YOUR SHORT STORY! Mr. Dooley’s Creative Writing Class – Spring 2007 ELC

Mr. Dooley’s 7 Cs of Fiction Character - Choice - Choice - Consequences - Consequences - Change - ChangeConflictConclusionClarity

Where Do You Begin? The End –Where do you want to go? –What do you want to say? –What is your topic? A topic is a general statement or idea, like love, anger, war. A topic is a general statement or idea, like love, anger, war. –What is your theme? A theme is a statement about the topic, like “love sometimes hurts, “don’t let anger get the better of you,” or “war kills innocents.” A theme is a statement about the topic, like “love sometimes hurts, “don’t let anger get the better of you,” or “war kills innocents.” –What is IMPORTANT to YOU!?

Kinds of Characters Protagonist The main character who the story is about. (Hero?) Good Character –Good description –Strong traits & emotions –“Flawed” –Background –Wants & Needs Antagonist One who opposes the protagonist. (Villain?) One who introduces or is a main part of the conflict. Bad Character –Bad description –Weak traits & emotiuons –“Perfect” –No Background –No Wants or Needs

How to Make a (Good) Character Description: how they look, clothes, possessions, how they live How the author describes them: is a character described? What they say—and why: opinions about life, politics, religion, others, and how they talk: with an accent, slow, fast, with a stutter, formal/informal What they do—and why: action, emotions, and choices! What other characters (friends and enemies) say about them—and why

Describe these Characters

The Plot Thickens Exposition Rising Action Climax Resolution Conclusion Inciting Incident

Plotting Terms EXPOSITION: establishment of character(s) and setting INCITING INCIDENT: the event that gets the character involved in the actual story: introduction of the conflict! CONFLICT: a problem the main character has to solve; a goal RISING ACTION: complications or obstacles the character must overcome CLIMAX: highest point of tension or suspense RESOLUTION: how the conflict is resolved CONCLUSION: THE END

Types of Conflict Without CONFLICT there is no Plot! Without CONFLICT there is no Story! External/Interpersonal Conflict: - Character versus another character - Character versus nature - Character versus society Internal Conflict: - Character versus self

“Dialogue!” she shouted. What’s good dialogue? –Natural –Formal –Accent –Boring dialogue Revealing! –Monologue vs. soliloquy

The Rest of the Story Setting –Where –When ToneMoodGenreTitle!