Elements of Short Story WORKBOOK

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Name:____________________________ Date:__________________

Elements of ShortStory WritingWorkbook for

Creative Writing I

The activities in this workbook will prepare you towrite a short story.

Directions: Inside you will find pages that will explain and ask you to understandand demonstrate elements of short story writing. Anything markedASSIGNMENT is something you will need to complete. Since all of these

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assignments are practice, think of them as specific journal topics I will have yourwrite about. You will be graded based on completeness, effort and willingness todiscuss and share your ideas. Every day an assignment is due I will check andstamp the page according to how complete it is. When we complete this packet,you will hand it in and I will give you an overall grade based on your effort.

Creative Writing I: Aspects of Various Genres of LiteratureThe first thing to do when preparing to write a story is figure out what type or genre ofstory you would like to write. Below are aspects of a variety of genres. READ them andfigure out what youre interested in.

Science Fiction

Stories are set in the future or in another realm of existence in thepresent.

Fantastic capabilities and inventions make the present way of life seemarchaic.

The exploration of the unknown is common.

The resolution sometimes teaches a lesson or leaves some questionsunanswered.

MysteryThe protagonist is usually trying to solve a crime or problem.

The stories usually contain danger, suspense, foreshadowing, elementsof horror and the solution to a crime.

Many times the stories will have plot twists.

Comedy

Sometimes they are a satire on human weaknesses

Other times a mistake by a character has caused a domino effect tooccur

Tactics sometimes include irreverent humor using surprise and ridicule

Usually they have a happy ending and sometimes end with a moral orlesson.

Romance

Deals with relationships between couples

Attractive and/or positive role model hero or heroine

Something usually complicates the otherwise perfect romance

Usually contain passion, betrayal, soap opera themes

Fantasy

Contain improbable characters, events and places not found in real life

Usually involves the supernatural or magic or other forms of

imaginative ideas Fairy Tales, Sci-Fi, Horror, and True Fantasy usually include elementsof fantasy.

Real Drama

Usually these stories are about the trials and tribulations of life.

Characters are usually normal, average people.

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The plot usually revolves around some conflict that causes a breakfrom the norm.

The reader usually learns something from the resolution.

Horror

Stories contain evil characters doing harm to others.

Stories may include gory details, suspense and plots that includeaspects of fantasy.

The goal of this type of story is usually to scare the reader.

Action

Stories usually contain one strong protagonist hero and one evil antagonist

Stories contain a variety of suspenseful and action oriented plot events:fights, car chases, technological weaponry, military tactics etc.

NOTE: Sometimes short stories will combine more than one genre. For example, realdrama and romance or horror and mystery are common combinations.

Assignment: Aspects of Various Genres ofLiterature Due:_________

Directions: Read through the Aspects of Various Genres of Literature. You willbe writing your own short story as your final project. The sooner you can figure outwhat your plot will be about, the better. Pick two genres you are interested inwriting in for a short story. Answer the questions below for each genre.

Genre 1:_________________________________What are typical characters in this genre?

What is a typical plot for this genre?

Give some examples of a TV, movie, book, short story example of this genre.

Why are you interested in writing in this genre?

What ideas do you have for conflicts for this type of genre?

Genre 2:_________________________________What are typical characters in this genre?

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What is a typical plot for this genre?

Give some examples of a TV, movie, book, short story example of this genre.

Why are you interested in writing in this genre?

What ideas do you have for conflicts for this type of genre?

Assignment: Characterization Notes (do in class)

To develop characters, writers rely on the techniques of characterization. There aretwo types of characterization and there are four basic methods to achieve them. Asshort story writers, you should strive to use these methods in your stories.

Type One-Direct Characterization:_____________________________________________

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Ex. Chris was a 26-year old mechanic who had worked at the airport for two years.He had a rugged face and leathery hands.

Type Two-Indirect Characterization:___________________________________________

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Ex. Grandma said, The only time Ill need help getting anywhere is when I die andthey have to lift me into the ground. (By her dialogue you infer she is a strongwilled individual who always does things on her own.)

Four methods of characterization: (Write each below and any otherdetails you want from the overhead slide)

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3.__________________________________________________________________________________

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Go to my website to see the examples of each type of characterization ifyou need to see them again.

