Successful Story Writing

Genre: Character-Problem-Solution

We are writing original creative stories, using this genre. This involves a problem or adventure that our main characters will experience.

Beginnings: 4 techniques to hook our reader

•  Action – What would you do?
• Dialogue/Exclamation – What would you say or exclaim?
•  A Thought or Question – What would you be thinking, wondering or worrying?
• A Sound – What would you hear?

Suspense: Here are some ways we can build suspense

• Story Questions – use your characters to ask questions – to wonder or worry. This gives hints to the reader about what might happen next.
• Word Referents – when describing a story critical person or object, do not immediately reveal what ‘it’ is. 
• Magic of 3 – use imagery (descriptive language) to give 3 hints before revealing a discovery at the end. Focus on the 5 senses (what we see, hear, feel, smell, taste)

Main Event: This is the MOST IMPORTANT part of the story. Fully elaborated main events have a balance of:

• Action – What did the characters do?
• Description – What did you see, hear, or feel?
• Thoughts/Feelings – What were you wondering, worrying, feeling?
• Dialogue/Exclamation – What did you say or exclaim?
• Sound Effect – What did you hear?

Endings: A good story ending reveals what the story was about and how the main character has grown or changed.

Here are some suggestions for writing extended endings:

• A Memory – What did you remember most?
•  Feelings – How did you feel about what happened?
• Wish or Hope – What would you wish or hope?
• Decision – What did you decide?
• Defining Action – What did you do?