You can’t beat a 5-W sentence for starting a narrative, keeping you going when you’re stuck, and getting you back on track when you lose your way.
5 Ws When and where, who did what and why?
Mood
- Declarative: makes a statement—She smashed the plate.
- Imperative: gives an order or instruction—Go ahead, smash the plate.
- Interrogative: asks a question—Who smashed that plate?
Some sample 5-W sentences in the various moods:
The baby cried so hard that Joanie packed him in the stroller at 2:00 in the morning and ran all the way to the hospital.
Mood: Declarative
5 Ws: All there
Last Halloween in the pumpkin patch, my sister saw a ghost and peed her pants. Mood: Declarative 5 Ws: WHY is implied but not stated
To write well in the morning, brew yourself a giant pot of strong coffee and turn off the ringer on your phone.
Mood: Imperative
5 Ws: WHERE is implied but not stated
Why would the plumber tear open the wall and inspect the pipes when he found no evidence of leaks? Mood: Interrogative 5 Ws: All there, but at least one is questioned rather than stated
