Writing Assignment: Fiction Writing

Good readers create good writers, and vice versa. 

In our reading practice, we have focused predominately on narratives, studying such things as main ideas (an overall moral or message) and character traits. We’ve also looked at how the creators of narratives add depth and complexity to their work through the use of an emotional arc and a particular point of view or perspective.

In our writing practice, we have also examined narratives, noting how published authors use the main writing traits (ideas, organization, word choice, voice, sentence fluency and conventions) effectively (or not, however the case may be).

Now students can apply what they've learned to their own fiction writing!

We always have time in class to practice different types of writing forms, and to play in a creative writing 'sandbox' (a session I call Free Write) but this is a specific writing assignment: short narrative writing.

Lately in class we have been practicing the 'planning' phase for story writing.

Stories are made up of 3 essential ingredients: character, setting and plot.

It doesn't really matter where you start: a character idea will lead to a corresponding setting and plot, a setting idea will naturally lead to a character and a plot...and so on. 

We have played around with this creation process, creating characters with inner and outer traits and generating plot and setting ideas that 'fit' with them. We have taken a proposed setting and generated a plot idea and a character. We have taken a general plot outline, such as

• ·      A battle is fought and won
• ·      A lost treasure or relic or object is found.
• ·      True love is searched for and found.
• ·      A difficult ordeal is survived.

and created a character and setting to match...and from that developed a more complex plot line.

Students have now received a planning package in which they can use the planning process to develop a strong outline for their proposed piece of fiction.

Students will work both in class and at home to complete the short story (emphasis on SHORT. Max 4 typed or 6 hand written, no chapter books please!)

First draft tentatively set for Dec 4. 

Final draft due Dec. 11

Crafting a narrative is a complex art. 

It is one of the most challenging writing forms (when we do persuasive essays in the new year, they are gong to seem like a breeze!) but I think everyone is up for it, particularly after all of our study on narratives. 

I can't wait to see what students come up with!