Tense Shift Worksheet

CLICK the image to download the worksheet.

Tense Shifts

Tense Shifts from Lina Ell

Tips for a Short Story

adapted from 10 "Easy" Guidelines to Writing the Compelling Short Story" by Kate Robinson (January 2000 issue of The Fiction Writer Online Literary Magazine) 

Good writing creates the illusion that spoken language flows naturally from the narrator or characters.  Good dialogue can provide information, reveal character, drive the story, create a sense of place and summarize events. Good dialogue between characters is believable and creates the tension that moves the story along. Avoid unnecessary dialogue and make sure to describe the way the character speaks/the tone of voice/attitude/gestures (s)he makes.

Description enhances the story. Be specific. Use original imagery, touch on distinctive and vivid characteristics of setting. 

 Maintain subtlety in the presentation of your story. "Show, don't tell" is a rule of style that falls under the term. Being subtle also implies not telling if you're already showing, and not describing anything you don't have to. Don't underestimate the readers' participation in the story by hitting them over the head with unnecessary or repetitive information.

Compelling stories contain some sort of conflict, even if the conflict is so subtle it can be defined as tension. Without tension, there is no story. Tension may be manipulated to keep the reader involved in the story.

The length of the story must be appropriate for the scope of the material. Don't try to stretch a theme appropriate for a short story into a novella.  Likewise, be sure to fully develop characters and plots to their full capacity.  Don't limit yourself to a short piece when a compelling story requires a longer one. For the purposes of our assignment, your story must be a minimum of 3 pages.

Mrs. Ell's Instructions:

• play around with your genre - think outside the box, avoid the expected, combine genres
• include at least one static and one dynamic character - remember, characters don't have to be people
• your story should not read like a movie script - description should outweigh the dialogue
• use the "Words that Replace Said" worksheet when writing dialogue
• develop all stages of plot, including the background and exposition - do not gloss over the setting; spend some time to place the reader's imagination in your story; often, the character is a product of their environment
• use creative and original figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, oxymoron  juxtaposition, etc.)

Jumble Story Worksheet

Click on the Picture to download the "Jumble Story" Ideas Worksheet.

The Literacy Shed Website

Click on the Image for a link to the website.

Short Stories - "Organizers" and "Words to Replace Said" Worksheets

Click on Image for "Words to Replace Said" Handout.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE for "Short Story Organizer" Worksheets.
 

Blog 19 - Bucket List

Create a list of all of the things you want to do before you die. No less than 20, but of course there is no maximum number. If you already have a "bucket list," revise it and check off the items you've completed, adding new ones to the list. Please write in clear phrases and give some justification as to why the activity is important to you; however, this could be in the form of a list, just with a short explanation for each item.

DUE TUESDAY MARCH 19, 2013.

Literary Genres

Literary Genres from Lina Ell

Blog 18 - What Influences You (in Pop Culture)?

Due Thursday March 14th, 2013
Young people are highly influenced by popular culture. They attempt to define themselves on the basis of what they see on television, in newspapers and magazines, and in the movies. In fact, young people accept the values of popular culture as their own, believing that those values are central to their personal development and social acceptance.

Assignment: What elements of popular culture (movies, books, music, trends, fashion, television, technology, games, behaviors, etc) influence your identity? What have you borrowed (and from what source) to construct your attitude toward life and your personality? Explain what cultural trends do you reject? Give specific titles, details, explanations to receive full credit.

A minimum of 2 paragraphs for this topic is required ,with at least a 2-3 sentence response to another person's blog post--building upon it, disagreeing with it, or re-thinking it.