Writing Fiction
Expectations
During the course of this unit you should be writing at least 30 minutes per day.
In this unit on Short Fiction, you will be asked to write a minimum of three rough drafts of 5001000 words each. You will be required to process one short story through the writing process to
the publishing stage. You may, of course, do more than this to meet the overall requirements of
the course.
Module Organization
The module on short fiction is designed so that you can spend the majority of your time writing.
Why write short fiction?
Writing fiction is one of the most exciting genres in the whole of creative writing. This is the genre
for those who like to cook off the cuff, tasting each recipe as you go along, simmering, adding a
pinch of this and a dash of that until you have created the perfect - and unique - blend of plot and
poetry, fiction and truth, craft and imagination.
Writing fiction lets you draw on your experience of real life stories and events and emotions, your
imagination and creativity and ability to walk in the shoes of others, your skill as a writer and
the way you can communicate your ideas to others.
And, as with every other genre, the more you write, the better you get!
Is there a difference between writing short fiction
and writing a novel?
Short fiction is tighter, more unified, simpler in plot, character, setting and theme. A novel has
room to spread out, to develop secondary characters and sub-plots. A short story must, of
course, be short, and therefore must KISS (keep it so simple). This is called unity. All short fiction
has unity:




unity of theme - one simple theme
unity of action - one simple plot
unity of character - one or two main characters
unity of setting - short time period, minimum of locations
1. Fiction: Inkshed Journal
Edgar Allan Poe is said to be the founder of the modern short story and he himself
discussed how unity is the most important factor in short fiction writing. Re-read one of
his short stories listed below. In your inkshed journal, reflect on the unity of theme,
action, character and setting. Then read the short story by Chopin and do the same. Be
sure to state specifically how each of these show unity.


“The Tell-tale Heart” or
“The Cask of Amontillado”

“The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin
2. Fiction: Idea Book
End your first lesson with a few lists. In your idea book, generate a list of ten to fifteen characters
whom you think might be interesting to explore in a short story. Read the following examples and
use them if you wish




