports Culture
• The Role of Technology in Modern Education
• The Journey of Self-Discovery Through Education

Narrative Essay Comparison

Narrative essay vs. descriptive essay.

Here’s our first narrative essay comparison! While both narrative and descriptive essays focus on vividly portraying a subject or an event, they differ in their primary objectives and approaches. Now, let’s delve into the nuances of comparison on narrative essays.

Narrative Essay:

Storytelling: Focuses on narrating a personal experience or event.

Chronological Order: Follows a structured timeline of events to tell a story.

Message or Lesson: Often includes a central message, moral, or lesson learned from the experience.

Engagement: Aims to captivate the reader through a compelling storyline and character development.

First-Person Perspective: Typically narrated from the writer’s point of view, using “I” and expressing personal emotions and thoughts.

Plot Development: Emphasizes a plot with a beginning, middle, climax, and resolution.

Character Development: Focuses on describing characters, their interactions, emotions, and growth.

Conflict or Challenge: Usually involves a central conflict or challenge that drives the narrative forward.

Dialogue: Incorporates conversations to bring characters and their interactions to life.

Reflection: Concludes with reflection or insight gained from the experience.

Descriptive Essay:

Vivid Description: Aims to vividly depict a person, place, object, or event.

Imagery and Details: Focuses on sensory details to create a vivid image in the reader’s mind.

Emotion through Description: Uses descriptive language to evoke emotions and engage the reader’s senses.

Painting a Picture: Creates a sensory-rich description allowing the reader to visualize the subject.

Imagery and Sensory Details: Focuses on providing rich sensory descriptions, using vivid language and adjectives.

Point of Focus: Concentrates on describing a specific subject or scene in detail.

Spatial Organization: Often employs spatial organization to describe from one area or aspect to another.

Objective Observations: Typically avoids the use of personal opinions or emotions; instead, the focus remains on providing a detailed and objective description.

Comparison:

Focus: Narrative essays emphasize storytelling, while descriptive essays focus on vividly describing a subject or scene.

Perspective: Narrative essays are often written from a first-person perspective, while descriptive essays may use a more objective viewpoint.

Purpose: Narrative essays aim to convey a message or lesson through a story, while descriptive essays aim to paint a detailed picture for the reader without necessarily conveying a specific message.

Narrative Essay vs. Argumentative Essay

The narrative essay and the argumentative essay serve distinct purposes and employ different approaches:

Engagement and Emotion: Aims to captivate the reader through a compelling story.

Reflective: Often includes reflection on the significance of the experience or lessons learned.

First-Person Perspective: Typically narrated from the writer’s point of view, sharing personal emotions and thoughts.

Plot Development: Emphasizes a storyline with a beginning, middle, climax, and resolution.

Message or Lesson: Conveys a central message, moral, or insight derived from the experience.

Argumentative Essay:

Persuasion and Argumentation: Aims to persuade the reader to adopt the writer’s viewpoint on a specific topic.

Logical Reasoning: Presents evidence, facts, and reasoning to support a particular argument or stance.

Debate and Counterarguments: Acknowledge opposing views and counter them with evidence and reasoning.

Thesis Statement: Includes a clear thesis statement that outlines the writer’s position on the topic.

Thesis and Evidence: Starts with a strong thesis statement and supports it with factual evidence, statistics, expert opinions, or logical reasoning.

Counterarguments: Addresses opposing viewpoints and provides rebuttals with evidence.

Logical Structure: Follows a logical structure with an introduction, body paragraphs presenting arguments and evidence, and a conclusion reaffirming the thesis.

Formal Language: Uses formal language and avoids personal anecdotes or emotional appeals.

Objective: Argumentative essays focus on presenting a logical argument supported by evidence, while narrative essays prioritize storytelling and personal reflection.

Purpose: Argumentative essays aim to persuade and convince the reader of a particular viewpoint, while narrative essays aim to engage, entertain, and share personal experiences.

Structure: Narrative essays follow a storytelling structure with character development and plot, while argumentative essays follow a more formal, structured approach with logical arguments and evidence.

In essence, while both essays involve writing and presenting information, the narrative essay focuses on sharing a personal experience, whereas the argumentative essay aims to persuade the audience by presenting a well-supported argument.

Narrative Essay vs. Personal Essay

While there can be an overlap between narrative and personal essays, they have distinctive characteristics:

Storytelling: Emphasizes recounting a specific experience or event in a structured narrative form.

Engagement through Story: Aims to engage the reader through a compelling story with characters, plot, and a central theme or message.

Reflective: Often includes reflection on the significance of the experience and the lessons learned.

First-Person Perspective: Typically narrated from the writer’s viewpoint, expressing personal emotions and thoughts.

Plot Development: Focuses on developing a storyline with a clear beginning, middle, climax, and resolution.

Character Development: Includes descriptions of characters, their interactions, emotions, and growth.

Central Message: Conveys a central message, moral, or insight derived from the experience.

Personal Essay:

Exploration of Ideas or Themes: Explores personal ideas, opinions, or reflections on a particular topic or subject.

Expression of Thoughts and Opinions: Expresses the writer’s thoughts, feelings, and perspectives on a specific subject matter.

Reflection and Introspection: Often involves self-reflection and introspection on personal experiences, beliefs, or values.

Varied Structure and Content: Can encompass various forms, including memoirs, personal anecdotes, or reflections on life experiences.

Flexibility in Structure: Allows for diverse structures and forms based on the writer’s intent, which could be narrative-like or more reflective.

Theme-Centric Writing: Focuses on exploring a central theme or idea, with personal anecdotes or experiences supporting and illustrating the theme.

Expressive Language: Utilizes descriptive and expressive language to convey personal perspectives, emotions, and opinions.

Focus: Narrative essays primarily focus on storytelling through a structured narrative, while personal essays encompass a broader range of personal expression, which can include storytelling but isn’t limited to it.

Structure: Narrative essays have a more structured plot development with characters and a clear sequence of events, while personal essays might adopt various structures, focusing more on personal reflection, ideas, or themes.

Intent: While both involve personal experiences, narrative essays emphasize telling a story with a message or lesson learned, while personal essays aim to explore personal thoughts, feelings, or opinions on a broader range of topics or themes.

A narrative essay is more than just telling a story. It’s also meant to engage the reader, get them thinking, and leave a lasting impact. Whether it’s to amuse, motivate, teach, or reflect, these essays are a great way to communicate with your audience. This interesting narrative essay guide was all about letting you understand the narrative essay, its importance, and how can you write one.

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Narrative Essays

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What is a narrative essay?

When writing a narrative essay, one might think of it as telling a story. These essays are often anecdotal, experiential, and personal—allowing students to express themselves in a creative and, quite often, moving ways.

Here are some guidelines for writing a narrative essay.

• If written as a story, the essay should include all the parts of a story.

This means that you must include an introduction, plot, characters, setting, climax, and conclusion.

