Short Stories and PlaywritingTips for Getting Started

Five Elements of a Short Story

1. Plot

2. Character

3. Setting

4. Atmosphere

5. Style

PlotOpening Situation - The reader is often told where and when the story occurs; introduces the character (s).

Inciting Force/Incident - A conflict is usually established between characters.

Rising Action - The conflict between characters develops and becomes more pronounced.

Climax - The moment of greatest suspense.

Falling Action - The action leads to the resolution or final outcome.

Final Outcome - The writer wraps up and ties up any loose ends in hopes that the reader will leave the story satisfied.

You may or may not have time to include these last two steps.

Our old friend…The Story Arc:

CharacterTips:

Explore your character before and after you write.

Consider the following:Actions—What does your character do? What are the bad habits/good habits that he/she has?

Dialogue—How does he/she speak? Is this consistent throughout your piece?

Physical Description—What does he/she look like?

Idiosyncrasies—What makes this character unique? Remember nobody is “perfect.”

Possessions—What can your character not live without?

Character Tips Continued

Reactions—How does he/she respond to other’s? How do others respond to him/her?

Thoughts—What does your character like to think about? Day dreams? What does he/she dwell on? (This may be easier to explore depending on how your story is narrated)

Background Information—Where has your character been? What have they done? Where does he/she think he is going in life?

Supporting Characters

Just because he/she is not your protagonist or antagonist does not mean that he/she can be ignored in the development process.

Conflict—The Good Stuff

What type of conflict will it be?Internal - man versus himself

External - man versus man, man versus nature, man versus society , man versus unknown, man versus supernatural, man versus time

Remember you are exploring a social issue that may cause a conflict but that does not mean it has to be man vs. society.

Setting

WHERE and WHEN is this story taking place?

Is this a social issue that has been around for a long time?

Do you need to do research?

Establish this quickly and efficiently early in your story to make it easier on your readers.

AtmosphereMood or tone of the story.

Humor?

Tragic?

How do your main character’s feel about their situations?

A contrast in setting, character, and/or events can make for interesting atmosphere.

Style-NarrationPoint of view

third person narration - when the person telling the story is not part of the action.

first person narration - This is a major, minor, or a silent character who tells the story.

Omniscient narration - The author who knows everything about the characters and events and who can enter the mind of any character at will.

Limited omniscient narration- The author/narrator who knows about everything but only gets into the mind of one or a few characters.

Style Continued

Imagery

Language

Dialogue vs. Description?

Purpose—Consider why you are including the things that you are. Is everything relevant?

Playwriting TipsPlays take place on the day something happens—Do not waste time with exposition if you can help it.

Start your story right before or directly following your inciting incident.

“Write in the Fire”If there was a house on fire (conflict), who are your characters?

Person who is in the house on fire.*Person who sees house on fire and calls for help.*Person who comes to help the people in the house on fire.*Person who reports in the paper about the house on fire.Person who reads the article about the house on fire.

Dialogue

Listen to how you and your friends actually speak.

It is atypical to say a person’s name when you are speaking to him/her

“Sure, Mary.”

• Less is more in dialogue. Monologues need to be earned.

• Stage directions should be used sparingly.

• One page of dialogue=one minute