Writing skills - short story 5V1 April 25

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Welcome!

Road map

Short story - writing skills

definition

how to write

exercises 

tips 

3 groups of 4

Lesson goal

At the end of this class you indicate that you feel adequately prepared to write your 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

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. Hughie is introduced. He's an upper class guy with no job, but good looks and charm. He is in love with Laura. She is the daughter of Colonel Merton. 

2. Colonel Merton does not allow Hughie to marry his daughter unless he has 10.000 pounds.

3. Hughie goes to the studio of his painter friend Alan, sees a beggar man there and gives him his last souvereign. The beggar turns out to be Baron Hausberg and Hughie feels quite stupid

4. The baron, however, appreciates Hughie's kindness and rewards him with 10.000 pounds so he and Laura can get married

3. Hughie and Laura get married.

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

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

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

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!

Perspective?

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

choose your perspective

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

Tips

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

Lesson goal

At the end of this class you indicate that you feel adequately prepared to write your short story. 

You know:

what a short story is

how to write one in one sitting

Preliminary planning

Next week (15): 

New Interface MS 17 and MS 20

plus test (Friday)

Week 16:

Short story writing

Strands

https://www.nytimes.com/games/strands

Wordle

https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html

Squaredle

https://squaredle.app/