• When would a narrative essay not be written as a story?

A good example of this is when an instructor asks a student to write a book report. Obviously, this would not necessarily follow the pattern of a story and would focus on providing an informative narrative for the reader.

• The essay should have a purpose.

Make a point! Think of this as the thesis of your story. If there is no point to what you are narrating, why narrate it at all?

• The essay should be written from a clear point of view.

It is quite common for narrative essays to be written from the standpoint of the author; however, this is not the sole perspective to be considered. Creativity in narrative essays oftentimes manifests itself in the form of authorial perspective.

• Use clear and concise language throughout the essay.

Much like the descriptive essay, narrative essays are effective when the language is carefully, particularly, and artfully chosen. Use specific language to evoke specific emotions and senses in the reader.

• The use of the first person pronoun ‘I’ is welcomed.

Do not abuse this guideline! Though it is welcomed it is not necessary—nor should it be overused for lack of clearer diction.

• As always, be organized!

Have a clear introduction that sets the tone for the remainder of the essay. Do not leave the reader guessing about the purpose of your narrative. Remember, you are in control of the essay, so guide it where you desire (just make sure your audience can follow your lead).

• Uncategorized / WAC Classroom

The Story vs. The Essay and Why Students Get Confused

by Purdue Global Academic Success Center and Writing Center · Published November 4, 2011 · Updated November 4, 2011

When students are asked to write an essay using their personal experience, they are sometimes confused about where to start.  They get stuck. Here’s why. . .

To help students get started, students can attend Live Tutoring and faculty may wish to discuss or post some sample starting points for students.  The best help should be tailored to fit the specific assignment.

General Examples To Help Students Get Started

One way I connect with this concept of__________ is with my experience of . . .

My story is closely related to the ideas we have been studying. . .

I can give one personal example of _____________.

– Melody

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Difference Between a Short Story and Narrative Essay

The art of writing information in a specific structure is what the essay is all about. The essay has a straightforward format and is written with a certain topic in mind. The essay’s three main parts are the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. Along with the factual data, the author also provides their opinion. What distinguishes writing essays from writing short stories, in more detail? Our team of thesis writers from the write my college essay service would love to help you figure it out.

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Short stories, essay and short story comparison, the short stories’ outlines, arrangement of the essay.

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What are the differences between narrative and descriptive writing?

What are the differences between narrative and descriptive writing? What should we keep in mind while writing it?

• 2 Can you clarify this question by telling us where you encountered these terms, and what the context is? This is difficult to answer otherwise. –  Goodbye Stack Exchange Commented Jun 9, 2014 at 5:45

7 Answers 7

Narrative writing tells a story or part of a story.

Descriptive writing vividly portrays a person, place, or thing in such a way that the reader can visualize the topic and enter into the writer’s experience.

See here and here .

So in narrative writing, the writer is perfectly capable of telling you the plot of the story, while in descriptive writing there does not have to be a plot, but something has to become very easy for the reader to visualize.

Let's look at the Lord of the Rings. The way J.R.R. Tolkien describes a hobbit is very descriptive, and the reason the movies were so successful was not only because the story was told correctly (the book being narrative writing also), but because the readers did not have to come up with their own imagination of a hobbit (or other figures, places, and such). They were described in detail, giving everybody a very precise framework of imagination to work from. Therefore everybody could relate to and agree upon the characters and the make-up of the artists.

• @malach how do I know, that I should stop description and go on narration? –  gaussblurinc Commented Apr 16, 2013 at 17:28
• 1 The 'here' and 'here' links a broken –  alan Commented Mar 16, 2017 at 17:35
• Descriptive Writing paints pictures with words or recreates a scene or experience for the reader.
• Narrative Writing on the other hand, relates a series of events either real or imaginary or chronologically arranged and from a particular point of view.

For short, the descriptive is to describe and the narrative is to tell information.

Narrative - is when the author is narrating a story or part of a story. Usually, it has introduction, body and its conclusion. It let readers create their own imagination. It may be exact as what the author wants to express or not.

Descriptive - describing what the author wants to impart. It expresses emotion about its certain topic. It leads the way and not letting you fall out of nowhere.

Differences Narration often employs first person point of view, using words like "I" and "me," while other modes including description do not. The biggest difference between the two is that a narrative essay includes action, but the descriptive essay does not. Narration follows a logical order, typically chronological. In contrast, description typically contains no time elements, so organize descriptive essays by some other reasonable means, such as how you physically move around in a space or with a paragraph for each of the senses you use to describe.

The core of narrative writing is strong verbs. Descriptive writing might have some verbs, usually weak ones, but the main tools are nouns and adjectives.

Narrative writing involves the writer's personal experience and he tells it in the form of story.. e.g my first day at college descriptive writing involves the characters observed by five senses and does not contain a plot

• 1 Can you add a contrast to what descriptive writing is? And maybe provide some links to support this? –  Nicole Commented May 12, 2015 at 18:42
• 2 Can you edit to expand this? We're looking for longer answers that explain why and how, not just one-liners. Thanks. –  Monica Cellio Commented Jan 13, 2016 at 23:39

Narrative is the experience of the narrator in his own words whereas descriptive story is analysis of any topic desired..

• 3 "descriptive story is analysis of any topic desired" By that logic, an academic essay or a political polemic would be descriptive writing. –  Goodbye Stack Exchange Commented Oct 27, 2014 at 2:49
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Narrative vs. Story

What's the difference.

Narrative and story are two interconnected concepts that are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. A story refers to a sequence of events or incidents that are presented in a particular order, usually with a beginning, middle, and end. It focuses on the plot, characters, and the overall structure of the events. On the other hand, a narrative encompasses the broader framework within which the story is told. It includes the way the story is presented, the perspective from which it is narrated, and the techniques used to convey the events. While a story is the content, a narrative is the way that content is shaped and presented to the audience. In essence, a story is the substance, while a narrative is the form.

Further Detail

Introduction.

When discussing literature, two terms that often come up are "narrative" and "story." While they are closely related, they have distinct attributes that set them apart. Understanding the differences between narrative and story can enhance our appreciation and analysis of literary works. In this article, we will delve into the characteristics of narrative and story, exploring their unique qualities and how they contribute to the overall reading experience.

A narrative refers to the way a story is told, encompassing the structure, style, and techniques employed by the author. It is the vehicle through which the story is conveyed to the reader. Narratives can take various forms, such as first-person or third-person point of view, stream of consciousness, or even experimental styles. The narrative provides the framework within which the story unfolds, shaping the reader's perception and understanding of the events and characters.

One crucial aspect of a narrative is its pacing. The author's choice of pacing can greatly influence the reader's engagement with the story. A fast-paced narrative, with quick transitions and rapid action, can create a sense of excitement and urgency. On the other hand, a slow-paced narrative, with detailed descriptions and introspection, can evoke a more contemplative and immersive reading experience. The pacing of the narrative can heighten the emotional impact of the story, allowing the reader to connect with the characters and their journey.

