1. Short Stories

2. What is a short story?
A short story is a piece of fiction which can be read at one sitting.
Like a novel it uses character, conflict, theme, setting, and point of view/ narration to create an impression on the reader.
In a short story every word counts, so it creates restrictions for the author.
We read to entertain, but more importantly, we read to know and understand ourselves and our world.

3. Good Writing Does… Character Development
Showing/describing, NOT telling
Imagery---literary devices and building of suspense/conflict

4. Show, Don’t Tell

5. Setting

6. Imagery: Literary Devices---simile/metaphors/ onomatopoeia, etc
Imagery: Literary Devices---simile/metaphors/ onomatopoeia, etc. Descriptive writing senses:
Taste! Touch! Smell! Sounds! Sight!
Show don’t tell
Flowcabulary Setting

7. Plot Graph

8. Plot
The exposition sets up the story by introducing the main characters, the setting, and the problem to be solved.
The rising action is the main part of the story where the full problem develops.
A number of events will lead to the climax.
The climax: The highest point of the story where the most exciting events occur.
The falling action follows the climax. It contains the events that bring the story to the conclusion.
The resolution is the end of the story when all the problems are resolved.

9. Rising Action
Climax
Introduction
Resolution
Introduces the character and setting
In a short story, the plot moves quickly towards the denouement (conclusion).
The complicating incidents or obstacles to resolve conflict.
Point of highest tension.
The End! All the loose ends are tied up (or not).
Falling Action

10. Narration
The angle from which the story is told. There are many different points of view.
First person – one character tells the story in the first person. The reader sees and knows only as much as the narrator. Often an unreliable narrator and innocent character.
Third Person – an outsider narrator tells the story.
Omniscient – the author tells the story using the third person. Author knows all of what is done, said, felt, and thought by the characters.
Limited omniscient – author tell the story from the third person, but limits observations of thoughts and feelings to one character; the author presents the story from this character’s eyes.
Objective – the author is like a movie camera that moves around freely recording objects. However, the author offers no comments on the characters or their actions. Readers are not told the thoughts or feelings of the characters.

11. Stop! Pick a scene right before and during the climax of a story…

12. What makes Harry the protagonist and Voldemort the antagonist?

13. Types of Characters

14. …
# 6
The stories always end up being about people rather than the event…

15. Think about these two…
Motives?
Reactions?
Character Traits?

16. How do you know that…?
Characterization….

17. Indirect Characterization

18. Direct Characterization
Or… “Jimmy was 5’2 with blackish brown hair. He had lived his whole life in Kelowna. ”

19. Visualize… The physical… Start with the boots/shoes…
Dress/clothes? Why? Where are the going or where have they been?
Face—appearance, expression…
The person…
Character traits/personality
Motivations
Interests
Weaknesses/fears

20. The Setting
Where is your character?

21. Character Arc Through CONFLICT, the character changes…
3. Protagonist responds/changes
Change
2. Obstacle/conflict
4. Outcome/resolution
1. Protagonist Wants something

23. Conflict
Conflict and suspense go together. How will the protagonist resolve the problem is the crux of suspense..
What are the five types of conflicts? Are they INTERNAL or EXTERNAL?

24. Conflict
Person vs person
Person vs self
Person vs society
Person vs nature
Person vs supernatural

25. Theme The theme is the meaning or the purpose of the story.
What you are trying to tell the reader about life, humanity, society, or people in general…

26. Confusing Terms
Tone – the attitude of the writer towards his/her subject.
The tone may be a comic tone, serious, critical, angry, sympathetic….
Mood – the feeling the reader gets from the story. It is created through images, rhyme, rhythm, and other devices.
Ex. The mood of “The Simpsons” is humorous but the tone is critical.

27. You know what you want to say. The question is HOW will you say it?
Voice!!!!
You know what you want to say. The question is HOW will you say it?

28. How do characters change in their word choices...

29. Irony Verbal Irony – Saying the opposite of what is meant.
This often reveals something about the character who makes the comments.
Dramatic Irony - The reader knows more about the situation than the character.
Daytime soaps use this device a great deal.
Ex. A character is talking about her loving boyfriend…who in reality is cheating on her with her best friend! She doesn't know about it, but you do.
Situational Irony – Events turn out differently than what was expected.
Ex. You don’t expect an Olympic swimmer to drown in his bathtub.