a nurse on the night shift
a rebellious young teenager (male)
a single mother
an promising young hockey player
3. Fiction: Idea Book
Make a second list of short stories that you have read. Devise a rating system and rate each story
according to how interesting you thought it was. Secondly, state what made each story interesting
to you. Hopefully you list at least five short stories that you have read already.
Plot
4. Understanding Plot
A good story must have a good plot. Review the following plot information to make sure that you
understand the terms that will be used in this unit regarding plot. If you do not remember the story
of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff”, read it before you begin.
The Five Elements of Plot
Element 1. The
Motivation - the situation or events out of which the plot can take shape
For example, in the fairy tale "Cinderella", the heroine (Cinderella) lives with her
cruel Stepmother and Stepsisters and is mistreated and made to work like a
slave. This is the motivation.
(4a) Fiction: Assignment
Can you determine the motivation for "The Three Billy Goats Gruff"?
Element 2. The
Complication - the event that first sets the plot in motion, the initial step
In the story "Cinderella" things might have never changed for our heroine if it
hadn't been for the arrival of the invitation to the Prince's Ball. Cinderella hears of
the invitation, wishes to go, and this sets in motion the chain of events that lead
to ...well, you know.
(4b) Fiction: Assignment
Explain the complication in "The Billy Goats Gruff".
Element 3. The
Conflict - this is the general struggle focused on in the story
Cinderella (and her Fairy Godmother) is fighting against her Stepmother (and the
Stepsisters). It is an external conflict: person versus person.
(4c) Fiction: Assignment
What is the conflict in "The Three Billy Goats Gruff"?
Element 4. The Climax - the turning point of the story, the point where things turn out for the
better, or turn out tragically. It is often the high-tension point in the story as well.
There are many points of high tension in the story of Cinderella: the destruction
of her dress, the arrival at the ball, the desperate escape at midnight. But there is
only one turning point: when the slipper is placed on Cinderella's foot and it fits,
we know that Cinderella has beaten her Stepmother, and triumphed in the central
conflict of the story. (The other points along the way are known as elements of
tension.)
(4d) Fiction: Assignment
What is the climax of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff"?
(4e) Fiction: Assignment
What are some elements of tension found in "The Three Billy Goats Gruff"?
Element 5. The
Resolution - the events that follow the climax
Cinderella marries the prince and lives happily ever after
(4f) Fiction: Assignment
What is the resolution in the story "The Three Billy Goats Gruff"?
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
On a beautiful green mountainside, lived three billy goats whose name was Gruff. Down at the
bottom of the mountain was a deep mountain stream. Across the stream was a beautiful
meadow, and in spring it was filled with beautiful, tasty flowers. The stream was too fast and too
dangerous to swim. The only way over the stream was to cross the bridge, but the bridge was
guarded by a fierce and ugly troll who liked nothing better than to eat goats - or sheep, or any
kind of animal. It would lie in wait, then jump out and grab the legs of passing animals - and that
would be the last of them. All the animals were afraid to cross the stream, until one day. . .
One day, the smallest of the three Billy Goats Gruff looked across the stream to the delicious
flowers and green grass on the other side of the stream, and he decided to get some. He boldly
jumped out onto the bridge.
Trip, trap, trip, trap, went his tiny hooves on the wooden boards of the bridge.
OUT jumped the troll. "WHO'S THAT WALKING OVER MY BRIDGE?" it roared.
The little billy goat started to shake because the troll was the fiercest, most ugly thing he had ever
seen. "It's just me, Little Billy Goat Gruff, and I'm going over the bridge to eat grass in the
meadow. Please don't eat me. If you wait, you can eat my older brother - he's much bigger and
fatter than I am."
The troll considered the idea, and decided to let the little billy goat pass.
When the middle brother saw that his younger brother had gotten safely across, he decided to
give it a try himself. He boldly jumped out onto the bridge.
TRIP, TRAP, TRIP, TRAP, went his hooves on the wooden boards of the bridge.
OUT jumped the troll. "WHO'S THAT WALKING OVER MY BRIDGE?" it roared.
The middle billy goat started to shake because the troll was the fiercest, most ugly thing he had
ever seen. "It's just me, Middle Billy Goat Gruff, and I'm going over the bridge to eat grass in the
meadow. Please don't eat me. If you wait, you can eat my older brother - he's much bigger and
fatter than I am."
The troll considered the idea, and decided to let the billy goat pass.
When the older brother saw that his two younger brothers had both gotten safely across, he
decided to give it a try himself. He boldly jumped out onto the bridge.
TRIP! TRAP! TRIP! TRAP! went his hooves on the wooden boards of the bridge.
OUT jumped the troll. "WHO'S THAT WALKING OVER MY BRIDGE?" it roared.
"IT'S ME! BIG BILLY GOAT GRUFF! I'M GOING OVER THE BRIDGE TO EAT GRASS IN THE
MEADOW! TRY AND STOP ME!"
And the big billy goat took a run at the troll and butted him into the middle of next week!
The last Billy Goat Gruff joined his brothers in the meadow on the far side of the stream. The troll
was so shaken that he never did come back, and the Billy Goats Gruff came and went as they
pleased, eating grass on both sides of the stream and fresh flowers in spring.
Generating Plot
Generally speaking there are few really new ideas for the plot of a story. You may think you have
an original idea, but an author before you has probably used it. This shouldn't be discouraging. In
fact, it should free you to use plots that you might not think are brilliant - the challenge is to
present the same story in a new way. And that is something you can do - since nobody sees the
world quite the way you do; nobody has your insights, your thoughts, your ideas about how to
express the things you see. That is what makes you unique as a writer.
So . . . You want to get some plots down on paper, and then consider how you can make them
unique.
You reviewed the Elements of Plot. Few authors, however, start to write their stories having all
the elements lined up and clear in their minds. Some authors do write an outline that includes
motivation, complication, points of tension, conflict, climax and resolution. But not many. For most
authors, the story grows out of itself as they write.
What you should know before you begin to write, however, is who you are writing about (MAIN
CHARACTER) and what their problem is (THE CONFLICT).
Start, then, with the list of interesting characters you made in your idea book.
5. Fiction: Idea Book
Find your list of characters. Beside the first character list a conflict that might occur if
this character was in your story. If you have more than one idea for a possible conflict great! List all your ideas beside the character. Repeat this for ten of your characters.
You now have a wealth of ideas to begin writing!
In your writing folder, choose one of your ideas and begin to write the story! It is probably best to
choose a character and conflict that fall within your experience - we write best about what we
know best. Remember that the rough draft is the time to let your ideas flow, not the time to worry
about details or perfection. Get inside your character and let the story happen!
If you need more ideas to get you started got to your Ideas handout.
The sections are important to your development as a writer, and most be incorporated into your
short fiction as you write.
Mini Lessons and Assignments
Character
Having interesting characters is crucial to a good story.
The main character in the story is the protagonist.
The antagonist is the person in conflict with the protaganist.
Your reader has to care about your protagonist and what happens to him or her. As an author you
should know your protagonist inside out - even if all that you know about the character does not
end up in print. Your should know:


