A woeful narrative.
A 'lamentable account' could be used instead. When we say a story is lamentable, it means that it's full of sorrow or regret. Think about stories of people who have lost their homes due to natural disasters. Their stories are lamentable accounts as they are filled with sadness, loss, and the struggle to rebuild their lives. It's a word that really captures the essence of a sad story.
A disheartening yarn. 'Yarn' is an informal way of referring to a story, and when you add 'disheartening' in front of it, it clearly indicates that the story is one that makes you feel sad or discouraged. For example, a story about a young athlete who has to give up his dreams because of an incurable injury can be described as a disheartening yarn.
Dirge. A dirge is a slow, sad song or poem, and it can also be used to describe a story that has a very mournful tone. It's not as commonly used as some other words for a sad story.
In a war - torn country, a young mother named Aisha was living in a refugee camp with her baby. She had lost her husband in the war. One day, while she was trying to get some food from the relief center, a group of looters raided the camp. In the chaos, she got separated from her baby. She searched everywhere, screaming her baby's name. But she could never find her baby again. Aisha was left alone, broken, and with a hole in her heart that could never be filled. She was constantly haunted by the last sight of her baby and the fear of what might have happened to it.
A 'doleful story' can also be used instead of a sad story. The word 'doleful' has a connotation of sadness and grief. It makes you think of something that is mournful or depressing. For example, a story about a character who has lost everything - their family, their home, and their hope - can be described as a doleful story.
Narrative. It can be used to refer to a long story. For example, a historical narrative can be a very long and detailed account of historical events, just like a long story.
I think 'literary tales' can be considered as another expression for literary fiction. Literary fiction is known for its rich language, deep characters, and profound themes. 'Literary tales' implies fictional stories that are crafted with a certain level of literary sophistication, just like literary fiction. It gives the idea of stories that are not just for entertainment but also for intellectual and emotional exploration.
Sure. In a certain city, there was a prohibition on dancing in public places. A group of dancers who used to perform for the joy of the people were heartbroken. They had spent years perfecting their art, and now they couldn't show it to the public. They lost their main source of income and the sense of community they had built around their dancing.
Sure, 'creepy yarn' can be used instead of horror story. It gives the idea of a story that makes you feel uneasy or gives you the creeps.
One other word could be 'inception story'. An inception story is all about how something began, which is the essence of an origin story. It focuses on the initial moment, the starting point, the birth of a concept, a project, or an entity. For example, the inception story of a company might talk about how the founders came up with the idea, what the early days were like, and how they got started.