Types of characters:

Primary:____________________________________________________________________________

Protagonist:_________________________________________________________

Example:______________________________________________

Antagonist:__________________________________________________________

Example:______________________________________________

Secondary: ________________________________________________________________________

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Examples:__________________________________________________________________________

Background:_______________________________________________________________________

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Examples:__________________________________________________________________________

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A Checklist for Characterization

All characters from primary to background, should meet the following requirements:

1. Each character should have at least one objectivewhat he/she needs to get

accomplished.

2. Each character should have motivationa reason why he/she needs toaccomplish his/her objective.

3. Every character should be given a life. It is up to you to decide howimportant each character is. This will warrant how developed they are.

4. Character, plot and setting must be interrelated. You cant have one and notthe other. You must make them all believable.

Assignment: Creating a Character Due:_________

Directions: After you decide what genre you want to write you need to inventcharacters. Invent a primary character in your mind. This could be a charactersimilar to who you are, or someone completely new and different. If you alreadyhave an idea for your final short story, pick a character from your plot idea. (If youneed help, I have a folder full of magazine pictures of people if you need help.)

Practicing with direct characterization: Describe what the character looks like.(Pretend you have to describe him/her to someone who cant see the person.) Besure to describe looks, clothes, expression etc.

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____________________________________________________________________________________Since bringing a character to life requires thinking of a characters background andfeelings, answer the following questions based on what you think about yourcharacter. (Yes, I know its superficial.)

What is the characters full name?

How old is the character?

What is the characters occupation?

What is the characters relationship status?

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Does this character have any pets? If so, what?

Where does the character live?

How do you think that this characters room or home is decorated?

What other places would this character go to on a regular basis?

What is the characters religion?What type of music/television does this character enjoy?

What are the characters hobbies?

What is this character afraid of?

What type of friends does this character have?

What is this characters most distinguishing feature? (What do you notice the mostabout him/her/it?)

What is this characters financial status?

What are this characters goals or dreams?

What does the character feel strongly about?

If the character could have three wishes, what would they be?

Any other details/characteristics you want to add?

NOW, who are the other characters in your characters life. Below, explain thembased on the type of character they fit with:

Antagonists name and problem he/she causes: ___________________________________

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____________________________________________________________________________________

Secondary Characters names and relationship:_____________________________________

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Background Characters names and relationship:

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Assignment: Short Story Elements Reminder (Do inclass)

Even though I KNOW youve been taught the elements of a short story, Im going toremind you of them anyway. (Too many kids still ask me what dialogue is, whatan exposition is and what point of view means.yes, I know who you are. )

Fill in the blanks

Plot: _______________________________________________________________________________

Exposition:_________________________________________________________________________

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Conflict:____________________________________________________________________________

Rising Action:______________________________________________________________________

Complications:_____________________________________________________________________

Climax:____________________________________________________________________________

Falling Action:______________________________________________________________________

Resolution:_________________________________________________________________________

Dialogue:__________________________________________________________________________

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Scenes:____________________________________________________________________________

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Setting:____________________________________________________________________________

Point of View:______________________________________________________________________

Theme:____________________________________________________________________________

Now, remember these terms. If you forget them,

Ill tell you to look back to this page.

Assignment: Conflict Due:_________One single conflict is what drives a short story. When you put conflict into asituation, its like putting gas in a car. Without gas, the car cant go down the road.Without conflict, the story isnt going anywhere either. For this assignment, youre

going to play God and give your primary character drama!

There are four main types of conflict in literature.

Character vs. CharacterTwo or more characters are at odds.

Character vs. SocietyThe character is for some reason, frowned on by society or those in power.

Character vs. NatureThe character must fight against natural forces to survive.

Character vs. SelfThis type of conflict takes place in the characters own heart and mind as he

or she tries to decide what to do about a problem situation.

Think of the primary character you created and all of his/her secondarycharacter relationships. In the lines provided, write an example of aconflict your character could have based on each type.

Character vs. Character____________________________________________________________

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Character vs. Society_______________________________________________________________

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Character vs. Nature_______________________________________________________________

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Character vs. Self__________________________________________________________________

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Assignment: Setting Notes (Do in class)Now that you have a primary character and several conflict possibilities, its time tolearn about how to develop a setting. This will help you start the exposition of yourstory, since setting, character and conflict all take place in the exposition.

