what are some key words for writing a story in french, like phrases in the past and imperfect?

Answer 1

Heres some phrases
Salut
Bonjour
Ca va/Comment vas tu/Comment allez vous
Au revoir

Answer 2

Ensuite, puis-->Then
Après-->Afterwords
Auparavant-->beforehand, previously
D'abord-->first
fit-->said (passé simple, actually uses the verb faire)

To write a story properly, instead of using the passé composé, you use the passé simple (there are some exceptions where you use the passé composé). But you still use the imperfect. Or, you write the whole thing in the present tense. Here's an example of what that would look like (not mine):
http://www.myalwayscharmed.net/fanfictionlesvoix2.html

Answer 3

The equivalent of "once upon a time" is "Il était une fois", if that's what you're after.