what motivates your character
what your character is afraid of








what your character is afraid to reveal about him/herself
how your character wants to be seen by others
how your character is seen by others
what your character really wants in life
what your character really wants as the outcome of the conflict
what values and beliefs your character has
how far your character will go to get what he/she wants
the physical appearance of your character
Remember that even though you, the author, know all there is to know about your character, your
reader should know only what you want them to know. You control what the reader knows about
your character, and how the important aspects of your character's life and thoughts will be
revealed.
There are five main ways in which an author reveals character:
1. The character's thoughts. This is the main way to reveal character in first person stories, and
also in many third person stories. These thoughts need never be revealed to anyone else in the
story but they tell the reader what motivates the character, how he/she sees the world.
2. The character's reactions to events. "The bigger the issue, the smaller you write." This quote
from Ralph Fletcher refers to the art of revealing the thoughts and feelings of your characters by
showing, rather than telling. If your character is dealing with a big issue, for example the suicide
of a friend, reveal who your character is by showing the reader his reaction, rather than by telling
the reader that he was heart-broken, or devastated.
"Jon sat on the edge of his bed, without moving, for two hours. His eyes
would not focus on anything beyond his clasped hands and the swirling print
of the worn carpet beneath his feet. The faded colours, and the way they
seemed to blend and yet not be swallowed up, the way the small pattern
repeated and repeated and repeated - all this was important, and he wanted
to memorize it, never let it go. He wanted to reach out and touch it with his
hands, but they would not move, would not unclench."
3. The words of the character. This can provide the reader with direct information about the
character's thoughts, yet still reveal only what the character wants or is able to reveal. For
example, a character's thoughts may tell you that she is lonely, but she may never speak of it, or
may even brag of having many friends.
4. The thoughts and opinions of other characters or the narrator about the main character.
This is a good way to add information that cannot be revealed through the character directly. For
instance, a character does not think or say, "I am kind" or "I am cruel". However, other characters
can say these things, and can show the reader what they are thinking by the way they interact
with the main character.
5. The physical description of the character. This description may be detailed or it may be
quite simple, depending on the story you wish to tell. You should only include those aspects of
physical appearance that are necessary to the story. If your character is a small boy struggling to
overcome a bullying problem, then it is important that the read know your character is short and
slight. But it is not likely that your reader needs to know - or, for that matter, cares - that your
character has blue eyes and brown hair.
6. Fiction: Idea Book – Write a character sketch using the elements
discussed above. Length: one page.
Structure
The structure of a story is simply how the story is organized, or put together. Many writers will tell
the story in a linear fashion, which means the events are told in the order in which they occur.
There is nothing wrong with telling the story in chronological order, but there are other methods
you might like to try.
Rising action: The story begins with the motivation and complication (the cause and effect
events of the plot) and is structured so that the tension builds and builds until the high point of the
climax, which occurs near the end of the story.
Non-linear: Events or sections of the story appear in a circular or dream-like way and add up to
something only after the reader has read the whole story.
Flashbacks: Some stories use flashbacks to provide the reader with information that is
necessary to understanding fully what is happening in the present.
For example, Sarah may have a problem at school that stems from a time in the
past when she was abused at home. The writer may use flashbacks to give the
reader this information.