Purposes of setting:________________________________________________________________

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Rules of setting:____________________________________________________________________

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Ways to develop tone by using setting:_____________________________________________

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Example 1: Sometimes a setting can be developed to show who acharacter is and what his/her conflict is immediately. Below youll see aclassroom through the eyes of a boy who is taking a test.

I wish I wouldve studied for my final exam. I have to pass this class. I swearmy nervousness is making all the distractions in this room more annoying thanusual. I think Im going to freak out. This room feels hotter than that July day Ispent at Six Flags waiting for that coaster I had to drag my ex-girlfriend on. Was

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that one Michelle or Mandy? Whatever. Ok, question one Argh! That stupid girlbehind me that raises her hand more than Hermione Granger keeps sneezing thoselittle tiny sneezes that shouldnt even be called sneezes. They sound more like highpitched hiccups. And that stupid fluorescent light above me keeps flickering. Iswear its going to give me a seizure. This test is worth over 200 points and I donteven know the answer to the first question. What the heck is slope again?

The sun does feel good on my back though. Out the window all I can see isblue sky and green leaves. SUMMER!! Man, I cant wait to go to Red Granite withKirsten. Shell be wearing that bikini

Sigh. That stupid nerdy kid next to me is flying through this test so fast heshad to sharpen his pencil twice already. Even my buddy Todd is bugging mebecause he has this annoying habit of tapping his pencil on the desk. I just want toscream at him, DUDE! Youre not little drummer boy. STOP or Im going to punchyou.

This test is going to kill me. I wont go to summer school again this year. Icant. Mrs. Ronson keeps staring out the window. I bet she wont notice if I take alittle lookie at cargo-pants-boys answers when he goes to sharpen his pencil again.

Questions for Example 1:Describe the protagonist. What type of guy is he?

What do you think the conflict of this story will be?

Example 2: Sometimes setting can be developed immediately, by itself.

This helps set the scene, show the tone, give background information andintroduce the conflict of the plot. Read the example and answer thequestions below and you will see how the rules and purposes of settingare highlighted in this piece.

It was a two-story retail block, old and gray, a bunch of stores withapartments above and basements below. The store on the 21st Street end wasvacant, its front door and window glass soaped behind a rusted security cage. Theside window facing 21st street was barred. At the other end was a paint store, itsfront window clouded with grime and filled by a shadowy pyramid of gallon cans, itsfront door secured with a heavy chain and padlock. The grocery store was in themiddle. An old white sign hung at a precarious angleStanolskis Deli. Two broadcement steps ascended to a door flanked by barred windows on which hung paper

signs: Milk $2.89 a gallon; Bananas $.59 cents a pound. On the door itself, hand-lettered in large cursive blue ink: Welcome, Friends. Only the grocery and theapartment above it were lit from within. A flickering streetlight cast the rest in anervous, sickly light.

Paint stores been closed for months, Ben said. His breath steamed in theair, thin little clouds quickly shredded by the bitter wind. He swung a canvas duffleover his shoulder.

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His companion, a thin man clad in a dark sweatshirt and dirty blue jeansnodded. Lets do it, he said in a gravelly voice.

They crossed the street quickly, an old beer can bounced across the streetbehind them. Their eyes were fixed on the grocery store, hands in their pockets.

Questions for Example 2:

1. Is this a city, a small town, or a country setting? What year is it? How do youknow this?

2. What are Ben and the other character going to do? What do you think theconflict of this story will be?

3. Who do you think lives in the apartment above the grocery store? Explain his/hercharacter based on the info ex. 2 gives you.

4. Why is the building described in such detail? What is the overall tone of thissetting?

Examples in Setting the Tone of a Story

How you choose to describe your setting will help set the tone for your story. What theweather is like, what actions are occurring and how a character feels about his or her settingcan help set the tone or overall emotion for your story. Below are two examples of the samesetting described positively and then negatively. Notice the different feel of each piece.Each of these is s start to a story.

Positive:

Craig parked his Civic in the visitors lot and began to walk. The spring air was cleanand the grass was starting to green up. He couldnt believe it had already been ten years.

The A/C building occupied the north end of campus. The tan brick building was stillsurrounded by abstract metal art pieces. Craig remembered how these circles and boxesalways beckoned him like friends and invited his creativity amongst the drabness ofOshkosh. The theatre was in the north side of the building. Walking into the auditorium,Craig breathed deeply. The smells of fresh sawdust, make-up, and the sweat and toil ofthousands of actors seemed to leak from the walls and come together to make the smell heknew as the Fredric March Theatre, affectionately called the Fred by its caretakers.

