Applying our Knowledge
Creative Fiction
BrainstormingWhat are some examples of Creative Writing?
Short Stories Poetry Screenplays Novels Periodicals Short Shorts Historical Fiction
What about these? Nonfiction Comics E-mail Notes to friends IM transcripts
Anything else?
Let’s Write!!A Short Story!!
At least 3 pages in length Incorporating concepts we have covered Such as Climax, Dialogue, Setting, Protagonist, etc.
What elements of the stories made them likeable/annoying?
Core Components of Fiction Protagonist
Main character Empathy! Depth, Mystery, Action
Side Characters Main function is to
interact with the protagonist and reveal things about them.
Conflict Whole point of writing
the story, the interesting stuff.
Protagonist must overcome, fail, learn from, hide, exploit, cry, react in some way to conflict.
Core Components Cont’d Resolution
What has happened from the conflict?
Where is the Protagonist at the end of the story?
What do we learn from the story?
How do we make our Protagonists Interesting? Ambiguous past Special Talent Distinguishing Physical
Feature Strong belief/opinion
about one thing Lack of some key
human characterization
Problem Empathy/Sympathy
Relationships Family Friends Love Interests Strangers Enemies
Memories Good Times Bad Times Both None at all
Others
How to we balance our Antagonists? Must oppose
Protagonist who has our sympathy
Must not be too one-sided and all bad
Some empathy/sympathy
Must drive the plot
Examples? Tybalt Capulet Jason Compson Javert Frankenstein’s Creature
Practice with Prompts! Write a short scene set at a lake, with
trees and stuff. Throw some birds in there too.
5 min.
McSweeney’s
Setting Settings can mirror
the tone of the story or the feelings of the protagonist. Sad – Desert Happy – Sunshine Struggle – Messy place
Can be used to introduce people, places, and things
Prompt 2 The tarantula hawk wasp reproduces by
paralyzing tarantulas and laying it’s eggs in their bodies. When the larvae hatch, they devour the still-living spider from the inside out. That’s messed up. Write a story about how messed up that is.
McSweeney’s
Ulterior Motives Stories can be used to
convey: Messages Opinions Theories Recommendations Calls for Action Critiques Etc.
Mainly done through symbolism, extended metaphor, or other embedded meaning
Subtlety is good
Due DatesBrainstorm idea list by next class
First Draft in one weekFinal Draft w/ first draft in two
weeks