The story may start with Sarah at school. Then when an event at school
triggers Sarah's memory, the story may flash back to the past and begin
to tell us about the events of Sarah's past.
Or the story may begin at the climax and then flash back to the past in
order to provide details of the events leading up to the point at which the
story began.
Backstory: Some short fiction begins in the past and gives the reader some background or "back
story" before the main story begins. This is another technique a writer may use to provide needed
information
7. Fiction: Inkshed Journal
Read two of the following short stories. In your inkshed journal reflect upon the structure used by
the author. Discuss how it contributed to the success of the story.



"Penny in the Dust" by Ernest Buckler
"A Visit to Grandmother" by William Melvin Kelley
"On the Sidewalk, Bleeding" by Evan Hunter
Setting, Mood and Atmosphere
The setting of the story provides the physical details of the location where the story occurs. It
also includes the time period during which the story takes place. The mood or atmosphere of the
story is linked to the setting in that they give the reader clues about the emotions or feelings
attached to the setting. The setting may be a shore, but . . .
Is it a sunny, sandy, beach?
Or is it a desolate and lonely strip of wasteland strewn with rocks and deadwood?
8. Fiction: Idea Book
Write a list of ten basic things that might be found in the room of a teenager. Write a description
of these items, setting a cheerful mood. Use adjectives and adverbs, verbs and nouns that evoke
a positive feeling. Then write a paragraph describing the same basic items, but creating a sad or
depressing mood. Again, use words that will evoke the intended mood in your reader.
The Purpose of Setting
A writer chooses a particular setting for a short story, not because it is realistic or accurate, but
because of what it accomplishes in the story. Setting is used for a number of reasons:





The setting can provide important information about the main character, whether he or
she is connected to the setting, at home in it, an outsider, or a guest.
A setting that is vivid increases the credibility of the character and the action. If the reader
accepts the setting as real, then the reader is more likely to accept the characters who
live there, and their behaviour as real. On the other hand, "mistakes" in setting may
cause the reader to give up on the story as "fake". This applies to fantasy settings as well
as realistic settings.
The setting of a story often has a direct connection to the story's meaning. For example a
description of a house can help illustrate an overall feeling of loneliness and isolation. Or
the intense activity of a city setting might be linked to excitement. These feelings can be
connected to a character or to the theme.
Sometimes the setting will hold keys to understanding one of the characters. Where a
person lives is often very much a part of who that person is.
The setting can be used to create mood and atmosphere, if these are important to the
story.
9. Fiction: Idea Book and Inkshed Journal
In your inkshed journal, reflect on a short story (that I will provide you with) and discuss the
purpose of the setting, how the setting contributes to the story, and whether you thought the
setting was used to good effect.
Then, in your idea book, come up with 5 descriptions of different settings that you could use for
stories and the story idea to go along with it. How will your setting contribute to the story?
Leads/Narrative Hook
A lead is simply how your story begins. It may begin simply, with a description of the setting. It
may plunge right into the heart of the story and begin with action. It may begin with dialogue.
There are many, many ways to begin your story. But the important thing is that, from the very first
sentence, the attention and interest of the reader is engaged.
This can be accomplished by talking about things with which the reader identifies, presenting an
unusual situation or problem, or showing a contradiction in the protagonist's character that the
reader sees will lead to conflict. These things are called narrative hooks, since they "hook" the
attention of the reader and get them involved in the story.
Theme and Meaning
Begin with the story. Most writers do not begin to write with a specific theme in mind but it arises
out of the story you tell as a writer. During revision you can think of what the story is saying in
terms of theme. At that point you can decide whether you need to give your theme more focus.
Begin with the story. Short story writers strive to bring some element of human existence alive.
When you do this with conviction, theme arises naturally out of what you have written.
Endings
The ending, or the resolution, of a story can take many forms. It can take the form of a surprise if
you have carefully crafted your story. Or it can merely be the tidying up of details. Sometimes you
may wish to end your story with the climax as in "The Sniper" by Liam Flaherty
A good ending will accomplish several things. It will:





