2. Creative Writing Over the next several weeks we will be learning how to write fictional stories. Contrary to what some of you may believe, there are standards that you can learn and correct ways to write good fiction.

3. Descriptive Language To write effective fiction, you must use descriptive language. The more concrete you can be in describing, the better your fiction. BE SPECIFIC! Compare the following: She sat down to breakfast. She plopped down on the hard wooden chair; she looked down at her breakfast: grayish eggs, burned toast, and water.

4. Characters You need to try to create interesting characters. In order to do this, you must know them very well. In fact, if you don’t know the color of their toothbrush, what they do when they get mad, or what they think of their grandmother, you probably don’t have a fully developed character.

5. You have a few things to consider when selecting a name for your characters. Don’t pick a long name. Pick a name that fits your character. Don’t pick a name because it is your favorite.

6. Plot You will also need to think about creating an interesting plot. Your story must have a beginning, a middle and an end. You need to have a problem as well as a solution. This is often talked about in terms of conflict, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.

7. Plot “A dull story is like a dull meal at a restaurant. Patrons don’t complain, but they don’t come back” (Minot 28). You need to create tension. Do this by creating conflict. You need to make your reader curious about what will happen next. You need to create suspense.

8. Plot Don’t go overboard when creating your conflict. TRY A SUBTLE APPROACH! Don’t try to SHOCK your reader by writing about something tragic or sad. Dealing with a tragic car crash, a serious illness, family problems and going to jail are too major for an effective short story. Don’t forget: Be Subtle!

9. Plot Your character must change in some way before the end of your story. If your character doesn’t change, then your story will be pointless to your readers. Your character’s change can be small--they might have a new sense of hope, a new respect for their mom, etc.

10. Dialogue Dialogue is essential to a fictional story. Dialogue tags are used to help the reader know who is talking. (he said/she said) Descriptive dialogue tags help the reader know who is talking and add description. (“Excellent work,” Mrs. Garrison said, flipping through the student’s stories.)

11. Dialogue Don’t overuse- she heckled - she laughed - he yelped. They often take away from the movement of the dialogue. It is okay to use - he yelled - she whispered - I screamed. These are okay, because they can be performed with words. But, descriptive dialogue tags are really your best bet!

12. Dialogue Vary your dialogue. Try to use a combination of tagless dialogue, descriptive tags and simple tags. Don’t use a long tag if you already have long dialogue. It becomes too wordy and slows down your reader!

13. Getting Started I have found that an excellent way to get started on a story is to develop a fictional character. Think a lot about what the character likes and dislikes. What is their greatest fear? Often times, a story will develop from there. You may have an issue that you feel strongly about. Sometime this can develop into a story or plot.

14. Creative Writing Start thinking about your main character as well as the conflict in your story.