Writing skills - short story 5V April 25

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Welcome!

Road map

Short story - writing skills

definition

how to write

exercises 

tips 

Lesson goal

At the end of this class you indicate that you feel adequately prepared to write next week's short story. 

You know:

what a short story is

how to write one in one sitting

Do

Describe the red door

in 25 to 40 words

Ready? 

Reread your entry & edit

Short story

'a relatively short work of prose fiction, approx. 500 to 10,000 words, that, according to Edgar Allan Poe, can be read in a single sitting of two hours or less'.

The short story works to create a single effect.

examples:

The Model Millionaire  - Oscar Wilde 

A Dark Brown Dog - Stephen Crane 

Build-up

?????

introduce the five-act structure

Short story

1. Introduction

2. Rising action

3. Climax

4. Falling action

5. Resolution 

What happens in each act?

Short story

1. Introduction - characters, setting, relationship, occasion

2. rising action  - things get moving

3. climax -  pivotal problem in the story

4. falling action -  action is taken to solve the problem

5. resolution -  some kind of ending to the story

Before anything else ....

when you know who your characters are and what the setting is

choose your perspective

I, you, they/he/she - all-knowing or particular character

Do

• Create a framework of a short story with your group 
• First you all write an introduction 
• Then, you give hide your part (fold the paper) and give it to the next person
• They write the rising action
• and so on ... until you have a complete framework

Do

        Characters                                             Setting

What to do when you're stuck?

• Try to get inside your character's head
• Mind map
• Take a step back 
• Just write -  edit later

• the importance of a framework!

Next week's assignment

• Whodunnit plot
• finish the story - 

                introduction, rising action and climax are given

• min. 250 words 
• include paragraphs: one topic per paragraph
• include framework and word count!

Tips

• Red herrings 
• increase tension? - shorten your sentences
• Take care of your characters!
• Check your resolution

Friday

Watching and listening

pubquiz