Source: “Brainstorm,” marcos c., flickr
Now that you know your purpose and audience, you need to develop ideas and questions for your short story. Brainstorming refers to many different practices for generating ideas. Of course It isn’t literally a weather event in your head, but a mental storm in which you allow your mind to think freely and write about ideas that may eventually become the focus of your writing. This part of the lesson will focus on brainstorming techniques you can use to gather ideas for a short story.
Freewriting
Freewriting is the first brainstorming technique we’ll discuss. To freewrite, find a quiet place to work with no distractions. Next, take five to fifteen minutes (use a timer if you have one available) and write as much as you know, or can imagine, about your topic. In this lesson, you will look at a picture and generate ideas and questions about it for a short story.
When you freewrite, follow these guidelines:
- Don’t worry about grammar or spelling.
- Don’t go back and review what you have already written.
- Don’t stop until your time is up.
When you are finished, read what you have written and circle, underline, or highlight any ideas that you think will work well for the short story you are going to write.
Now that you’re warmed up, let’s review the parts of a short story. These are essential ingredients that must be included:
I. Plot: The plot is the sequence of events in a short story. A short story typically has one plot and is meant to be read in a short span of time. An elusive part of plot is the theme or message of the story. Theme helps to bring the elements of a short story together. The plot contains three main parts:
Beginning: The beginning of the story or the exposition provides background information. This is where the characters and setting are introduced to the reader. Most importantly, we are also introduced to the main conflict of the story.
Middle: During the rising action, interest or suspense builds as a conflict develops. The climax is the turning point of the story. The climax is followed by the falling action. This is where the events of the story begin to be resolved.
End: At the end of the story, or the denouement, the conflict is resolved, and the action ends.
II. Setting: The setting is the time and place of a short story. The setting is important because it is the when and where of a story. The short story’s setting contains the following:
Place: the physical location where the story takes place
Time: possibly a historical period as well as the time of day
Mood: the atmosphere and feelings the writer is trying to create
III. Characters: The characters are the people who drive a story. They speak through dialogue to let a reader know what is being said. The characters' dialogue can help the reader understand more about other characters.
Note: Remember that a short story is fictional. You make up the events and parts of the story.
Let’s review. For the activity that follows, drag and drop each short story term next to the correct definition.