The hallway was quiet, but as always the Freds walls seemed to whisper the lines ofthe characters that had been created and destroyed for the past forty years. Posters andpictures of the previous production, Gypsy, hung on the bulletin board where he used topost rehearsal times for the play he directed his senior year. Craig slid open the heavy

metal stage door and stepped on to the stage for the first time since 1997. The floor of thejet black stage was cracked and covered with a million miniscule dots of color from all theworlds that had been created. He thought he even recognized the red pizza pie color hepicked for the walls ofThe Boys Next Door. All at once, like those times you remember youare alive, he felt the magic envelop him again.

He couldnt wait to find Dr. Grubidge and tell her the news.

Negative:

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I made a left turn on High St. and followed the familiar black and yellow signs for UW-Oshkosh. My Civic bumped along the pot hole ridden street. With all that parking ticketmoney I forked out to those meter Nazis youd think theyd fix this poor excuse for a street.I followed the signs to visitor parking and like years ago, found the lot to be crammed full ofcollege kids cars. I turned in and wove up and down the aisles until I found a spot next to arusty blue Buick Century. As I slid out of my car and grabbed my pack, I noticed this car

actually had a commuter lot sticker. Wheres Rita the meter maid now? I used to getnailed for parking in the visitor lot all the time. Paybacks a. My thoughts trailed off when Ifelt the weight of the day on my shoulders. Ray was dead.

The A/C building was on the farthest end of campus, a hefty walk from the Scottdorms. I used to think it was put there like a bad kid gets put in the corner. My freshmanfriends always told me college was for partying not creativity and when I walked to thetheatre I always felt like I was going to a place where I could be the real me, not the me Iwas for them.

The spring wind was bitter, cutting through my thin fleece jacket and making mybody erupt into goose bumps. It was April and snow still lined the sidewalk, and the sun, likea baby chicken trying to hatch, couldnt quite push the shell of clouds away. Ahead of me Icould see the tall loft roof of the Fredric March Theatre, the place Ray and I lived at for agood three years of college when we finally found ourselves.

Hey Craig, come to the Fred with me Rays voice whispers in my head. Ill neverforget those words. A few minutes later I found myself opening those institutional glassdoors and walking down the hall. The smells of old wood and dusty drapes weighed downthe air in this place. My eyes scanned the Wall of Fame until I saw the cast/crew picturefrom The Music Man. Ray was dressed as Howard, his pale bald head I still remember theday he shaved his long black hair off for the part. My eyes fell from the photo and Iconcentrated on the poster advertising Gyspyuntil my eyes stopped stinging. The stagedoor I could never quite close gaped open and I found my feet shuffling across the old stagefloor. The flaking black paint was as dark as the news I had to deliver.

Ray was dead, and I had to find Dr. Grubidge and tell her.

ASSIGNMENT: STARTING A STORY Due:_________Directions: Develop and write a setting that incorporates THE CHARACTER YOUCREATED IN YOUR CHARACTER SKETCH ASSIGNMENT. If you have an idea for your

final short story, think of this assignment as the beginning of your story. Thesetting you write will start to develop your conflict.

For example, pick a place you character would normally be. Describe it as ifhe/she is there doing what he/she would normally do there. This would followexample one.

Another possibility is just to describe the setting so we can visualize it. Bringyour character in at the end like you saw in example two.

Write your setting below, filling up all the lines.

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Now, answer a few questions about what you wrote.

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1. What does this setting show about who your character is?

2. What does this setting show about any other characters?

3. Based on the setting, what year is it?

4. Based on the setting, what type of conflict will be emerging from this exposition?

5. Explain what you think will happen next.

6. What genre is this story going to be?

Assignment: Point of View Notes (Do in class)Besides thinking about character, setting and plot, short story writers need to thinkabout what point of view to write their stories in. Each point of view has pros andcons.