Another significant attribute of a narrative is its tone and mood. The tone refers to the author's attitude towards the subject matter, while the mood pertains to the emotional atmosphere created within the narrative. These elements shape the reader's perception of the story, influencing their emotional response. A narrative can be light-hearted and humorous, dark and foreboding, or anything in between. The tone and mood of a narrative contribute to its overall atmosphere, enhancing the reader's immersion in the story.

Furthermore, the narrative structure plays a vital role in how the story is presented. It determines the order in which events are revealed, the use of flashbacks or foreshadowing, and the overall coherence of the plot. A well-structured narrative can captivate the reader, keeping them engaged and eager to uncover the next twist or revelation. Conversely, a poorly structured narrative can lead to confusion or disinterest, hindering the reader's enjoyment of the story. The narrative structure is the backbone of the storytelling process, providing the necessary framework for the story to unfold.

While the narrative focuses on the way a story is told, the story itself refers to the sequence of events and actions that occur within the fictional world. It encompasses the characters, plot, setting, and themes that drive the narrative forward. The story is the substance, the essence of the literary work, and it is what the reader ultimately experiences and remembers.

Characters are a fundamental element of any story. They are the individuals who undertake the actions and face the challenges presented within the narrative. Characters can be complex and multi-dimensional, with their own motivations, desires, and flaws. They drive the plot forward through their decisions and interactions, and their development throughout the story can be a source of great interest and investment for the reader.

The plot, another crucial aspect of the story, refers to the sequence of events that occur within the narrative. It includes the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. The plot provides the structure for the story, creating tension, conflict, and resolution. A well-crafted plot can keep the reader engaged, eager to discover the outcome of the story's events.

The setting of a story refers to the time, place, and environment in which the events take place. It can be a real or fictional location, and it contributes to the atmosphere and context of the narrative. The setting can influence the characters' actions and motivations, as well as provide a backdrop for the story's themes and conflicts. A vividly described setting can transport the reader to another world, enhancing their immersion in the story.

Themes are the underlying ideas or messages explored within a story. They can be universal concepts such as love, friendship, or the human condition, or they can be more specific to the story's context. Themes add depth and meaning to the narrative, allowing readers to connect with the story on a deeper level. They can provoke thought, spark discussions, and provide insights into the human experience.

Interplay between Narrative and Story

While narrative and story are distinct, they are intricately connected and rely on each other to create a compelling literary work. The narrative serves as the vessel through which the story is conveyed, while the story provides the substance and content that the narrative brings to life.

A well-crafted narrative can enhance the impact of a story. It can create suspense, evoke emotions, and immerse the reader in the fictional world. The narrative techniques employed by the author, such as vivid descriptions, engaging dialogue, or skillful use of literary devices, can elevate the story's themes and characters, making them more memorable and resonant.

On the other hand, a captivating story can inspire innovative narrative choices. The depth and complexity of the characters, the intricacies of the plot, or the richness of the themes can prompt authors to experiment with different narrative styles or structures. The story's content can shape the narrative's form, resulting in a unique and compelling reading experience.

Ultimately, the interplay between narrative and story is what makes literature a powerful and transformative art form. It is the combination of a well-crafted narrative and a compelling story that allows readers to be transported to different worlds, to empathize with diverse characters, and to explore the depths of human experience.

In conclusion, narrative and story are two essential components of literature, each with its own distinct attributes. The narrative encompasses the way a story is told, including its structure, style, pacing, tone, and mood. On the other hand, the story refers to the sequence of events, characters, plot, setting, and themes that drive the narrative forward. While narrative and story are distinct, they are interconnected and rely on each other to create a compelling reading experience. By understanding and appreciating the unique qualities of narrative and story, we can deepen our understanding and enjoyment of literary works.

Comparisons may contain inaccurate information about people, places, or facts. Please report any issues.

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• What is the difference between an Essay and a Story?

An Introduction to the Differences between an Essay and a Story

Does a short story vary from an essay in any way? In actuality, we write essays and occasionally short tales in schools and other educational institutions. Do essays fall within the category of stories or are they of a whole distinct genre? A writing composition might be referred to as an essay.

Reading an Essay and Story

Essays can be of many different types, including academic and personal ones. Essays give readers a firsthand account of a certain subject. On the other hand, a short tale can be thought of as an artistic work that includes a storyline and tells a story. Let us read ahead to know more about the distinction between an essay and a short story.

What is an Essay?

A Boy Writing an Essay

A piece of writing about a particular subject is known as an essay. It offers a very methodical explanation of the subject to the reader. The author gives an analysis after looking at the subject's various facets.

Every essay has a standard format that consists of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The reader can learn all there is to know about a topic by reading an essay. The writer typically includes factual data, a range of viewpoints, attitudes, and even their own opinions.

Teachers in schools urge students to produce essays on a variety of subjects. The level of the student's maturity determines the topic's difficulty and standard. Lower grade pupils will be asked to write essays on subjects such as environmental pollution, the first day of school, someone I admire, and so on. 

However, if the children are significantly more educated, the lecturers would cover subjects like the death penalty, the present teen and technology, etc. Writing essays gives students the chance to express their ideas clearly.

What is a Story?

An Elderly Person Reading Stories to Children

A narrative that is shorter in length than a novel is referred to as a tale. It features fewer characters and only one plot, which serves as the foundation for the incident or story. It is constrained rather than having a wide scope and numerous plots. For instance, the focus of a narrative can be on a single day in the life of the main character. 

The primary character may interact with other minor characters, but they will not receive as much attention as they do. The reader will be able to understand the character's nature through their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Even though a narrative is brief, the author might nevertheless have a significant impression on the reader.

A story author can employ a range of literary techniques, including irony and satire, to achieve certain results. Another characteristic of a story is that it contains action, which also emphasises a key distinction between a story and an essay. An essay cannot show this characteristic.

Difference between Essay and Story

A Child Attempting to Write an Essay

The following are the points of difference between an essay and a story:

Essay and Short Story Definitions

Essay: An essay is a piece of writing about a particular subject.

Story: A narrative that is shorter in length than a novel is referred to as a story.

Experience and Explorations

An essay offers a detailed report on a certain subject by delving into its many facets and giving the reader accurate facts.

In contrast, a short tale focuses more on an individual's experience than a theme.

The plot of an essay is nonexistent.

 A short narrative has a plot that it is constructed around.

You cannot observe any action in an essay.

A short narrative contains action because the characters exhibit a range of behaviours that advance the plot.

There aren't any characters in an essay.

The main character is just one of several characters in a short story.

The main differentiation between a short story and a personal essay is that the former is typically autobiographical, while the latter is typically fictional. A short narrative will typically have invented characters and invented plots, though there are several exceptions to this norm. You can visit our website to read different types of short stories and essays and identify the differences between them.

