The document provides guidance on key elements of writing short stories, including defining the beginning, middle and end of a narrative. It also outlines important aspects to consider such as characters, plot, setting, theme and narrative point of view. Tips are offered on crafting an engaging introduction, developing the complication and ensuring the resolution solves any problems.

1. Year 9 MWSC
2012
PSS

2. A short story is a narrative that has a
beginning, a middle and an ending.
 The orientation (beginning) tells the reader
who, what, when, where and why.
 The complication (middle) is the problem or
the conflict the main character or characters
must face and solve.
 The resolution (ending) is the solving of the
problem or conflict for better or for worse.

3.  Purpose: What is the writer‟s purpose? Is it
to entertain or to make the audience think?
 Plot: How are the events of the story
arranged? Are they interesting or exciting?
 Setting: Where and when does the action
take place? Does the setting have an
important bearing upon the action?
 Theme: What is the main underlying idea,
to which the author would like the audience
to respond?

4.  Narrator: Who is telling the story? Is it a
character in the story, an observer or the
writer?
 Characters: Who are the characters? Are
they true to life? Why are they important?
 Conflict: What struggle or problems occur
between the characters or what inner
conflict does the character need to resolve?
 Climax: What is the most exciting point in
the story?

5.  Title: How does the title relate to the story?
 Orientation: How does the beginning arouse
your interest?
 Complication: What are the problems that
hinder the main characters from achieving
their goal? How does the writer build up the
suspense?
 Resolution: Is the ending of the story a
surprise? Are the problems solved?

6.  Start
with a situation – a problem to
be resolved for your protagonist.
 Then present the problems that can
occur:
 Misunderstandings
 mistaken identity
 lost opportunities

7.  Thefinal step is to show how you
can solve the problem.
 Love Triumphs
 good conquers evil
 honesty is the best policy
 united we stand

8.  Every piece of writing must have a
message or thread of meaning running
through it and this theme is the skeleton
or framework on which you hang your
plot, characters, setting etc.
 As you write, make sure that every word
is related to this theme.

9.  Aneffective short story convers a
very short time span. It may be one
single event that is momentous in
the life of your main character or
the story may take place in a single
day or even an hour.
 Try to use the events you depict to
illustrate your theme.

10.  You do not have to be predictable when
deciding on settings. For example, some of
the most frightening settings for thrillers are
not cemeteries or lonely allies, but normal
places where readers can imagine
themselves.
 Appeal to your reader‟s five senses to make
your settings more real.

11.  Around three main characters is all a
short story can effectively deal with
because too many will distract you
from your theme.
 Decide on the characteristics that
are important for your theme and
stick to those.

12.  Never underestimate the power of
dialogue in conveying character, but
it must contribute to the main focus
of the story. Every word you put
into the mouth of your characters
must contribute to revealing your
theme……if it doesn‟t, be ruthless
and cut it.

13.  Visual imagery also draws the reader
in.
 Capture the reader‟s interest in, and
empathy for, your characters. You
need to paint such a vivid picture
that the reader can imagine
herself/himself to be in the scene.

14.  Beginwith an arresting first paragraph or
lead, enough to grab the readers and make
them curious to know what happens next.
 Makesure the plot works – there must be a
beginning, middle and end.
 Don‟tsignal the twist ending too soon – try to
keep the reader guessing until the last
moment.

15.  The narrator is the one who tells the reader
what is going on. It is through the eyes of
the narrator that the events and characters
are seen.
 The narrator may be one of the characters in
the story or someone who observes what
happens.
 We use the term narrative point of view
(POV) to describe the way in which the
narrator sees the events that make up the
story.

16.  The First Person
 “I” singular or “we” plural
This gives the most personal view of events, as
if told by a firsthand witness or witnesses.
 The Second Person
 “You” – singular and plural
 Seldom used for telling stories as this POV is
used when giving instructions and commands.

17.  The Third Person
 “He”, “She”, “Tom” – singular
 Or “They” – plural
Offers a view of events and characters that is
not limited by time or place. The main form is
called the “Omniscient POV”. This POV is the
most flexible.

18.  Thenext screen shows the first few lines of a
short story called The Breadwinner.

19. The Breadwinner
The parents of a boy of fourteen were
waiting for him to come home with his first
week‟s wages.
The mother had laid the table and was
cutting some slices of bread and butter for
tea. She was a little woman with a pinched
face and spare body, dressed in a blue blouse
and skirt, the front of the skirt covered with a
starched white apron. She looked tired and
frequently sighed heavily.

20. The Breadwinner
The parents of a boy of fourteen were
waiting for him to come home with his first
week‟s wages.
The mother had laid the table and was
cutting some slices of bread and butter for
tea. She was a little woman with a pinched
face and spare body, dressed in a blue blouse
and skirt, the front of the skirt covered with a
starched white apron. She looked tired and
frequently sighed heavily.
The title of the story relates to the main issue

21. The Breadwinner
The parents of a boy of fourteen were
waiting for him to come home with his first
week‟s wages.
The mother had laid the table and was
cutting some slices of bread and butter for
tea. She was a little woman with a pinched
face and spare body, dressed in a blue blouse
and skirt, the front of the skirt covered with a
starched white apron. She looked tired and
frequently sighed heavily.
Orientation: the characters are introduced

22. The Breadwinner
The parents of a boy of fourteen were
waiting for him to come home with his first
week‟s wages.
The mother had laid the table and was
cutting some slices of bread and butter for
tea. She was a little woman with a pinched
face and spare body, dressed in a blue blouse
and skirt, the front of the skirt covered with a
starched white apron. She looked tired and
frequently sighed heavily.
Little to eat - poverty

23. The Breadwinner
The parents of a boy of fourteen were
waiting for him to come home with his first
week‟s wages.
The mother had laid the table and was
cutting some slices of bread and butter for
tea. She was a little woman with a pinched
face and spare body, dressed in a blue blouse
and skirt, the front of the skirt covered with a
starchedwhite apron. She looked tired and
frequently sighed heavily.
Description of mother suggests financial hardship and that
she is struggling with a problem

24. The Breadwinner
The parents of a boy of fourteen were waiting
for him to come home with his first week‟s
wages.
The mother had laid the table and was cutting
some slices of bread and butter for tea. She
was a little woman with a pinched face and
spare body, dressed in a blue blouse and
skirt,the front of the skirt covered with a
starchedwhite apron. She looked tired and
frequently sighed heavily
Clean and neat – even if little to eat the table is still laid
out

25. He was a soft-faced man wearing rimless
glasses, but he handled the automatic with
unmistakable competence.
I was rather surprised at my calmness when I
learned the reason for his presence. „It‟s a
pity to die in ignorance,‟ I said. „Who hired
you to kill me?‟
His voice was mild. „I could be an enemy in
my own right.‟

26.  We walk down to the busy intersection, me
trailing behind Harry. We strut our stuff
across the road. I can feel eyes watching
and heads turning as we pass. In fact, I‟m
surprised we haven‟t caused a collision with
all the drivers watching.
“Nice dog mate” remarks a passer-by.
 MWSC Year 9 student

27.  It‟squiet in here, cool leather pressed
against my cheek. I can hear noises, my
relatives lie next to me. Suddenly sunlight
pierces the darkness, glinting off my golden
skin. I am flying through the sky and as I
crash onto the table top a Freddo frog slides
past me.
 MWSC Year 9 student

28. Now it is your turn!