Narrative
Narrative, which means telling what happened, is one of the commonest of all the processes of writing. Generally speaking, it is important to follow the chronological order exactly, describing how one thing happens after another. (Literature is an exception, where flashbacks, anticipations of the story, and narratives which drift from association to association frequently occur.)
Here are some words and phrases associated with narrative (brackets indicate a word that is optional):
To begin with At first Initially At the outset
Before this/that.
Formerly
Prior to this/that
Meanwhile
While
Simultaneously (to this)
In a separate development *
At about the same time
At roughly the same time as this
At around this time
While (all) this was happening
Rumour has/had it that...
It is/was widely rumoured that...
There are/were persistent rumours {or reports) that...
There are/were unconfirmed reports that...
1 This expression, which means "simultaneously to this", is typical of BBC news broadcasts.
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Just then
Thereupon
It was now that
At this juncturel
Next
After this/that
Afterwards
Later (on)
Subsequently
Not long after this
In the end
In the event
As it turned out
Finally
Eventually
At last
Ultimately
The upshot was that.,.2
Suggested Exercises (08):
1.  Write a chronological description of your educational background.
2.  Here are the bare details (in chronological order) of the troubles afflicting the British royal family in 1992, as well as a few pieces of important background-information. Write a simple summary, based on the past tense. Use the information selectively.
The Queen's Annus Horribitis
Newspapers carry photographs of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of
York, topless with a boyfriend (a Texas oilman) in front of her two
children at a Mediterranean villa (January).
Sarah Ferguson ("Fergie") leaves her husband, Prince Andrew.
There is an announcement from Buckingham Palace that the five-year
marriage between Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew is effectively over
(late March).
The head of Buckingham Palace's press office describes the Duchess of
1  This expression, which means "simultaneously to this", is typical of BBC news broadcasts.
2  This expression is highly informal.
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