Transcript 8 Essential Elements

EIGHT ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
• Create: vt. To make or bring into being by
applying the imagination. Successful writing
requires the writer to create before turning to
the mechanics of writing.
CHARACTER
• All stories are about characters. Story events
happen to characters. Always start by
identifying the main characters.
Explanation
Examples
Beings in stories that
think and act on their own
behalf.
A person, a dog, a talking stump, and so on
CHARACTER TRAIT
• Character traits are any information that makes a
character seem clear, real, vivid and interesting to
readers.
Explanation
Examples
A trait, ability, fear, passion,
history, relationship, or characteristic or a character that makes the
character interesting to readers.
A jagged scar across a
cheek, six fingers on one hand,
a fear of cats, a whiny voice, the
ability to jump 8’ high, etc.
GOAL
• A goal is what the main character wants to do or
get in this story. It’s what the character is after in
the story.
Explanation
Examples
What a character wants to do or
get in a story.
To get a million dollars, to
Become a star football
player, to fly to the moon, to
have pizza for dinner, to fly
a kite, etc.
ELEMENT #3 GOAL
• The goal of the main character tells readers
the following information:
*What the story is about
*How the story will end
*How to understand and interpret
every action and event in the story
ELEMENT # 3 GOAL
• The goal of the main character is the one
element most commonly overlooked by
student writers.
• Failure to create a specific goal for the main
character is the second most common reason
student stories fail.
ELEMENT #3 GOAL
What is the goal?
Little Maysie wanted to be the best baseball
player in her school.
POWER OF A GOAL
The goal of the main character is THE MOST
IMPORTANT single bit of information you will
create in your story.
WITHOUT A GOAL, YOU DON’T HAVE A STORY!
MOTIVE
• A motive explains why a goal is important to a
character. The more important the goal is, the
more suspenseful & intriguing the story will be.
Explanation
Examples
Why a character wants a specific
goal; what makes that goal
important to the character
To impress his classmates, to
save her mother from becoming
a slave, to feel good about
herself, to get revenge, etc.
MOTIVE IS A MUST!
A character’s reasons for wanting a particular
goal are called the character’s MOTIVE.
Each individual story focuses on a character’s
struggles to reach a specific goal……
But, readers will decide how to view that
character and goal by learning WHY the
character wants that particular goal.
CONNECTING GOALS & MOTIVES
• GOAL determines where the story will end
(character resolves goal—either gets it or
doesn’t)
•
• MOTIVE determines which possible ending
readers want and expect
CONFLICTS & PROBLEMS
• Conflicts and problems are the obstacles that
block a character from reaching a goal. These
obstacles are the root of every plot and every
story event and action.
Explanation
Examples
Obstacles that block a character
from reaching a goal.
The antagonist, a villain,
a storm, prejudice, parents, etc.
RISK & DANGER
• Risk and danger represent the likelihood that
something will go wrong and the consequences
(what happens) to the main character when
something goes wrong.
Explanation
Examples
The bad things and the trouble a
character could get into if things
go wrong (worst-case scenario)
Embarrassment, being the
laughing stock at school,
being killed, being abandoned,
etc.
STRUGGLES
• Struggles are what a character does (the
action, the plot) to overcome obstacles and
reach a goal.
Explanation
Examples
What a character does to try to
get past conflicts and problems
and reach a goal.
Any action that is part of
an attempt to reach a goal.
DETAILS
• Details about the characters, settings, actions,
and objects make a story seem real and vivid
to readers.
Explanation
Examples
Specific, unique information about Action verbs to describe
the characters, settings, actions,
actions, sensory details to
and objects (things) in a story.
describe objects and
settings, etc.