Short Story Writing

Short Story Introduction• The short story is a very specific genre

with very specific criteria• It follows the plot curve.• It is meant to be read in one sitting 30

minutes to 1 hour.• It has one main character and one main conflict

Short Story Writing Tips• Get the reader hooked IMMEDIATELY!

You don’t have a lot of pages for background and exposition like you would in a novel.

• Try focusing on a specific time in your main character’s life instead of his/her entire life.

• If a line or piece of dialogue is not developing your character or pushing your plot forward, leave it out!

The Rudimentary Outline

• Put a man up a tree• Start with a clear situation – a problem your

protagonist must get resolved

• Throw stones at him• Show the problems, misunderstandings, lost

opportunities, catastrophes, etc.

• Get him down• Solve the conflict in some way: happy, sad,

surprising, etc

Creating Characters

• Are there any events in the character’s past that affect the significance of this goal/have influenced this goal?

• Describe your character’s life till now, motivations, family situation, pet peeves, typical day, vices, nickname, strengths, weaknesses.

• Name• Age• Height• Eye color• Hair color• What is the character’s

major goal?• Why is this goal so

important to the character?

• Before you begin writing, create a character sketch for your main characters (most importantly your protagonist & your antagonist)

• Include the following in your sketch:

Explore Your CharactersDirections: Complete the 1st exercise. Then, choose 1

other exercise to complete for your short story characters (created in previous exercise).

• Your protagonist and antagonist are each required to write a letter of introduction for your reader, describing themselves, their goals and motivations.

• Your main character has invited you to lunch.  Where does he/she meet you?  What is ordered?  What do you talk about?

 • It's a Sunday afternoon and your character's responsibilities are

complete.  What does he/she do to relax for the rest of the day? • Your protagonist and antagonist each write a letter to a friend or

family member (or you!) about the other. • Your two main characters have to change a flat tire, in the rain.

 • Your main character invites you to his/her place for dinner. 

What sort of home does he/she have?  How is it furnished?  Any family, roommates, pets?  What is served?  

I Love My VoiceDevelop your character’s voice

Directions: Choose 2 situations for which you free write the internal thoughts of your characters (created in 1st exercise). Your writing for each situation should be roughly a ½ page.

What does he or she think about when:• Getting up in the morning. • Getting ready to meet a friend. • After an argument with spouse or significant other. • Doing a mindless chore, like vacuuming. • Driving in rush hour traffic.

Set the Scene• The setting can be one of the most

powerful tools in your story.• Setting function as:

– the backdrop– a character

• Capture your readers right away by describing your setting using active voice instead of passive voice.

• Enhance your description with appropriate similes, metaphors, and personification.

• Don’t hesitate to bring your characters in as part of your setting description.

Create a “home” for your characters

Directions: complete the following exercises to help develop setting writing

1. Create a floor plan for your character’s home/apartment. Draw some simple, boxed-out rooms, label each room (master bedroom, kitchen, youngest daughter’s room, etc) and make notes about what may be in there.

2. “Give a tour” of the house…in writing (obviously ). Begin at the front of the house and describe each room and its contents as if you were giving a stranger a tour of your home.

Take a sensory approachDirections: describe the following areas using all

five of your senses

• Kitchen• Times Square• The Beach• A Train

A Distraught DescriptionWrite a one-page description of the following situation:

A middle-age man is waiting at a bus stop. He has just learned that his son has died violently. Describe the setting from the man's point of view WITHOUT telling your reader what has happened. How will the street look to this man? What are the sounds? Odors? Colors? That this man will notice? What will his clothes feel like?

Define your Point of View?• 1st person: told by the main character from an “I”

perspective.– “Unites narrator and reader through a series of secrets”

when they enter one character’s perceptions. However, it can “lead to telling” and limits readers connections to other characters in the short story.

• 3rd person: told by one “on-looking” character from the “he,” “she,” “it” perspective.– “Offers the intimacy of one character’s perception.”

However, the reader must deal with the “character’s absence from particular scenes.”

• 3rd person Omniscient: told by an “all-knowing” & “God-like” narrator from the “he,” “she,” “it” perspective.– Allows you to explore all of the characters’ thoughts and

motivations. Transitions are extremely important as you move from character to character.

http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative1/shortstory/

What’s your point of view?Directions: Write about ONE of the following

situations in the 3 different POV styles.

A thunderstorm A divorce A wedding reception A classroom A sunrise A sunset A team victory

Meaningful dialogue• Each speaker gets his/her own paragraph, and

the paragraph includes whatever you wish to say about what the character is doing when speaking.

• The dialogue should propel the story forward and divulge information about the characters, conflicts, or setting of the story. It SHOULD NOT be idle chatter…

• The narrative between the dialogue should also have purpose.

