Transcript Creative Writing

Creative Writing
• Over the next several weeks we will be
learning how to write fictional stories.
Contrary to what some of you may believe,
there are standards that you can learn and
correct ways to write good fiction.
Descriptive Language
• To write effective fiction, you must use descriptive
language. The more concrete you can be in
describing, the better your fiction. BE SPECIFIC!
Compare the following:
• She sat down to breakfast.
• She plopped down on the hard wooden chair; she
looked down at her breakfast: grayish eggs, burned
toast, and water.
Characters
• You need to try to create interesting
characters. In order to do this, you must
know them very well. In fact, if you don’t
know the color of their toothbrush, what
they do when they get mad, or what they
think of their grandmother, you probably
don’t have a fully developed character.
Characters
• You have a few things to consider when
selecting a name for your characters.
• Don’t pick a long name.
• Pick a name that fits your character.
• Don’t pick a name because it is your
favorite.
Plot
• You will also need to think about creating
an interesting plot. Your story must have a
beginning, a middle and an end. You need
to have a problem as well as a solution.
This is often talked about in terms of
conflict, rising action, climax, falling action
and resolution.
Plot
• “A dull story is like a dull meal at a
restaurant. Patrons don’t complain, but they
don’t come back” (Minot 28).
• You need to create tension. Do this by
creating conflict.
• You need to make your reader curious about
what will happen next.
• You need to create suspense.
Plot
• Don’t go overboard when creating your
conflict. TRY A SUBTLE APPROACH!
• Don’t try to SHOCK your reader by writing
about something tragic or sad.
• Dealing with a tragic car crash, a serious
illness, family problems and going to jail
are too major for an effective short story.
• Don’t forget: Be Subtle!
Plot
• Your character must change in some way
before the end of your story. If your
character doesn’t change, then your story
will be pointless to your readers.
• Your character’s change can be small--they
might have a new sense of hope, a new
respect for their mom, etc.
Dialogue
• Dialogue is essential to a fictional story.
• Dialogue tags are used to help the reader know
who is talking. (he said/she said)
• Descriptive dialogue tags help the reader know
who is talking and add description. (“Excellent
work,” Mrs. Garrison said, flipping through the
student’s stories.)
Dialogue
• Don’t overuse- she heckled - she laughed he yelped. They often take away from the
movement of the dialogue.
• It is okay to use - he yelled - she whispered
- I screamed. These are okay, because they
can be performed with words. But,
descriptive dialogue tags are really your
best bet!
Dialogue
• Vary your dialogue. Try to use a
combination of tagless dialogue, descriptive
tags and simple tags.
• Don’t use a long tag if you already have
long dialogue. It becomes too wordy and
slows down your reader!
Getting Started
• I have found that an excellent way to get started
on a story is to develop a fictional character.
Think a lot about what the character likes and
dislikes. What is their greatest fear? Often times,
a story will develop from there.
• You may have an issue that you feel strongly
about. Sometime this can develop into a story or
plot.
Creative Writing
• Start thinking about your main character as
well as the conflict in your story.