FAQs on What is the difference between an Essay and a Story?

1. What distinguishes a long essay from a short essay and what does an essay conclusion mean?

In a classroom, a "brief essay" can be 300 words long. It might be 1,000 words in a major newspaper. In a classroom, anything over the threshold for "short"—301 words, for example—could be considered a "long essay." In a scholarly publication, a "long essay" could be 5,000 words lengthy.

The last paragraph of your essay is the conclusion. The key themes of the essay should be tied together in a compelling conclusion. Explain why your point is important and leave a lasting effect on the reader.

2. What does a story's conclusion mean and can a tale be present in an essay?

The conclusion paragraph should repeat your thesis. List the important points you made in favour of it throughout the paper, and provide your assessment of the main idea. The lesson of your tale or a revelation of a deeper reality should be included in the concluding summary.

In a narrative essay, a tale is told. Typically, this is a tale of a personal encounter you experienced. Contrary to most academic writing, this form of essay and the descriptive essay allows you to express yourself creatively and personally.

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Discussions about the writing craft.

[ESSAY] Story VS. Plot. Using External, Internal and Interpersonal components to understand the throughline of what makes a great story and dispelling common writing rules.

I remember, when trying to figure out what actually makes a great character, I would grab a bunch of different characters from different popular movies, books, shows, comics, etc, and I would try and find throughlines on how they're handled to understand a core idea of what makes a great character. I realised later, it doesn't exactly work, as I think now there are fundamentally two major components of stories, and a lot of popular forms of media don't necessarily make use of both. I do think, however that it's important to be aware of these two sides when creating your story, as to understand what you're trying to achieve. It also helps in really understanding simply the basics of storytelling I think.

A lot of people discuss this as " STORY VS. PLOT ". I'm going to use examples from different popular media to help realise my points but will leave out spoilers on plot beats, I'll simply just use them to explain how they fit in this framework. Lee Child explained in his NYT article on "A Simple Way to Create Suspense" that you want to give the reader a question or imply a question and delay the answer for as long as possible. This is the basic idea, you give them the setup in the form of questions and you give progression towards the answer over the course of the story.

THE 3 BIG STORY COMPONENTS

I've actually seen this idea pop up in a few places now. The idea of framing your story or thinking about any story in the form of questions. These components are...

EXTERNAL CHALLENGES

INTERNAL QUESTIONS

INTERPERSONAL CONNECTIONS

I saw Craig Mazin mention these 3 when discussing screenwriting but I think he was really vague on their application and didn't really go into depth about them. I personally got these 3 from a book called " The Compass of Character" By David Corbett . It's a book that's very specifically about exploring nuances about character motivation. These are the different components of a story, I mentioned, and the idea is that you can interweave them or even just focus on one or two. I did mention two major components before and while there are three, I believe interpersonal connections are shaped around the other two. So what does each really mean and how do these apply to a story exactly.

EXTERNAL CHALLENGE

These rely on a specific goal the character has. To kill the dragon, save the world, find the treasure, etc. Questions are thus framed around the goal (Can Character A defeat Character B, find the treasure, etc.)

External Challenge is best thought of as the PLOT in the STORY VS. PLOT argument

It creates curiosity about the characters' capabilities in achieving their goals

It will also reveal the characters capabilities in dramatic payoff moments

This curiosity naturally leads to suspense/tension as Lee Child put it "Give them a question and delay the answer for as long as possible"

Wish fulfilment characters work very well with these types of stories since you're seeing a unique skill set reacting to solving a challenge that requires their skills, creates admiration for a character instead of empathy (James Bond, Jack Reacher, Sherlock Holmes, etc.)

You can of course also have the "Wrong Person, Wrong Time" plots that rely on putting a normal person in a extremely challenging situation like North by Northwest

You can also have a sort of hybrid, you may have a character that is fundamentally a normal dude, they don't have a special skill set (that can be utilised) and thus struggle because of this with bad odds but they still possess more bravery, determination, wit, luck than an average person (Indiana Jones, MacReady and Co. from The Thing, Nostromo Crew from Alien, etc.)

As long as the tension of the story doesn't suffer, you can give your character whatever skills you want. The dramatic tension only suffers when the conflict can be easily resolved.

You may even need to give your characters extraordinary skills because the plot challenge puts them in such a disadvantage, and as we mentioned these wish fulfilment characters absolutely have the potential to be entertaining

Beloved characters from stories that just focus on External Challenge are beloved more so because the plot built for them is that captivating, their personalities can be charming but on a surface level, they stick in your mind because the plot that they inhabit is so thrilling

Character Arcs rely more on internal questions than external, however you may have an external arc of the character acquiring the skills, for example, they need to face the opposition. (Training Arcs in anime for example)

These are harder to pinpoint as they are so broad, but they generally reflect an inner emotional need the character is longing for or relate to how the character views themselves, asking questions of purpose, worth, integrity, dignity, meaning, etc.

Internal Questions usually create a different emotional reaction, these create empathy & intrigue in the characters, wanting to know more about them and how they'll react/change/refuse to change throughout their journey

The internal question is usually seen as the WHY for the character's goal, and is what I think is what depth in a character really is. For example, say a character's external goal is to find a notorious thief, the why may be is his deeply rooted belief system on justice & law

Internal Questions are the STORY side of STORY VS. PLOT

It's not enough for these internal sides of the character to be just inferred, they need to be emphasised to get the right emotional reaction from an audience, character arcs are usually how they are shown to the audience

You may just imply an internal question at the start, showing a character's die-hard loyalty, for example, but they're not exactly tested on it until Act 2, where the question of if the character's loyalty will win out is shown to the audience

The setup/act 1 phase of a story is all about showing the audience where the character is at the start of the story, their internal need/longing (Ned Stark's honour & love for his family, MacBeth's ambition, Captain America's loyalty & righteousness)

Act 2 is the bulk of their arc, a character may not change from Act 1/Act 3 but the only way you get a powerful emotional payoff to their arc/story is with Act 2. They are confronted & tested on their internal needs/longings their beliefs, values, longings, etc. You may have the rising opposition make it more difficult for the righteous hero to remain completely righteous, make the seemingly apathetic protagonist start losing people around him and bringing out a more emotionally caring side to them, etc.) You're not just getting them to their climax, you're building the pressure for them to get them ready for their ultimate climactic decision, all the while building emotional investment in your audience

Act 3, right from the crisis point is the ultimate answer to the character's internal question. A character may ultimately sink into their vices and abandon their virtues. A character may realise their wrongdoings but be doomed to still suffer for the external consequences but have changed still internally.

Internal Questions are, what I believe, to be the theme/meaning/point of the story. It's not enough to say the theme is a broad subject like Honour, Loyalty, Family, you have to phrase it in the form of an argument or question as it relates to your main characters' and their journey's. The theming of MacBeth is the corruption of unchecked ambition, or if phrased as a question would be "What is the consequence of unchecked ambition?"