First person point of view definition: __________________________________________

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Pros-_______________________________________________________________________________

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Cons-______________________________________________________________________________

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Third person limited point of view definition:_________________________________

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Pros-_______________________________________________________________________________

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Cons-______________________________________________________________________________

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Third person omniscient point of view definition:_____________________________

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Pros-_______________________________________________________________________________

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Cons-______________________________________________________________________________

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Examples of Point of View

1st Person POV

I thought the day would never come. It was Tuesday during math class, myworst subject. Noon recess had just ended, and I was struggling over mysubtraction work. 108-72. I was trying my best to use the touchpointsbut I forgothow to do ten. I thought I could use my fingers and Mrs. Hager wouldnt see meshe had a thing for us using our fingers. Unfortunately she noticed and that waswhat caused me to look up. My eyes grazed past the windows overlooking theparking lot and not even Mrs. Hagers piercing screech could crack the emotion thatthe image before me was casting. Snowflakes as big as the tip of my finger werefloating down like the confetti my mom threw off the balcony on New Years Eve. Ihad one thought then and one thought only, when was school out and where wasmy sled?

Third Person Limited POV

Jason looked down sadly at his math assignment. He had just gotten in fromrecess and was slightly sweaty from the thirty-three degree weather he had beenplaying flag football in. He rubbed his knee and saw that the December ground hehad fallen on gave him a grass stain. Grass stains in December? He should bedripping water from the melted snow, not sweat, he thought. He sighed andcontinued trying to figure out the answer to 108-72. He was getting frustrated. He

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hated math and could only think of one thing, snow. How he longed for it to snow.He wanted to play in it, throw snowballs and more importantlysled. He began tolook down at his fingers, in a desperate attempt to figure out his math when Mrs.Hagers scolding voice caused him to jerk his head up. His eyes slid by the windowsand froze. A huge, white, fluffy snowflake was dancing down to the ground. Jasonbeamed, and for an instant he was out sledding, until Mrs. Hagers voice snapped

him back to reality. How he hated math.

Third Person Omniscient POV

Mrs. Hager hated this time of year. As she looked out onto her classroom ofsecond graders she could see the restlessness in their eyes. It was the middle ofDecember and it hadnt snowed yet, very unusual weather for northern Wisconsin.She didnt even have to wear a jacket today. The weather was still in the fortiesand her wool sweater was perfect. She didnt mind the weather, being a NorthCarolina native, forties was cold enough for her.

Jason on the other hand hated the current weather pattern. The eight yearold loved snow. He loved the way it looked, felt and tasted. He had gotten his sledup from the basement four weeks ago in anticipation, and since had seen it collectdust. He even had put his baseball stuff away and gotten it back out three separatetimes now based on false alarms. He was beginning to think that weathermen were

just as suspicious as Santa Claus.The first snowflakes began to fall around one. Mrs. Hager hoped the

students, who were busily completing their math assignment, wouldnt notice. Sheknew mass chaos would break out, and already having a headache from TomModers little outburst during Science, she didnt think she could handle twenty-seven different reactions to snow.

Jason noticed the flakes first. She knew she shouldnt have scolded him forusing his fingers to do his subtraction. He immediately thought of his sled and theramp he and Taylor were going to build. He poked Chad and pointed. He saw theexasperated look on Mrs. Hagers face, but couldnt contain himself. Winter hadfinally begun!

Assignment: Point of View Due:_________Directions: Using the character you created earlier, develop a short scene in aminimum of one paragraph, in which you practice each type of POV. Label eachexample accordingly. Write your response below and be prepared to share with twoother classmates.

Think of one of the conflicts you invented earlier in this workbook OR If you needhelp, below are some ideas for scenes:

A holiday get-together

A party

A reaction to something sad

A reaction to something happy or surprising

Your character walks into his/her living room to find.

Any sort of conflict the character would have with a secondarycharacter

1st Person Point of View: ___________________________________________________________

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3rd Person Limited Point of View: ___________________________________________________

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3rd Person Omniscient Point of View:________________________________________________

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Based on what you wrote, which one do you like the best? _________________________

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Why?______________________________________________________________________________

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Assignment: Dialogue Notes (Do in class)Definition of dialogue: _____________________________________________________________

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Functions of dialogue:

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2.__________________________________________________________________________________

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____________________________________________________________________________________

Dialogue Terms to Know:

Tag Lines:__________________________________________________________________________

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Inner Monologue:__________________________________________________________________

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Beats:______________________________________________________________________________

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Assignment: Dialogue PunctuationDue:_________

Reminders:1.__________________________________________________________________________________

Example: Oh, man!! That cop just saw me throw that rock at that car. Run! Jeffsaid.

