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Writing a short story
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A short story needs a strong start, a clear problem and a satisfying ending. Short stories work best with few characters, one main setting and one key event.
Plan before you write
Character: who is the story about? Give them one want or worry.
Setting: one main place.
Problem: what goes wrong?
Climax: the big moment.
Ending: how is it resolved, or left open?
Setting: one main place.
Problem: what goes wrong?
Climax: the big moment.
Ending: how is it resolved, or left open?
Hook your reader
Start in the action: 'The ice cracked.'
Start with speech: 'Don't look down,' whispered Sam.
Start with a mystery: 'Nobody knew who left the parcel on the step.'
Avoid 'One day I woke up and had breakfast.'
Start with speech: 'Don't look down,' whispered Sam.
Start with a mystery: 'Nobody knew who left the parcel on the step.'
Avoid 'One day I woke up and had breakfast.'
Paragraphs and speech
Start a new paragraph when time, place, topic or speaker changes (TiPToP).
Punctuate speech correctly: 'Wait for me,' called Ana. The spoken words and their punctuation go inside the speech marks.
Punctuate speech correctly: 'Wait for me,' called Ana. The spoken words and their punctuation go inside the speech marks.
Plan a short story called 'The Key'.
- Character: Leo, who has just moved house.
- Problem: he finds an old key under the floorboards.
- Climax: the key opens a locked cupboard holding letters from a boy who lived there 100 years ago.
- Ending: Leo writes his own letter and hides it for the next child.
Answer: A plan with one character, one setting, a problem, a climax and an ending that echoes the start.
Plan character, setting, problem, climax and ending. Hook the reader in the first line. Use TiPToP to paragraph, and punctuate speech correctly.
Check you have got it
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