Nobody is going to really care about a theme unless you use the character's and their journeys to embody that thematic question/argument. Good news being that you can get away with the most simple, repeated themes ever, as long as you use solid characters and you build their journeys right then you'll still create that emotionally powerful experience in the audience

Elements such as plot beats, setting, etc can hold symbolic meaning that relates to the theme however these still won't hold as much emotional weight as the character's embodying that theme in just who they are

Characters must embody that theme organically, you can't force a theme onto a pre-established character who doesn't fit it. You need that theme to come from that character's internal side, their values, longings, needs, beliefs, motivations, etc

These are common, and I'd imagine hard to avoid in any story, however I believe a story will use these in tandom with one or both of the other two components for a satisfying story

They relate to the character's and ALL of their connections, positive or negative

They also relate to if those connections are progressing positively or negatively

These connections will ultimately also relate to an internal question or external question

A skilled rival in a sports story may relate to the external question side as it raises the tension, making victory seem more difficult but that much more satisfying and may still relate to internal questions, as the main character may struggle with their feelings of worth/skill/confidence when confronted by a rival that outkills them. Maybe the rival is an old friend, and the emotional feelings tied to beating them are a lot more complex now but that much more emotionally engaging.

Interpersonal Questions, raise the stakes whether externally (damsel in distress for example) and/or internally (their connection with another person is directly related to their own internal arc)

If the story is ultimately built on an interpersonal question, they must have some external goal therefore (like winning the girl) and obstacles to overcome, and these may also exist internally for them (like gaining the confidence to ask them out)

Taking this question for it's most popular example: love. Think of your favourite love stories, or love subplots in fiction and I'm willing to bet they will relate to something internal for the characters involved. If they get together just to get together and it doesn't fulfil anything internally for either of them then chances are it's a dud relationship and I doubt anyone cares about it.

Even in stories not about them getting together but may just have a pre-existing relationship, you see their dynamics and how each one completes the other, like an actual relationship. The person is who they are because of their connections, if you took away that connection/dynamic then something would be different about them. Again this isn't just romantic, and don't forget that the internal sides of characters are what evoke empathy in an audience. Seeing a character's devotion and love for their family like Ned in ASOIAF or GOT, creates an empathetic connection between him and the audience as we naturally have concern for what will happen to him and them.

Simply seeing people start to grow more warm around each other in a long-form story is enough to create a strong empathetic connection, as we just see them organically grow closer together and importantly see each of them as being more complete because of those connections

DISPELLING COMMON WRITING RULES

There are a lot of story craft principles, I believe, get preached way too much as gospel and I wanted to use the question method I have mentioned to basically argue against some as I believe the popularity they get spread around is kind of dangerous to beginner writers or the rules have lost the intention of what they originally were meant for.

Characters Must Change

Why? This can be said for a lot of these arguments however there exists a lot of stories that serve as living examples for why this doesn't apply. Sometimes people argue that a character, if they don't change, must at least grow but still I'd argue a character's refusal to change can be the catharsis of a story all the same as a character that undergoes change. A character that gets tested but ultimately stays steadfast in his values and integrity after a hellish conflict that tests and tries to bend them I think has the potential to be equally as emotionally compelling as a character who changes after their conflict. You may also have characters that inspire change in others, characters that possess a certain perspective in the story, and their interpersonal connections and action in the story will impact those around them.

Uncle Iroh in ATLA is one of the most beloved characters while being exactly this, and he still has emotional depth in the story, seeing his backstory for his current attitude, seeing his relationships change with those around him and how they impact each other emotionally while he still remains the same, the only internal change being an emotional one if anything.

Characters Need FLAWS, or flaws make a character more realised

This is a complex topic and I think mostly my issues come from how a lot of people use and apply the term "flaws". If a character is to undergo a positive change arc, then the character will need a "narrative flaw" to overcome to make that change possible. The existence of these flaws alone don't make a character compelling, it's the question on if the character can overcome this flaw that makes them compelling.

I've already mentioned the existence of external only stories, and characters that don't undergo any change arc at all but still have emotional depth. There are also characters that don't change but rather grow, not overcoming a flaw but adopting a new perspective or appreciation for an existing internal trait.

If the story is a tragedy, then the character may not even show he has a flaw, or may have a trait that at first seems positive, but may change into a more negative person by the end of the story. For example a character's earnest service to justice at first may twist over the story as we see in new context that it's a lot more sinister in just how devoted to that principle they are. Or the other way round, what appears to be an initial weakness may be recontextualised later in the story as a virtue.

I see a lot of people mention Indiana Jones as an example of a character with a flaw that makes him empathetic. I'd argue Indy is a character that just exists on the external side of a story. The interest coming from the plot and him overcoming the obstacles in it. His fear of snakes isn't a traditional narrative flaw since he doesn't exactly overcome it but the trait does help make the plot funnier (when it's introduced) and more tense (later on in the plot, adding suspense to the scene) I don't think the fear makes him more nuanced but it does make him more charming and the plot more fun.

Similar to Indy's snake fear, there are a flaws (or think of them as weaknesses, limitations and such) that aren't to be overcome but just add to the tension of the narrative. A normal dude that has been put in the wrong place at the wrong time in an action movie may not turn into a hardened badass by the end but just seeing someone like that in that situation adds tension to the plot.

Also be aware, that it seems a recent trend is to give a character a bunch of negative traits/ flaws however these aren't narrative flaws and aren't the basis of some arc or add to the plot in any way, they just exist because the writer thinks they will make the character seem more interesting and human. These negative traits, at worst, can lead to the writer invertedly rewarding action that is based on these negative traits to push the plot forward, these will heavily disconnect your audience from the characters and plot as the logical cause and effect makes no sense and the character no longer seems like a flawed character but an asshole that the audience should approve of. If a character is arrogant, for example, then make them suffer consequences in the plot for it, make it humorous just how cocky they get and let it backfire on them, they don't have to ever stop being arrogant but let them feel like a real person by actually utilising the negative trait in the story in some way. Don't just have the negative trait exist thinking it makes the character more 3-dimensional, acting in ways that make no sense and make them seem more confused than complex. You have to rely on the organic reactions of other characters and the world as well. If Character A is an egotistical asshole around Character B, don't just have Character B accept them, maybe Char A just supresses that side of them more and more around Char B as a reaction to Char B calling them out on being an asshole.

Depth = Number of Traits

A character doesn't need a set number of traits. You give them however many that makes sense for the story. As long as they have relevancy in the narrative then you're fine. If you add too many and the story never makes use of them then there's a disconnect with the audience and the character, this also usually happens when you have to tell the audience about the large list of traits your characters have. If you don't focus on a list of traits but rather the character's purpose in the story and their journey and you organically show them off in scenes, whatever traits will naturally be shown to the audience and feel more substantial. If a character's trait is utilised later in the story but doesn't show up in a while and you're afraid of it coming out of nowhere then find a way to organically fit it into the earlier stages of your story, the entire point of the Act 1/Early Act 2 is SETUP. So if you need your character to rely on a skill later, for the plot to make sense, then at least allude to this skill early on but don't just outright tell the audience and still try to make them seem consistent.