30. Other Literary Devices
Alliteration
The repetition of the same initial consonant sound in two or more consecutive or closely associated words
Ex: The Wicked Witch of the West went her own way. → The “W” sound is highlighted and repeated throughout the scene.
Allusion
A reference to a person or event in literature, mythology, or history assumed to be known to the reader.
Ex. Plan ahead: it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark” – Richard Cushing
Ambiguity
The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.

31. Other Literary Devices
Analogy
Comparison that assumes that two objects or events that are alike in one respect will be alike in another.
Atmosphere
The mood established by events, places, or situations
Ex. ‘Tis better cold, and I am sick at heart”
Diction
Author’s choice of words
Euphemism
A gentler, more politically correct way of saying something that could be offensive or upsetting.
Ex. “Passed away” rather than “dead”

32. Other Literary Devices
Foil
A secondary character that contrasts and parallels the main character in the story.
Foreshadowing
When the text has specific hints to provide clues for the audience for what is to come later on. It builds suspense.
Hyperbole
Exaggeration used not to deceive, but for humorous or dramatic effect.
Ex. I am so tired I cannot walk another inch.
Ex. I’m so sleepy I might fall asleep.
Ex. She nearly died laughing 
Imagery
The author uses words and phrases to create “mental images” for the reader.
Imagery helps the reader to visualize more realistically the author’s writings.
The term used to describe words or phrases that appeal to the five senses.

33. Other Literary Devices
 Juxtaposition
Placing words or ideas side by side for contrast
Metaphor
An implied comparison between two unlike things (without using the words like or as).
Ex. He’s a dream.
Motif
Any element, subject, idea or concept that is constantly present through the entire body of literature.
Using a motif refers to the repetition of a specific theme dominating the literary work.
Motifs are very noticeable and play a significant role in defining the nature of the story, the course of events and the very fabric of the literary piece.
Ex. In many famed fairytales, the motif of a ‘handsome prince’ falling in love with a ‘damsel in distress’ and the two being bothered by a wicked step mother, evil witch or beast and finally conquering all to live ‘happily ever after’ is a common motif.

34. Other Literary Devices
Onomatopoeia
Words whose very sound is very close to the sound they are meant to depict.
Words such as grunt, huff, buzz and snap are words whose pronunciation sounds very similar to the actual sounds these words represent. In literature such words are useful in creating a stronger mental image. For instance, sentences such as “the whispering of the forest trees” or “the hum of a thousand bees” or “the click of the door in the nighttime” create vivid mental images.
Oxymoron
The joining of two terms that would otherwise seem contradictory (i.e. death in life, loving hate, pleasing pains, jumbo shrimp, hells angels, an open secret, found missing, seriously funny)
Paradox
A paradox that seems on the face of it to be logically contradictory or absurd, yet turns out to be interpretable in a way that actually makes good sense
Ex. From car racing: one has to be slow to go fast

35. Other Literary Devices
Pathetic Fallacy or Correlative Objective
This occurs when events in the natural world imitate the inner state of a character or reflects the mood of a scene.
Ex. raining outside when there is sadness 
Personification
A literary device in which human qualities or actions are attributed to inanimate objects.
Ex. The dancing flowers
Simile
The practice of drawing parallels or comparisons between two unrelated and dissimilar things, people, beings, places and concepts. Similes are marked by the use of the words ‘as’ or ‘such as’ or ‘like’.
Ex. He is like a mouse in front of the teacher.
Ex. My pimple is as big as Mount Everest.

36. Other Literary Devices
Symbol
A symbol is literary device that contains several layers of meaning, often concealed at first sight, and is representative of several other aspects, concepts or traits than those that are visible in the literal translation alone.
A symbol is an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning.
Ex. The phrase “a new dawn” does not talk only about the actual beginning of a new day but also signifies a new start, a fresh chance to begin and the end of a previous tiring time 
Thesis
The writer’s argument or position
Tone
Writer’s attitude towards his subjects and/or audiences

37. Word Choice

38. Voice
“Character 1” example in the voice of the eight year old boy. “Character 2”, the introspective young woman age • gender • character traits • the way each moved • how they felt about the heat • what they were wearing • attitudes. Write!!!! Choose a scene---and show their characteristics

39. Old Women... She headed across the fairgrounds...
Young Boy… He headed across the fairgrounds….
Old Women... She headed across the fairgrounds...

40. cite evidence in the writing to support your suppositions
cite evidence in the writing to support your suppositions. Actions, Thoughts, Effect Speech