Writing!

5 Steps of Writing

Step #1: PlanningSometimes called Prewriting, this is the stuff we do before writing.

Brainstorm (without rejecting ideas)Make decisions (about plot, setting, and characters)WOW! LINE (we’ll get there soon)

Step #2: Sloppy CopyWrite quickly and don’t worry about mistakes.Use pencil only.Write on every second line to leave room for revising space. Use complete sentences.No erasing! You might want to put something back!No balling up paper and starting over!

Step #3: RevisingThis is the most important step in writing.Revising boosts your writing from good to GREAT!

Add stuffDelete stuffMove stuffSubstitute better words

Step #4: ProofreadingCorrect mistakes!

SPELLINGGRAMMARPUNCTUATION

Step #5: Neat SheetIf handwriting a paper, this is when you write your final copy. If typing, check to make sure you have your paper set up correctly (margins, font, etc).

6 Tricks to Narrative Writing

Trick #1: The WOW! Line

Always make and fill one out before you begin your sloppy copy. Draw a horizontal line to represent your narrative. Next, divide it into the 3 parts that every story must have (beginning, middle, end).Draw a STAR toward the end of the middle section.The STAR is your narrative’s WOW! moment.

Trick #2: The LeadCatch your reader’s attention in the first sentence!DIALOGUE

“Come downstairs, Josh,” yelled mom.

SMALL MOVEMENTAllison kicked the can into the stream.

WHAT SOMEONE THINKS OR FEELS“I don’t want to do this,” Jamie thought.Beads of sweat formed on my forehead.

The LeadThe lead is your narrative’s most important sentence.

Professional writer’s do not start with “One day…..” or “One night…..,” so why should you?

Start noticing the lead of every chapter in your chapter book. 9 out of 10 chapters will begin with one of the following:

Dialogue Small movement What someone thinks or feels

Sloppy Copy Time!Write your narrative quickly without worrying about mistakes or specific details!

Refer to STEP #2 of writing to help you with your Sloppy Copy!

Revising!Now that you are finished writing your SLOPPY COPY, it’s time to revise! Revising boosts your writing from good to GREAT!

Add stuffDelete stuffMove stuffSubstitute better words

Trick #3: Add details to the WOW! Moment

Actions and eventsDescription Thoughts and feelingsDialogue- very important!Locate the WOW! MOMENT in your sloppy copy ADD some specific (exact) details to this part, especially some dialogue. If you can’t remember exactly what happened or what someone said, MAKE IT UP!

Trick #3 Continued…Use a ^ (caret) to add a few words.

EXAMPLES:BEFORE: As Maria slammed the door behind her, she saw a flash of green shoot toward the clouds. AFTER: As Maria slammed the door behind her, she ^heard the flutter of wings and she saw a flash of green shoot toward the clouds.

Trick #4: Revising Step B

Add unusual details at 1st mention of main character or subject (in the beginning part). Locate the place in your SLOPPY COPY where you first mention your main character or subject. ADD some unusual or fascinating details about this person, pet, place, or object.Use a caret to add a few words, or extra page with symbols to add several sentences.

EXAMPLEBEFORE:

Mickey was a parakeet. He was pretty. We had a lot of fun together.

AFTER:Mickey was a fist-sized parakeet. He had a green chest, yellow head and black and white wings. I trained him to say 35 expressions, like “Cheeseburger, cheeseburger” and “I love you.” He learned to sit on my finger, shoulder, and head. We had a lot of fun together, like when he used to sit on the edge of my cereal bowl and throw Rice Krispies across the table.

Trick #5: Revising Step C

Substitute special words!Our Sloppy Copy is full of common, everyday words, like the words we use when we speak.Now it’s time to make our writing sound special and more mature. USE PRECISE, VIVIDLY DESCRIPTIVE, UNCOMMON, words and phrases!These word and phrase substitutions make our writing sound more adult and professional.

Trick #5: ExamplesBEFORE: Maria walked over in the snow and ice. After she got there, she got the snow and ice off her coat and hat before taking them off.

AFTER: Maria trudged through the blizzard. After she arrived, she brushed the snow and ice off her coat and hat before removing them.

Take a “boring” word like said and replace it with words like:

Replied, exclaimed, screamed, questioned, remarked, whispered, shouted, stated, demanded, responded.

Trick #6: The Conclusion

NO MORE SAYING “THE END”

Now we’re ready to write endings that SOUND LIKE ENDINGS, not like we just stopped!Reasons our endings sometimes sound like we just stopped:

“I RAN OUT OF TIME.”“I REACHED THE BOTTOM OF MY PAPER.”“I COULDN’T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY.”“MY HAND HURTS.”“I GOT TIRED OF WRITING.”

Trick #6: ContinuedHow’s this ending for a story about when I won the election for class president?

“After dinner, we drove home and I went to sleep.”

SO, THAT WASN’T VERY GOOD! LET’S TRY THAT AGAIN!

“After dinner, we drove home and I went to sleep. All that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about the exciting projects I’d be working on as the new class president.”

NOW DOES THAT SOUND BETTER? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS ENDING WORKED BETTER?

Trick #6: ContinuedThe new ending works because it is either:

A thoughtA feelingA lesson learned

Trick #6How is this ending for a story about when my best friend moved to another city?

“After Chris moved away, I went home and watched TV.”

LET’S REVISE IT!

“After Chris moved away, I went home and watched TV, but it felt lonely without my best friend watching with me. I hope we get to see each other again really soon.”

TitlesNever tell, but only hint, at what’s to come.Our titles usually give too much information. Often they spoil the story for the reader by “giving away” the WOW! MOMENT.Do you like it when your friends tell you what happens in a movie you want to see? Titles should make the reader wonder, “what’s this about?”

TitlesHow is this title for my narrative about a

family camping trip? Our Family Camping Trip

THUMBS DOWN! That title tells, when it should hint.

Try this one: Mountains & Mosquitoes

FOOL-PROOF PROOFREADING

Fact: Scientific studies prove that SILENT READING DOES NOT WORK.Fact: Having a partner proofread your story DOES NOT HELP YOUR PROOFREADING SKILLS. Fact: Careless proofreading for errors leads the reader to LOSE RESPECT FOR THE WRITER.Fact: Proofreading can be easy as A, B, and C.

The ABC’S of Proofreading

A: Proofread in a low voice so your ears can hear mistakes.

B: Point to each word with your pencil as you say the word.

C: Proofread in slow motion.

PROVE IT!Prove to yourself this proofreading plan really works!A: low voiceB: pointC: slo-mo

ParagraphingDon’t you hate it when you have to read a bunch of pages without indents? There are just so many….WORDS! Words everywhere, with no break in sight! Whew!We need some indents so we can catch our breath, don’t we?INDENTS TO THE RESCUE!

Paragraphing1. at the beginning2. change of idea or topic3. change of place4. change of time period5. change of speaker