2.__________________________________________________________________________________

Example: Sit down. This is going to take awhile for me to explain, said Mr.Stevens.

3.__________________________________________________________________________________

Example:Sit down. This is going to take awhile for me to explain, said Mr. Stevens.But, I have baseball practice and we have a game tomorrow, Thomas

whined.Well, since your grade is an F, youre coach told me he wont play you

anyway.

4.__________________________________________________________________________________

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Example: Youll start to feel sleepy, murmured the hypnotist. Very sleepy.

Now, practice fixing the dialogue below by re-writing it on the lines:

what is the motive for the crime asked Watson.

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Im really hungry John said

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I found this wallet underneath my girlfriends car seat I said. Where do you thinkshe found it Mike asked. No clue. I looked at the I.D. but I dont know who the guyis I said. Do you think shes cheating on you asked Mike.

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Assignment: Identifying examples of beats inthe short story A Sound of Thunder by RayBradbury (Do in class)

This an excerpt from a story most of you read in English 10. Heres a quicksummary in case you forgot or never read the story A hunter name Deckles paysa company to take him back to prehistoric times to shoot a dinosaur. Travis, thehunting guide, tells Deckles of the dangers of the hunt and that if any of the peoplewould disrupt the environment there would be drastic changes to the present whenthey returned. Deckles falls off the path and steps on a butterfly. When they returnto the present, one of the biggest changes is that Deutscher is now president. The

story ends with A Sound of Thunder.

Look at the two excerpts below. Using a few different colors, label the types ofbeats.

Action beatDirect Characterization Beat

Tone in tag line beat

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This excerpt is from the beginning of the story when Deckles goes to Time Safari,Inc.

Unbelievable, Deckles breathed, the light of the Machine on his thin face.

A real Time Machine. He shook his head. Makes you think. If the election had

gone badly yesterday, I might be here now running away from the results. Thank

God Keith won. He'll make a fine President of the United States.

Yes, said the man behind the desk. We're lucky. If Deutscher had gotten

in, we'd have the worst kind of dictatorship. There's an anti-everything man for

you, a militarist, anti-Christ, anti-human, anti-intellectual. People called us up, you

know, joking but not joking. Said if Deutscher became President they wanted to go

live in 1492. Of course it's not our business to conduct Escapes, but to form Safaris.

Anyway, Keith's President now. All you got to worry about is

Shooting my dinosaur, Deckles finished it for him.

A Tyrannosaurus Rex. The Thunder Lizard, the damnedest monster in

history. Sign this release. Anything happens to you, we're not responsible. Those

dinosaurs are hungry.

Deckles flushed angrily. Trying to scare me!

Frankly, yes. We don't want anyone going who'll panic at the first shot. Six Safari

leaders were killed last year, and a dozen hunters. We're here to give you the best

thrill a real hunter ever asked for. Traveling you back sixty million years to bag the

biggest game in all Time. Your personal check's still there. Tear it up.

Mr. Deckles looked at the check for a long time. His fingers twitched.

This excerpt is from the part of the story when the hunters are walking on the metalpath looking for the dinosaur:

Deckles, balanced on the narrow Path, aimed his rifle playfully.

Stop that! said Travis. Don't even aim for fun, blast you! If your gun

should go off

Deckles flushed. Where's our Tyrannosaurus?

Esperance checked his wrist watch. Up ahead. We'll bisect his trail in sixty

seconds. Look for the red paint, for God's sake. Don't shoot till we give the word.

Stay on the Path. Stay on the Path!

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They moved forward in the wind of morning.

Strange, murmured Deckles. Up ahead, sixty million years, Election Day

over. Keith made President. Everyone celebrating. And here we are, a million

years lost, and they don't exist. The things we worried about for months, a life-

time, not even born or thought about yet.

Safety catches off, everyone! ordered Travis. You, first shot, Deckles.

Second, Billings. Third, Kramer.

I've hunted tiger, wild boar, buffalo, elephant, but Jesus, this is it, said

Deckles. I'm shaking like a kid.

Ah, said Travis. Everyone stopped. Travis raised his hand. Ahead, he

whispered. In the

mist. There he is. There's His Royal Majesty now.

Now, answer the following questions and you will see how these two excerpts showthe functions of dialogue.

