A good fictional narrative story often has a strong conflict. This could be a person - against - person conflict, like a hero fighting a villain, or a person - against - nature conflict, such as a character trying to survive in a harsh environment. The theme is also important. It's the underlying message of the story, whether it's about love, friendship, or the struggle between good and evil. Additionally, the use of descriptive language can bring the story to life. Describing how a place looks, how a character feels, etc., makes the story more engaging.