Some traits will add to the EXTERNAL/PLOT side, these may include skill sets, fears/limitations/weaknesses that aren't overcome as we discussed previously, virtues that are relevant to the plot like bravery, wit, etc. The important part being that the trait adds to the tension of the story in some way, it may act as an obstacle to make the external challenge seem more difficult, may add to the wish fulfilment of a character and be something they use to fight the external challenge, or may just evoke some charm/humour in the plot.

Some traits will rather add to the INTERNAL/STORY side, including a character's morality, value system, beliefs, perspective, emotions, longings, needs, fears (that aren't there for plot tension but for a character level). It's where the emotional depth of the story and the empathy for the character will come from. To clarify my distinction on fears for INTERNAL STORIES I mean fears that the story is about the character overcoming, coming to terms with or failing to overcome, that fear may manifest as an extension of some core issue the story is actually about like a fear of ghosts that's connected to the core internal question about the character's grief about losing several loved ones. The traits can seem surface level but may actually be a connection to something more deep and internal. A clumsy trait may be an extension of a character's anxiety (Or could just be for the sake of the plot to have a humour) just don't give them traits like clumsiness to make them seem more human when it adds nothing to the story, themes or plot even.

Characters must be likable

Just as we mentioned in the flaws section that you don't want to give a character a bunch of negative traits to make them seem complex as it can backfire, you also don't want to give them a bunch of positive virtues that aren't utilised properly otherwise the character can seem boring and fake. So this point is not only about arguing that characters don't have to be likable but in fact that forcing scenes or aspects of a character where the only purpose is audience sympathy can harm the emotional connection to the audience.

If this character isn't even remotely heroic, kind, compassionate and the story never utilises these aspects then don't have him save a cat at the start. Show them for what they are honestly. Nobody really cares for a virtuous protagonist unless the journey is about that aspect like Captain America and his stories that test his righteous values and loyalty. If they're an apathetic asshole but you want them to undergo an arc of gaining empathy then by all means show something that helps make that arc make sense early on, just don't have them do something that will gain audience sympathy if it is never used outside of that. There's plenty of pitfalls the forced sympathy aspect early can lead to like making it seem like you want the audience to approve of all the negative stuff the character does.

You want the audience to empathise not sympathise. You want them to understand the WHY behind their actions and journey not just like them early on to draw them in. Kindness in one character may seem like a boring aspect to them while for another character it may be incredibly resonate because the story actually focuses on exploring that trait.

Contradictions = Complexity

Sort of, but not exactly. Be aware of invertedly making your character seem confused instead of complex. The contradictions should feel organic and believable not just there to have a contradiction in itself. They may be incredibly xenophobic but love their family, this is believable and it's a organic complex aspect to their moral system. They may have a reputation for a good ruler, but in actuality, from an objective viewpoint, they may have been a cruel, vicious conqueror that treated only his people fairly (thus earning the positive reputation)

Don't make the character seem schizophrenic (unless that's the point), we need to understand the contradiction not just see a contradiction. It can work if the point of a setup scene is to show a contradiction and raise mystery. Have the audience question "Why are they x sometimes but y other times?" Giving clues to why that contradiction exists before actually revealing the why behind it. This aura of mystery around a character can add intrigue however I feel it doesn't work as well with protagonists. Especially if you're writing a book, the reader should be getting an insight to the character's mindset from the beginning.

A mysterious protagonist, when the story never really expands on their internal side and their motives until much later on is a boring protagonist, how are you supposed to feel emotionally connected if you have nothing to latch onto. A mysterious antagonist, side character or a protagonist who you have some sense of at first but gets expanded on throughout adds intrigue. You can have a protagonist who you empathise with for one reason but something is revealed later on that recontextualises their actions for example.

These were just some common rules I wanted to at least argue against, as I think they are harmful to a lot of beginners and especially since they're always broadly used in essays and such but never expanded upon.

CONCLUSION (Or what to take from this)

Hopefully you can understand the two different aspects of your story, the external plot side and the internal thematic side. The best stories will have strong sides in both but you can write a story with just one. (Though I find it hard to imagine a internal story without any plot at all, mostly you get boring slow plots in these) The Internal, External and Interpersonal components in your story should interweave, the external plot being a metaphor for the internal struggle for your character and such.

Of course, this doesn't go over how you actually make those individual sides as powerful as possible I just wanted to get this framework out there to anyone that may benefit from it. Learning this idea really helped me analyse and look at stories better. I would love to discuss this if people are interested and maybe expand on using actual examples more and applying this idea to see how stories work with it in mind.

This stuff may honestly seem really basic and obvious to a lot of people but it helped me at least and may help others. Also I heavily recommend the book I mentioned " The Compass of Character " by " David Corbett" he goes a lot more in-depth about interweaving these different levels.

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What it means for the Supreme Court to throw out Chevron decision, undercutting federal regulators

FILE- Gulls follow a commercial fishing boat as crewmen haul in their catch in the Gulf of Maine, in this Jan. 17, 2012 file photo. TExecutive branch agencies will likely have more difficulty regulating the environment, public health, workplace safety and other issues under a far-reaching decision by the Supreme Court. The court’s 6-3 ruling on Friday overturned a 1984 decision colloquially known as Chevron that has instructed lower courts to defer to federal agencies when laws passed by Congress are not crystal clear. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

The Supreme Court building is seen on Friday, June 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Executive branch agencies will likely have more difficulty regulating the environment, public health, workplace safety and other issues under a far-reaching decision by the Supreme Court .

The court’s 6-3 ruling on Friday overturned a 1984 decision colloquially known as Chevron that has instructed lower courts to defer to federal agencies when laws passed by Congress are not crystal clear.

The 40-year-old decision has been the basis for upholding thousands of regulations by dozens of federal agencies, but has long been a target of conservatives and business groups who argue that it grants too much power to the executive branch, or what some critics call the administrative state.

The Biden administration has defended the law, warning that overturning so-called Chevron deference would be destabilizing and could bring a “convulsive shock” to the nation’s legal system.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the court, said federal judges “must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority.”

The ruling does not call into question prior cases that relied on the Chevron doctrine, Roberts wrote.

Here is a look at the court’s decision and the implications for government regulations going forward.

What is the Chevron decision?

Atlantic herring fishermen sued over federal rules requiring them to pay for independent observers to monitor their catch. The fishermen argued that the 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act did not authorize officials to create industry-funded monitoring requirements and that the National Marine Fisheries Service failed to follow proper rulemaking procedure.