make clear that an important change has occurred in the life of the main character
suggest that this change will affect the future that extends beyond the story
give the reader something to think about
connect the character's story to that of the reader
connect the beginning of the story clearly to the end
Check the endings of your stories. Do they meet the criteria of a good ending?
Details
The writing becomes beautiful when it becomes specific.
(Fletcher, What A Writer Needs, p 47)
The bigger the issue the smaller you write . . . Concrete details allow the
writer to understate an important truth rather than clubbing the reader
over the head with it. (Fletcher, What A Writer Needs, p 47)
The art of putting detail into your writing is useful for a number of reasons:
1. It allows you to give your work more immediacy. The reader feels as though he or she is
right there - either because you have described the scene in detail, or because you have
described an action in detail, or because you have given a detailed picture of the
character's thoughts.
2. It allows you to give the feel of an important scene without, as Fletcher says "clubbing the
reader over the head with it". By avoiding the larger issue ,or the death of a loved one,
facing life as a quadriplegic - and concentrating on the details of how your character acts
in that moment - his eyes stared into space, unfocussed - you can give your reader a
deeper sense of what is happening and a greater sense of immediacy.
Fiction - Ideas:
Find a newspaper article that describes an event and write the story as though it were fiction.
Describe a setting you believe could be symbolic of something that happens in that setting.
Incorporate symbolism in your description. Then write a story using that setting.
Read the stories of seniors that can be found in magazines and newspapers such as
Saskatchewan Senior, Imagine what it would have been like to experience one of the
anecdotes, and write a story based on that idea.
Ask your parents about interesting events in their lives and write the story.
Consider issues in your community. Brainstorm a list of "what if's" that surround an issue.
(What if the whole community worked together to solve it? What if the issue led to someone's
death?) Choose one conflict and write the story.
Scan the obituaries for interesting people and write what you think might be their story.
Write a day in the life story of an animal or inanimate object.
Create a world of creatures that inhabit a microcosm in our world - people who live in clouds,
radiators, or worm holes.
Ideas and Prompts
Here are some ideas to help you get started writing:











Imagine you are inside a common object (light bulb, CD player, radio). Write a comedy
about your observations of the outside world.
From a magazine, select a photograph that contains people. Assign a one-sentence
theme to the picture. Describe the setting and the people. Put a plot in motion by
presenting one of the characters with a choice, having them make that choice and then
imagining the consequences.
You're upstairs in your house. You are not expecting anyone and the front door is locked.
You hear a strange noise downstairs. Write the story of what happens next. Try to create
an atmosphere of terror and suspense.
Describe a rowboat tied up to the dock. Imagine a person getting into the rowboat and
rowing to the middle of the lake. Tell the story: Who is the person? Why did they take the
rowboat? where are they going? Why?
Begin a story with one of these lines:
o I knew I was in trouble when. . .
o Who do you think you are?
o I knew I had seen her before, but where?
Write a story about a memorable event from your childhood - try to make your reader feel
what you felt as a child.
Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down. For about fifteen minutes, let your thoughts
go. Then write down what came into your mind - record it all, even the fragments that
don't seem to make much sense. Look over what you wrote and choose one train of
thought that seems to show the most story potential. Think about how you could expand
or reshape your idea into a short fictional piece.
By yourself, or with a groups of friends or classmates, invent a fictional world. Give it a
name and decide on its customs. Consider the appearance and geography of this new
world. What is common and what is rare? What is valued? How do the inhabitants
behave? How do they look? What rules and punishments are in effect? What is daily life
like, and how do the inhabitants relate to each other and to the other creatures in this
world? Have fun with your imagination!
Write a story about events that happened to your parents before you were born.
Write a story about someone with whom you interact on a daily basis. Tell the story from
their perspective, including their interactions with you. Consider writing from the
perspective of someone you dislike!
Write a dialogue in which two characters discuss a third person. Give your reader a good
picture of the third person's character.