1. How does the dialogue strengthen the storys reality?

2. Describe Deckles based on his dialogue

3. Describe Travis based on his dialogue.

4. What type of relationship does the man behind the desk and Travis have withDeckles?

5. What is some necessary information that we learn based on what the characterssay?

How to Type Inner Monologue in a Story

There is not set rule as to how you have to type out inner monologue. Below aresome examples of how the pros do it. Decide which way works for you and keep itconsistent.

Dialogue Quotation Style: From Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell fromseparate scenes:

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I must get home! thought Scarlett. I must get home!My! My! he thought helplessly. She can get mad quicker and stay mad

longer than any woman I ever saw.

Italics Style: From The Stand by Stephen King in a scene where a character is

wondering if something actually happened:

Drowsiness began to steal over him now that his thirst was a little slaked. He wasnearly asleep when a polar thought slipped up through the floor of his mind like anicy stiletto blade:

What if Cibola had been a mirage?No, he muttered. No, uh-uh, no.

From Ordinary People by Judith Guest in a scene where two parents arearguing about their son:

He leans his elbows on the bar, his back to her.Im tired of you getting your feelings hurt, Cal, because you refuse to see

things as they really are.And how are things? he asks, turning around. How are they really?

She is so lovely, so lovely. That white skin and the pale, lavender silk of thedress, the honeyed hair, loose about her face. What are we fighting about?

Hes not your little boy, she says.

Un-Punctuated Style: From Twilightby Stephanie Meyer in a scene when Bellafirst sees Edward in the lunch room:

His mouth was moving very quickly, his perfect lips barely opening. The other threestill looked away, and yet I felt he was speaking quietly to them.

Strange, unpopular names, I thought. The kinds of names grandparents had.But maybe that was in vogue here--- small town names? I finally remembered thatmy neighbor was called Jessica in my History class back home.

They arevery nice-looking. I struggled with the conspicuousunderstatement.

For further help, Read from Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne andDave King. Youre welcome to look at the whole book, but the two chapters I wouldlike you to skim through are Ch. 7 (Interior Monologue pg. 116) and 8 (EasyBeats pg. 140). These chapters will show you how to use inner monologue andbeats in your dialogue. I will give you time in class to look at this book, but if youwant to take it home you will need to check it out.

You will have a quiz on dialogue punctuation and inner monologue andbeats on :______________.

Assignment: Writing A Scene of DialogueDue:_________

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Directions: With the character you created, write a scene of dialogue where youare using all of the aspects of dialogue you have learned:

Punctuation

Paragraphing

Inner Monologue

Beats Functions

If you have an idea for your story, this could be a section of your plot.

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How do you write a story?A few guidelines

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In a story you need to bring your idea to life by showing your reader your setting,your characters and your plot. Below are a few ways to do that. Stories start withan exposition or beginning. As you know from reading stories, the exposition showsyou the setting and introduces you to the characters. It will finish off by bringing inthe conflict.

There are a few ways you can start your exposition:

Start with a paragraph or two just describing the setting.

Ex. The old house on the corner of 1st and Matthews had beendeserted for ten years. Any time there was a brisk wind the paintwould flake off and neighbors would see it fluttering through the airlike snow. The shutters hung at crooked angles

Start with a line of dialogue from one of your characters.

Ex. What do you mean that house is haunted? said Kevin as hestood outside the old house on the corner of 1st and Matthews.

Did you hear what Mrs. York said in Math today? said Marian.She said that house has been known to glow at night and no oneslived there for years!

Start with general background information that helps set up the ideain your story.

Ex. The town of Bear Creek was getting ready for Halloween. Manyof the people living in the town had decorated their houses withorange lights, inflated ghost and witch decorations and of course jack-

o-lanterns. Kevin was excited to go trick-or-treating with his friends Marianand Justin. There was one house that they wanted to avoid

Start by describing your protagonist or main character.

Ex. Kevin was your average teen. He though school was ok, lovedto hang out with his friends and of course loved a good adventure,especially if it required him to break a few rules. There was nothingbetter than getting away with something.

Start by introducing the conflict or problem

Ex. Kevin flipped open his cell phone when he heard the familiarbeep of an incoming text

message. I dare you to go into the haunted house...flashed on hisscreen. It was a text from Justin, and Kevin knew he couldnt backdown from any dare.

Elements of Short Story WORKBOOK

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Transcript of Elements of Short Story WORKBOOK