In two related cases, the fishermen asked the court to overturn the 40-year-old Chevron doctrine, which stems from a unanimous Supreme Court case involving the energy giant in a dispute over the Clean Air Act. That ruling said judges should defer to the executive branch when laws passed by Congress are ambiguous.

In that case, the court upheld an action by the Environmental Protection Agency under then-President Ronald Reagan.

In the decades following the ruling, Chevron has been a bedrock of modern administrative law, requiring judges to defer to agencies’ reasonable interpretations of congressional statutes.

But the current high court, with a 6-3 conservative majority has been increasingly skeptical of the powers of federal agencies. Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch have questioned the Chevron decision. Ironically, it was Gorsuch’s mother, former EPA Administrator Anne Gorsuch, who made the decision that the Supreme Court upheld in 1984.

What’s at stake?

With a closely divided Congress, presidential administrations have increasingly turned to federal regulation to implement policy changes. Federal rules impact virtually every aspect of everyday life, from the food we eat and the cars we drive to the air we breathe and homes we live in.

President Joe Biden’s administration, for example, has issued a host of new regulations on the environment and other priorities, including restrictions on emissions from power plants and vehicle tailpipes , and rules on student loan forgiveness , overtime pay and affordable housing.

Those actions and others could be opened up to legal challenges if judges are allowed to discount or disregard the expertise of the executive-branch agencies that put them into place.

With billions of dollars potentially at stake, groups representing the gun industry and other businesses such as tobacco, agriculture, timber and homebuilding, were among those pressing the justices to overturn the Chevron doctrine and weaken government regulation.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed an amicus brief last year on behalf of business groups arguing that modern application of Chevron has “fostered aggrandizement’’ of the executive branch at the expense of Congress and the courts.

David Doniger, a lawyer and longtime Natural Resources Defense Council official who argued the original Chevron case in 1984, said he feared that a ruling to overturn the doctrine could “free judges to be radical activists” who could “effectively rewrite our laws and block the protections they are supposed to provide.”

“The net effect will be to weaken our government’s ability to meet the real problems the world is throwing at us — big things like COVID and climate change,″ Doniger said.

More than just fish

“This case was never just about fish,’' said Meredith Moore of the environmental group Ocean Conservancy. Instead, businesses and other interest groups used the herring fishery “to attack the foundations of the public agencies that serve the American public and conserve our natural resources,’' she said.

The court ruling will likely open the floodgates to litigation that could erode critical protections for people and the environment, Moore and other advocates said.

“For more than 30 years, fishery observers have successfully helped ensure that our oceans are responsibly managed so that fishing can continue in the future,’' said Dustin Cranor of Oceana, another conservation group.

He called the case “just the latest example of the far right trying to undermine the federal government’s ability to protect our oceans, waters, public lands, clean air and health.’'

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey called the decision a fitting follow-up to a 2022 decision — in a case he brought — that limits the EPA’s ability to control greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The court held that Congress must speak with specificity when it wants to give an agency authority to regulate on an issue of major national significance.

Morrisey, now the GOP nominee for governor, called Chevron “a misguided doctrine under which courts defer to legally dubious interpretations of statutes put out by federal administrative agencies.”

A shift toward judicial power

The Supreme Court ruling will almost certainly shift power away from the executive branch and Congress and toward courts, said Craig Green, a professor at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law.

“Federal judges will now have the first and final word about what statutes mean,″ he said. “That’s a big shift in power.″

In what some observers see as a historic irony, many conservatives who now attack Chevron once celebrated it. The late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was among those who hailed the original ruling as a way to rein in liberal laws.

“Conservatives believed in this rule until they didn’t,’' Green said in an interview.

In recent years, conservatives have focused on “deconstruction of the administrative state,’' even if the result lessens the ability of a conservative president to impose his beliefs on government agencies.

“If you weaken the federal government, you get less government,’' Green said — an outcome that many conservatives, including those who back former President Donald Trump, welcome.

The ruling will likely “gum up the works for federal agencies and make it even harder for them to address big problems. Which is precisely what the critics of Chevron want,” said Jody Freeman, director of the environmental and energy law program at Harvard Law School.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between a narrative essay and a descriptive essay.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

Frequently asked questions: Writing an essay

For a stronger conclusion paragraph, avoid including:

• Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the main body
• Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion…”)
• Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g. “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

Your essay’s conclusion should contain:

• A rephrased version of your overall thesis
• A brief review of the key points you made in the main body
• An indication of why your argument matters

The conclusion may also reflect on the broader implications of your argument, showing how your ideas could applied to other contexts or debates.

The conclusion paragraph of an essay is usually shorter than the introduction . As a rule, it shouldn’t take up more than 10–15% of the text.

An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.

To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

Let’s say you’re writing a five-paragraph  essay about the environmental impacts of dietary choices. Here are three examples of topic sentences you could use for each of the three body paragraphs :

• Research has shown that the meat industry has severe environmental impacts.
• However, many plant-based foods are also produced in environmentally damaging ways.
• It’s important to consider not only what type of diet we eat, but where our food comes from and how it is produced.

Each of these sentences expresses one main idea – by listing them in order, we can see the overall structure of the essay at a glance. Each paragraph will expand on the topic sentence with relevant detail, evidence, and arguments.

The topic sentence usually comes at the very start of the paragraph .

However, sometimes you might start with a transition sentence to summarize what was discussed in previous paragraphs, followed by the topic sentence that expresses the focus of the current paragraph.

Topic sentences help keep your writing focused and guide the reader through your argument.

In an essay or paper , each paragraph should focus on a single idea. By stating the main idea in the topic sentence, you clarify what the paragraph is about for both yourself and your reader.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

• Ask a question about your topic .
• Write your initial answer.
• Develop your answer by including reasons.
• Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

• In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
• In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
• In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

In rhetorical analysis , a claim is something the author wants the audience to believe. A support is the evidence or appeal they use to convince the reader to believe the claim. A warrant is the (often implicit) assumption that links the support with the claim.

Logos appeals to the audience’s reason, building up logical arguments . Ethos appeals to the speaker’s status or authority, making the audience more likely to trust them. Pathos appeals to the emotions, trying to make the audience feel angry or sympathetic, for example.

Collectively, these three appeals are sometimes called the rhetorical triangle . They are central to rhetorical analysis , though a piece of rhetoric might not necessarily use all of them.

The term “text” in a rhetorical analysis essay refers to whatever object you’re analyzing. It’s frequently a piece of writing or a speech, but it doesn’t have to be. For example, you could also treat an advertisement or political cartoon as a text.

The goal of a rhetorical analysis is to explain the effect a piece of writing or oratory has on its audience, how successful it is, and the devices and appeals it uses to achieve its goals.

Unlike a standard argumentative essay , it’s less about taking a position on the arguments presented, and more about exploring how they are constructed.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.

Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.

You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.

Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.

Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .

