It can be a joyous event when the writer sits down and
sets out about the business of writing a creative story,
The pleasure of fiction writing is that the story came
from inside the writer. All the elements were created
inside the writers head based on observation, history,
personal experience, other people's experience and
about a million other stimuli. Not only are these stimuli
different for every writer but, most times, different for
each story told.
However we get to keyboard to write, whatever it was in
us that brought about the need to get it down on paper
or input into the computer, there are elements to a
story we should always keep in mind. Some of these
elements are, forgive me, elemental. Whether you've
taken several courses in writing a creative story or you
got home from your day job and just had the urge to
write down this story that's stuck in your head, the
basic elements should still be there.
What are those basic elements you're talking about?
They are, theme, plot, characters, conflict, setting and
point of view. If I may, I'd like to explain just a few
things about each one before you get back to your
writing.
Let's start with theme. This can be a simple statement
of what the story is about. Your story is about
something, right? So, just write it down. It can be as
simple as, love hurts or people fighting against change
or believing in yourself. See, I told you it was simple.
Tackling the plot can be tricky. If you write out your
plot or plots before you start writing it can give you a
sort of guide post to keep you on track. Just realize
that there are those times the characters in your story
have a better idea and take you in a whole different
direction. That's okay. The basic general elements of
plot will still be there only the specifics of your plot will
have changed. These basic elements are, the
introduction, progressing action, climax, regressive
action and denouement.
The introduction is just how it sounds. Let us know
about your characters, the setting, perhaps foreshadow
important story points happening later.
Progressing action is where the conflict comes in and
things get more complicated.
The point in your story where the reader is really hooked
wondering what's going to happen next and can there
be a resolution and, OMG, what's on the next page, is
called the climax.
Where progressing action is where things get
complicated, regressing action is where things start
coming together. Basic story lines begin to get resolved.
Denouement is the final resolution of your story and it's
various parts.
All of these together help to make your writing a
creative story a bit better and, sometimes, easier.
Setting should be easy for you. Where is the story
happening? Is it hot, cold, raining, windy, fall, spring?
Where and weather can play a key elements in your
story if you let them.
Conflict can be all sorts of things. The really basic ones
are man against some external force, ie. society or
circumstance or some other character, and the internal
force of man against himself. I'm sure your conflict will
fit in these two elements somewhere. Just remember, a
story without conflict is excruciatingly boring.
Characters? These are the people living in your head.
What do they look like? What do they do and what
won't they do? How do they act around others and how
do others react to them? Give them a history of their
life before the story starts and what will their life be like
beyond the story's end. What do they sound like? What
phrases and phrasing shapes their speech. We could go
on and on but I think you get the idea.
Finally, and you thought we'd never get here, lets talk
about point of view. All this means is who is telling the
story. Is it the main character or someone close to the
main character talking to us? Then you'll use first
person pronouns like I, me, we. Also, the story teller will
only have first hand knowledge of only certain parts of
the story, right? The omniscient voice usually knows
everything and can be anywhere talking about anybody
and uses the third person pronouns like she, they, it.
Once you decide on a point of view, stick with it and be
consistent. Check your story and correct the point of
view where necessary.
Writing a creative story can be a wonderful part of your
life. Using these basic elements will only help you.
Remember, they are no rules. There are no rules in the
creative arts. Let your own creativity loose.
Your unique voice is waiting to be heard
YOU ARE READING
stories not easy
Diversosjust click to read what happened to when i was writing a story
