Writing the Story

By Ruth Punton

Writing the Story is the 3rd Module in the series Fiction Writers WorkBook. The first 2 Modules dealt with Creating Characters and Plots & Tension.

This Module deals with writing the first draft, chapters, voice, setting, style, the short story and rewriting. Language usage deals with narrative and dialogue, active and passive voice and figurative language. To find clarity in writing the Fog Index is explained.
Throughout the book there are many exercises in the taught concepts to aid in reinforcing learning.

A short story of merit should have been completed by the end of this module if all the teachings has been heeded.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ruth Punton
• Release date: Dec 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311082374

Ruth Punton

Born and educated in Dunedin New Zealand.Now retired and living in Busselton Western Australia.When I'm not writing, I read mainly murder mysteries. Painting and photography I also enjoy.As a humanist I consider that all people are more important than any belief system.As a feminist I believe that women, though different from men, should be equal to them in all ways excepting in anatomy and physiology.I am an atheist although I think the whole idea of god is an unknowable concept.I vote Green for no other reason in they have more compassion for people than any other political party.I do not believe Australia is a democracy. How can we be when every 3 or 4 years we can vote for one or t'other and have to put up them and their many stupid ideas for the next 4 years. With the advance in technology why are we not asked by our representative what we think about all major issues and they vote for what we say and not the party.

Book preview

Writing the Story

Ruth Punton

Copyright 2016 - Ruth Punton

Smashwords Edition

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Introductory exercises

Chapter 1

The First Paragraph

Chapter 2

First Draft

Chapters

Setting

Style

Chapter 3

The Short Story

Chapter 4

Rewriting

Chapter 5

Language Usage

Narrative and Dialogue

Active and Passive Voice

Figurative Language

Chapter 6

Fog Index

Creativity Exercises

Bibliography

Author Notes

INTRODUCTION

FICTION WRITING WORKBOOKS

The complete set of the following eBooks is called Fiction Writer's Workbooks.

Module 1 Creating Characters

Module 2 Plots & Tension

Module 3 Writing the Story - Story Basics and Rewriting

Module 4 Grammar and Punctuation

Module 5 Writing for Children, Stage/ Screen. Haiku Poetry - This book is only suitable for people who have completed the previous modules.

For eBook publishing, google Smashwords Style Guide by Mark Coker (free). It is better to format your books for eBook distribution using the Smashwords guide and then they can be uploaded to Amazon without further formatting.

For traditional publishing find the requirements for submissions by googling your publishers

Exercises - There are many exercises throughout this module. I have not supplied any answers. Learn to look critically at your own work and make sure you are correct. It is easy to become blasé.

Writing the Story is the third module in the series. In the first two Modules you will have fully created 3 characters, plotted out your short story and know the ending and be ready to write the first paragraph if you haven't already.

The time has come to write a story. You have already built your framework.

I suggest you read through the whole 15,000 words of this Module before doing any of the exercises as this module covers both writing short stories and novels and the information is interchangeable. By the end you will have hopefully completed a short story at least. Here are some creativity stimulating exercises to use prior to writing to help the ideas and words flow.

Introductory exercises

Here are some introductory exercises to remind of what you should have learned in Creating Characters and Plots & Tension modules.

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Protagonists and Antagonists

Think about the exercise when John is opening a GameZone in Town. Mary is dead against it.

1. Decide who the protagonist is and who the antagonist is.

2. Who do you want to win? Look at the notes.

3. Who is the protagonist?

4. Write about her/his desires and how he/she changes and grows because of this row.

5. Who is the antagonist?

6. How he/she change and how this row affects his/her life.

7. Invent a protagonist's collaborator

8. Describe what he/she does.

9. Invent an antagonist's collaborator

10. Describe what he/she does

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Starting your Short Story

1. Finish your 2 characters charts completely.

2. What is your protagonist’s goal – in one sentence?

3. Turn it into a question. This is the plot.

4. Answer the question above in one sentence with an unusual twist.

You now know what your story is about. Remember you can change everything.

5. List 3 obstacles (subplots) the antagonist will put in your main character's way to stop the protagonist achieving his/ her goal.

6. To each obstacle apply a question (subplot).

7. Answer each question with a twist.

8. Enlarge each subplot into 3 sentences and relate it in some way to the outcome of the main plot.

A subplot must change the outcome of the main plot in some way. Each subplot must heighten the tension so organised each in order of tension building potential.

9. For each subplot build tension with the stressors below.

Confinement within space.

Time stressor within a timeframe.

Build expectations with unresolved clues.

10. Decide where all this action will take place. Make it unusual and somewhere you know about or can research easily. E.g. In a mail sorting room - a glassblower’s studio – Busselton triathlon.

11. Decide on who is telling the story. I or someone involved or god-who-sees- all.

12. Start writing your story. This is what the course is about. Nothing else matters even though there are heaps of exercises for you to do and learn from.

Write the story without stopping to edit anything at all. Just let it all come out. Give control to the story (let your creative imagination soar) and don't interfere.

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Plot and Subplot Tension

Turn what your main character's wants into a question: a grab-sentence.

It must be one dramatic question capable of