1. Elements of Plot
Writing a Narrative

2. ‘The Lay of the Werewolf”
PRACTICE WITH
‘The Lay of the Werewolf”
CLIMAX
RISING
ACTION
FALLING
ACTION
Turning Point
EXPOSITION
DENOUEMENT
Inciting Incident (Conflict)
Resolution

3. Modern symbolic tale

4. Write either… A tale of a quest
Choose an object or person to be the main symbol and the goal of the quest
EX: Holy Grail symbolized faith, and was Perceval’s main goal
A tale of disguised identity
Feature a disguise that also has symbolic value
EX: Werewolf symbolized humanity vs. dark “beast” side, and was a disguise for the baron
Set in the modern world

5. Prewriting
Begin by developing a story line (plot) and a symbol that represents the lesson or experience that challenges the main character.
1) Start with an outline of your overall plot – what do you want to happen in your story?
QUEST: What are the hero’s skills, weapons, obstacles, and goal? OR
IDENTITY TRANSFORMATION: What are the physical, emotional, and moral traits of both identities?

6. Preparing to Develop Your main character(s)
Include specific details that bring your character to life for the reader. For example:
Age? Gender? Ethnicity? Physical appearance?
Personality? Flaws? Special skills? Talents?
Voice? Character traits?
Family? Relationships? Morals?
Fears? Secrets? Backstory?
Show these details through:
Descriptions of their actions, looks, etc.
What other characters say

7. Preparing to Develop Your main character(s)
Complete the character profile page for your main character (or 1 of them, if you are including multiple protagonists).
Include a minimum 1-paragraph backstory summary on that protagonist on a separate sheet of paper.
The wife of a controlling 19th-century husband, Nora Helmer spends her life largely presenting herself as the “perfect” housewife who is meant to entertain and please with a smile on her face. She is very much like a doll in her own house because she concerns herself primarily with keeping her house, children, and herself looking absolutely picturesque. Nora mostly follows her husband’s directions because she has been raised to believe that women are subordinate to men, and for most of her marriage she seems to actually believe in this notion. She has always simply accepted her husband treating her like she isn’t capable of making her own decisions, and doesn’t resist much when he describes her as a reckless spendthrift who can’t be trusted with financial decisions because she was raised by a father who didn’t spend money wisely as she was growing up. The loss of her father has been especially hard for Nora to deal with, as…