If you’re not given a specific prompt for your descriptive essay , think about places and objects you know well, that you can think of interesting ways to describe, or that have strong personal significance for you.

The best kind of object for a descriptive essay is one specific enough that you can describe its particular features in detail—don’t choose something too vague or general.

If you’re not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?

The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

Don’t worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.

Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.

When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

An expository essay is a common assignment in high-school and university composition classes. It might be assigned as coursework, in class, or as part of an exam.

Sometimes you might not be told explicitly to write an expository essay. Look out for prompts containing keywords like “explain” and “define.” An expository essay is usually the right response to these prompts.

An expository essay is a broad form that varies in length according to the scope of the assignment.

Expository essays are often assigned as a writing exercise or as part of an exam, in which case a five-paragraph essay of around 800 words may be appropriate.

You’ll usually be given guidelines regarding length; if you’re not sure, ask.

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Copa America 2024: TV, time and how to watch Argentina vs. Canada semifinal

Argentina and Canada faced off in the tournament-opening match of the 2024 Copa América . On Tuesday, they'll clash once again with some heightened stakes.

Nearly three weeks after Argentina defeated Canada 2-0 en route to winning Group A, the two nations will face off again in one of Copa América's semifinal games.

Tuesday night's match will be just the third meeting between the two. Argentina won each of the first two meetings – 5-0 in a friendly in 2010 and the aforementioned 2-0 win in this tournament's group stage.

The 2022 World Cup champs are seeking their second straight Copa América trophy after winning the 2021 competition. Argentina won each match in the group stage this year before defeating Ecuador on penalties in the quarterfinals.

Canada is looking to keep its impressive run alive under American head coach Jesse Marsch. After advancing out of Group A, the team defeated Group B winners Venezuela on penalties in the quarterfinals. The nation has not won a trophy in any international soccer competition since winning the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The winner of this semifinal will face the winner of Uruguay-Colombia in the tournament final on Sunday.

COPA AMERICA: Messi, Argentina to face Canada again: What to know about tournament semifinal

2024 Copa America: How to watch Argentina vs. Canada

• Date: Tuesday, July 9
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
• Streaming: Fox Sports app; fuboTV

HOW TO WATCH: Watch every Copa America game with a subscription to fuboTV

2024 Copa America remaining bracket, schedule

Tuesday, July 9

• Argentina vs. Canada, 8 p.m. ET

Wednesday, July 10

• Uruguay vs. Colombia, 8 p.m. ET

Saturday, July 13

• Third place game: Loser of Argentina-Canada vs. Loser of Uruguay-Colombia, 8 p.m.

Sunday, July 14

• Final: Winner of Argentina-Canada vs. Winner of Uruguay-Colombia, 8 p.m.

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The A.I. Boom Has an Unlikely Early Winner: Wonky Consultants

Rattled by tech’s latest trend, businesses have turned to advisers at Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey and KPMG for guidance on adopting generative artificial intelligence.

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By Tripp Mickle

Tripp Mickle has been writing about technology since 2016.

After ChatGPT came out in 2022, the marketing team at Reckitt Benckiser, which makes Lysol and Mucinex, was convinced that new artificial intelligence technology could help its business. But the team was uncertain about how, so it turned to Boston Consulting Group for help.

Reckitt’s request was one of hundreds that Boston Consulting Group received last year. It now earns a fifth of its revenue — from zero just two years ago — through work related to artificial intelligence.

“There’s a genuine thirst to figure out what are the implications for their businesses,” said Vladimir Lukic, Boston Consulting Group’s managing director for technology.

The next big boom in tech is a long-awaited gift for wonky consultants. From Boston Consulting Group and McKinsey & Company to IBM and Accenture, sales are growing and hiring is on the rise because companies are in desperate need of technology Sherpas who can help them figure out what generative A.I. means and how it can help their businesses.

While the tech industry is casting about for ways to make money off generative A.I., the consultants have begun cashing in.

IBM, which has 160,000 consultants , has secured more than $1 billion in sales commitments related to generative A.I. for consulting work and its watsonx system, which can be used to build and maintain A.I. models. Accenture , which provides consulting and technology services, booked $300 million in sales last year. About 40 percent of McKinsey’s business this year will be generative A.I. related, and KPMG International, which has a global advisory division, went from making no money a year ago from generative-A.I.-related work to targeting more than $650 million in business opportunities in the United States tied to the technology over the past six months.

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How to watch Caitlin Clark: Time, TV for Indiana Fever vs Washington Mystics on 7/10/24

The  Indiana Fever  (9-13) are coming off a signature win against the New York Liberty on Saturday and hope to win their 10th game of the season against the Washington Mystics (5-17) on Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Fever have three WNBA All-Stars : Kelsey Mitchell (team-leading 16.5 points per game), Caitlin Clark  (16.1 points, 7.4 assists, 6.0 rebounds) and Aliyah Boston (13.5 points, 8.4 rebounds). NaLyssa Smith adds 11.5 points and 8.0 rebounds.

The Mystics are led by Aerial Atkins, who averages 14.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

Indiana has beaten Washington two times already this season.

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Indiana Fever vs Washington Mystics start time, date

Noon p.m. ET Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

What channel are Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever on vs Washington Mystics?

TV: NBA TV, WTHR

Streaming: Fubo (FREE)

Caitlin Clark stats with the Indiana Fever

Averages through July 6 (22 games) : 16.1 points, 7.4 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 33.1% 3-pointers

Get Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever jerseys, gear

Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark jerseys, shirts, sweatshirts and hats from Fanatics can be found here .

Tickets to see Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Tickets for Fever games are available here .

2024 Fever schedule

This is the Indiana Fever 2024 schedule, with TV info; all times are ET; ^-preseason .

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Twins' Royce Lewis set for MRI after exiting with groin tightness

• Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis was removed from Tuesday night's game against Detroit with tightness in his left groin, and the oft-injured budding star groused afterward about his prognosis.

Lewis was replaced in the field for the top of the sixth inning. He had a two-run, two-out double in the third off Tigers ace Tarik Skubal , when he jogged into second base and felt like he couldn't even run at half-speed.

"He had to come out. He just wasn't moving the way that he needs to move in the game, and it was just the smart thing to get him off the field," manager Rocco Baldelli said.

The Twins announced Lewis' status as day-to-day, but after their 5-3 win , he said he was still experiencing tightness and expected to get an MRI for further assessment.

"Probably not very optimistic, to be honest with you," Lewis said. "I'm praying, but it's usually always horrible news. So we'll see."

The first overall pick in the 2017 draft can be forgiven for his pessimism. Lewis missed 58 games earlier this season with a partially torn quadriceps in his right leg. He previously underwent two reconstructive knee surgeries for torn ACLs in the same leg that waylaid the beginning of his career.

Lewis has 31 homers and 80 RBIs in 100 major league games, including the postseason.

"What I can control, I'm very happy about, but this is out of my control. I have no idea," he said.

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