Prewriting: Fictional Time Travel
Story
Writing Process
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Prewriting – Tuesday (Sept. 10)
Compose – Wednesday (Sept. 11)
Evaluate – Thursday/Friday (Sept. 12 & 13)
Revise – Thursday/Friday (Sept. 12 & 13)
Edit – Thursday/Friday (Sept. 12 & 13)
Publish – Monday/Tuesday (Sept. 16 & 17)
Your Prompt
• You are going to write an
engaging story where you travel
back in time or to the future and
interact with others to resolve a
personal conflict.
Step 1
• Select a time period.
• Will you choose to go back in time?
• If so, how far back?
• Will you set your story in the future?
Step 2
• Identify the conflict.
• What moral dilemmas would a character living
during that time face?
• Remember: A moral dilemma is a state of
uncertainty, especially as to what to do
• (Ex: Mr. White wasn’t sure if he should make the
2nd wish in “The Monkey’s Paw.”)
Step 3
• Create believable characters.
• Will your story be 1st or 3rd person?
• You are creating the characters that will be
experiencing the conflict you just created.
• Think about the list of archetypes we’ve talked
about (Hero, Temptress, etc).
• List 5 traits that each of your characters will
possess.
Step 4
• Determine the theme of the story.
• What will be the point of your story?
• What is the life lesson or message you want to
convey to the reader?
• Ex: The theme of “The Monkey’s Paw” was:
Don’t mess with fate and/or don’t wish for
things you don’t really need.
Step 5
• Map the story using the Plot Diagram.
• Write the theme at the top of the page.
• Record the main character(s) and conflict,
writing a complete sentence.
• Move to the end of the map and determine how
the conflict will be resolved, along with the
conclusion of your story.
Step 5
• Fill out the rest of your story map.
• Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling
Action, Resolution
• What will happen after the conflict is identified?
• How will things turn around?
• How can you make your story unpredictable?
Short Summary
• Write a short summary of your story, including
the main character, conflict and resolution.
• Write the theme of the story.
Day 2: Writing the Rough Draft
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Add details to your story
The 5 senses:
What do you see? Smell? Hear? Taste? Touch?
Due by the end of class today
Minimum: 1.5 pages
Maximum: 2.5 pages
Write in complete sentences.
No talking!
Be creative!
Start at the beginning
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Write your first paragraph.
Remember to use adjectives (describing words).
Use lots of DETAIL!
This is where you introduce the setting – the
time and place of your story.
• Introduce your main character for the first time.
• How did you get to the time period you’re in?
• Where exactly are you and how do you feel about
it?
Writing the Rough Draft
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Next: Rising Action
Introduce the conflict of the story.
What’s the problem?
How does your character feel about it?
What will happen right before the climax?
Use lots of DETAIL!
5 senses: What do you see? Smell? Hear? Touch?
Taste?
• Don’t forget to use dialogue!
Writing the Rough Draft
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Climax: the most interesting part of the story
How does this involve the conflict?
What’s happening? Describe in great DETAIL.
Be elaborative – tell and describe as much as you
can.
Writing the Rough Draft
• Falling Action: What happens after the most
exciting part of the story?
• What does your character do or experience next?
• Has the conflict been resolved?
• What part have the other characters played in
your story?
• Use lots of DETAIL!
Writing the Rough Draft
• Resolution: How does your story end?
• How has the conflict been resolved?
• What lesson did your character learn from this
experience?
• What happens last and how does your character
feel about it?
You’re Done!
• Check over your work and make sure it makes
sense.
• Read over the entire story.
• Minimum: 1.5 pages
• Maximum: 2.5 pages
• Make sure you have: dialogue, paragraphs,
complete sentences, details, adjectives, conflict