This document provides guidance for developing a story plan in groups. It instructs writers to present their initial plan to their group for feedback on themes, characters, setting, plot, and style. The group then provides feedback on whether the plan seems interesting and what could be improved. Writers are then told to improve their plan based on this feedback by writing or typing something down within 10 minutes. Sample story openings are provided to demonstrate how to create hooks that show rather than tell action and introduce important details about characters and settings to pique audience interest. The process concludes with another round of group feedback and review of whether writers achieved their goals.

1. Spotlight Present your plan to your group Themes; characters; setting; plot; style. 2. Take feedback from your group Is it interesting? What are the positive things about it? What needs to be improved? How? 3. Improve your plan using group feedback Write (or type) something down! 10 minutes each

2. Plan: EXCITEMENT TIME

3. Fizzling Starts I woke up that morning really nervous. Today was the day of the big disco competition. Sam and I had been practicing for months. This year we would do it. We would beat that Penelope and her partner once and for all. I leapt out of bed…

4. Sizzling Starts I opened the door to the disco and the must hit me like a blast. Lights flashed, people moved in a swirl of colour and suddenly it was hard to breathe. Nerves, I guess. It was the big dance competition tonight. Sam and I had been practising for months. This year we would do it. We would win. We must! ‘Hi there.’ It was Penelope. Yeah, it would be. ‘Bet you think you’re going to win tonight.’

5. Group DiscussionHow can you create a hook? Action! SHOW don’t TELL what’s going on Introduce something important about your character Introduce something important about your setting Leave the audience wanting to know more!

6. Silent Writing Action! SHOW don’t TELL what’s going on Introduce something important about your character Introduce something important about your setting Leave the audience wanting to know more!

7. Group Review Is there action? How are they SHOWING the audience the action? What do you know about the main character? What do you know about the setting? Are you interested? Two goals for rewrite.

8. Silent Re-Writing Focus on your TWO GOALS

9. Group Review Is there action? How are they SHOWING the audience the action? What do you know about the main character? What do you know about the setting? Are you interested? Have they achieved their group goals?