Structure, Sound & Sense:

Language Arts

Short Story

Task 3: Plot and elements

Once you’ve come up with a story idea and a goal, it’s time to flesh out the elements of your piece—that is, the theme, setting, point of view, characters, and plot.

1. Write a brief plot summary. Include a beginning, middle, and ending, as well as any possible plot twists. Example: You’ve decided to write about a day in the life of a teenager who shoplifts a gold bracelet and intends to sell it to a classmate for enough money to buy his younger brother a baseball glove. On the way out of the department store, the teenager is detained by store security, who calls the police. The police take the teen to the police station.

2. Identify the elements of your piece. These components may vary depending on the kind of fiction you are writing, but they typically include:

·        Theme

·        Setting

·        Point of view

·        Characters

·        Plot

3. Once you’ve identified your story’s elements, begin to flesh them out. Example: Your story portrays the difficulty of two brothers’ life without parents (theme) by looking at a day in the life of a teenage boy (main character). Also appearing are the teen’s younger brother, the little brother’s Little League coach and teammates, a store security guard, and police officers and personnel at the police station (supporting characters). The action takes place at a baseball diamond, at a department store, and at the police station (setting). The story is narrated by the teen (point of view).

Task 4: Rough draft

Now that you’ve laid the foundations for your story, it’s finally time to start writing.

1. Take a few minutes to map the plot sequence of the story. That is, figure out what is going to happen in your story, when it happens, and how it happens. (Hint: In 50 words or less, summarize the action.) Example: The teen’s little brother needs a baseball glove. The brothers don’t have any money, so the teen decides to steal a mall-store bracelet to sell to a classmate. The teen is caught. The police are called. They punish the teen, but also help him pay for his brother’s glove.

2. Write. As you write, let your imagination roam freely. Don’t get distracted by spelling, punctuation, or grammar. Right now your job is to have fun and be creative. Pay attention to each of the story’s elements and expand on them as you write. Example: When you place the teen at the baseball diamond, take time to describe it. Is the diamond part of a park? What sounds can our teen hear at the park? What’s the temperature outside? Set the scene for the reader.

How about your supporting characters? When discussing your supporting characters, give them more than just a name. Let the reader know who these people are. Describe how they dress, talk, or act. Hint at their personalities. Make them real.
What about point of view? Make sure the reader knows who is speaking at any given time.

3. Relax! The hardest part is behind you. If you can spare the time, don’t even think about your story for a day or two. This will help you approach the next step with a fresh eye.

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