Creative Writing

Elements of a story Characters Characters can be described by their: Personality Attributes Motivations Influences Appearance Setting Settings are: A place. It could be a place from the past, present or future. It could be real or imagined. A time. It could be a wide time span, a past or future time span, or a short time span. Themes/motifs These can appear in: The action and events Characters The setting Symbolism Plot (storyline) Plots include: Action Events A narrator

Plot An effective plot should follow a particular storyline pattern. Climax Falling Action Critical Choice Rising Action Resolution Complication Beginning

Beginning Establish the setting and the narrator. Narrators can be: Involved in the story if written from 1st person perspective. “I was walking to my class when...” Directing you while YOU are in the story when written in 2nd person perspective. “You step into the room and think…” An observer of the story, if written from 3rd person perspective. “She knew he had farted because...”

Complication Something beyond the control of the protagonist (hero/heroine) is presented and sparks off the story.

Rising Action This stage involves not one but several elements, and takes up most of the middle part of the story. Rising Action includes pleasant events, but more often means obstacles, complications, conflict and trouble for the protagonist. May include a surprise; need to be unexpected, but plausible.

Critical Choice At some stage, your protagonist needs to make a crucial decision; a critical choice. This is often when we find out exactly who a character is, as real personalities are revealed at moments of high stress. This has to be a decision by the character to take a particular path – not just something that happens by chance.

Climax The critical choice(s) made by your protagonist need to result in the climax, the highest peak of tension, in your story. For some stories, this could be the firing squad levelling their guns to shoot, a battle commencing, a high-speed chase or something equally dramatic. In other stories, the climax could be a huge argument between a husband and wife, or Cinderella and the Ugly Sisters trying on the glass slipper.

Falling Action This should be the consequence of the critical choice and the climax, and it should change the status of the characters – especially your protagonist. Some examples may include: Cinderella might be recognised by the prince or someone important dies.

Resolution The resolution is a return to a fresh beginning– one where the characters should be changed, wiser and enlightened, but where the story being told is complete. Or you might leave your story with a question or mystery. This may help to portray the overall message or theme of the story.

Setting Setting is important because it can create a mood to your story. The setting will enhance your story so it is important to choose wisely and think about your setting. It is also important to describe your setting

Describing a setting When describing your setting it is important to “show and not tell” It was hot Χ (boring – this is telling) The sun burned down on the valley, the brown grass cowered under it’s heat. or Beads of sweat trickled down my neck and the concrete burned my feet as I walked towards the store. √ (More interesting – this is showing) Tips: Use the five senses: SIGHT, SMELL, TOUCH, SOUND, TASTE. Use adjectives and adverbs Use similes and metaphors Use characters to portray the setting. Be creative!

Sample: Spot the senses! A dark cloud loomed over them, a welcome relief from the blazing sun. The horizon was a sea of white and blue tarpaulins, barely standing with spines of rotting wood. People with no faces stood helpless and hungry. Some finding solace from the heat under their tents others too tired to move. The women clung to her crying child, the red dirt burned her blistered feet but she dare not sit. Dust and sweat filled her nostrils and her mouth. She couldn’t remember the smell of anything else. She looked down at the empty water bottles and sorrow filled her heart. This was their home now.

Brainstorm : Describe the class room. What are some phrases or words we can use to describe this classroom. Smell – Sight – Taste – Hear – Touch -

You Try Choose two of the following images to describe. You will need to imagine some of the senses. What do you think you would feel, hear, taste or smell?

EXAMPLE

YOU TRY