• Use strong dialogue tags (he said…she said variants)

Correct or Incorrect?“Where are you going?” John cracked hisknuckles while he looked at the floor. “To

the racetrack.” Mary edged toward the door, keeping her eyes on John’s bent head. “Not again,” John stood up, flexing his fingers. “We are already maxed out on our credit cards.”

INCORRECT!!

Correct or Incorrect?“Where are you going?” John asked

nervously.“To the racetrack,” Mary said, trying

to figure out whether John was too upset to let her get away with it this time.

“Not again,” said John, wondering how they would make that month’s rent. “We are already maxed out on our credit cards.”

Correct

Structu

re –

but…

Too much useless

narrativ

e in

between

Re-Write the dialogue

• In the above text the writer is telling the reader too much.

• Re-write the above passage to convey John’s nervousness without all the unnecessary narrative. (hint: let the reader think for once)

John sat up and took a deep breath, knowing that his confrontation with Mary had to come now, or it would never come at all. “Wh– where are you going?” he stammered nervously, staring at his Keds.

Create appropriate dialogue tags.

Directions: 1. Create dialogue tags for the following dialogue. 2. Keep the dialogue in the same order that it appears. 3. Create 3 different “scenes” using the same characters

and overall situation.

“Are you finished?”“No, I didn’t even start.”“You’re going to have a tough time, then”“I’ll figure it out.”“I hope.”

Implementing figurative language

• What is figurative language?• Figurative language is any language that is

used creatively and imaginatively to evoke vivid and fresh insights.

• What types of figurative language are appropriate for the short story genre?•Simile•Metaphor•Allusion

•Imagery•Hyperbole•Paradox•Symbolism

“Figure” out the characterDirections: Write a description of each character

prototype which includes at least one type of figurative language.

A new mother A jazz musician A homeless child A photographer

“Figure” out the settingDirections: Write a description of each setting

prototype which includes at least one type of

figurative language. an expensive restaurant a college library a shopping mall a crowded sports stadium

“Figure” out emotionsDirections: Write a description of each emotion

which includes at least one type of figurative language.

love hate betrayal disappointment proud

Foreshadowing • What is foreshadowing?

• Foreshadowing is giving an indication or warning of what is to come so that the reader can anticipate the mood or atmosphere.

• What types of things are worthy of foreshadowing in your writing?

• A significant event in the rising action• The climax of the story• An important character encounter

• A character flaw • A twist in the plot

Fifty-Five FictionThe Fifty-Five Fiction Rules:1. Write a piece of FICTION 2. Make sure it has

• Setting• Character(s)• Conflict• Resolution

3. Title your story (no more than 7 words long)

4. Word Counting• Hyphenated words ARE NOT one word• Contractions ARE one word• An initial IS one word• Numbers ARE words

5. Avoid clichés

Fifty-Five FictionDirections: • Read the examples provided in the “World’s

Shortest Short Stories” packet• Write 4 55-word short stories. Utilize

dialogue, imagery, and foreshadowing to tell a complete tale in 55-words or less.

• Think yours are GREAT? Send a copy of your story in for the Fifty-Five Fiction contest.

Fifty-Five FictionDept. 55197 Santa Rosa StreetSan Luis Obispo, CA 93405

Reading makes you a better writer...Directions: 1. Read a series of short stories and complete an

analysis sheet for each. 2. Choose ONE of the short stories for which you write a formal (typed) analysis.

Things to include in your formal analysis:1. A clear introduction with a thesis

statement• Thesis should be the narrow focus of your paper.• It should be ONE sentence.• It should appear at the END of your introduction.• It should be an ARGUABLE idea (aka. – someone should be able to dispute your opinion)

2. A well-developed arguement• All body paragraphs should have a clear topic sentence that directly relates to your thesis.• Each paragraph should have examples and quotes from the short story that support your

opinion.

3. A strong conclusion

Practice, Practice, PracticeDirections: Choose a HEADLINE from the

newspapers provided. Use it as the title and the springboard for your practice story. Write a 2-4 page (typed) practice story. Outline/label the elements of your story on the graphic organizer provided.

The practice story will have TWO PEER REVIEWS.

The stories should be TYPED, DOUBLE-SPACED and SAVED so that you can easily create a final copy

Culminating Writing• Create an ORIGINAL short story utilizing the

characters that you created in this unit.• The story can be on any topic that is school

appropriate.• It must include:

– A unified plot– Developed characters– Dialogue – Appropriate literary devices

• Shoot for 4-6 pages typed, double-spaced• Fill out a “cheat sheet” and attach it to your final

copy.