How to Explode a Moment
Infuse one moment of your story with narrative techniques.
Technique
Example Sentences:
I stood at the top of the hill, ready to ride down.
1. Beginning of event
See how the author added THOUGHTS
to the ACTION in this sentence?
2. Thoughts/Feelings
With courage and no fear, I started to pedal.
3. Imagery
Brown trees and bright green leaves flashed by.
4. Alliteration
As I punched the pedals, I started to panic when I
noticed a puddle promising pain.
5. Simile
Like a whale swallowing krill, the puddle swallowed
my wheel.
6. Allusion
Poseidon was not in a good mood today; that puddle
was out to get me.
7. Dialogue
“Oh no!” I shouted.
8. Hyperbole
I flew over the handle bars-all the way to Egypt and
back.
9. End of event
With a thud, I bit the dust.
Now, Put It All Together!
I stood at the top of the hill, ready to ride down. With courage and no fear, I started to
pedal. Brown trees and bright green leaves flashed by. As I punched the pedals, I started to
panic when I noticed a puddle promising pain. Like a whale swallowing krill, the puddle
swallowed my wheel. Poseidon was not in a good mood today; that puddle was out to get me.
“Oh no!” I shouted. I flew over the handle bars-all the way to Egypt and back. With a thud, I
bit the dust.
Your Turn!
Directions: Choose one event from your story to “explode.” Write the beginning action and
end action. Then, choose 7 creative narrative techniques to use and list them under
“Technique.” Starting after the first sentence, add the next sentence to the story underneath
the “Example Sentences,” but make sure your sentences use the technique that you listed.
Technique
1. Beginning of event
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. End of event
Example Sentences: