STORY WRITING
MS & FORMAT (5 marks)
Format: 1 mark ( Title and 3 Paragraphs)
Content: 2 MARKS CONTENT
Expression and grammatical accuracy-2 MARKS
Examples of Story Writing in English
Type 1. Write a short story in 200 – 250 words, with the help of the cues given below.
Give a suitable title to the story.
Going to Mumbai by train to attend the marriage of a friend ….. got stuck in a traffic jam
….. reached the railway station late ….. boarded a wrong train ….. realised after two
hours ….. now you … … …
Type 2. Enjoying a cup of tea while sitting on my balcony on a Sunday morning,
suddenly I felt a deep pain in my chest. I thought that this was the last moment of my
life. I wanted to call my daughter, my husband and everybody to say the final Good
Bye, but couldn’t do so ….’
Imagine what happened after this. Did the family know what happened or did the
woman die unnoticed ? Explain what were the plans and aspirations of the woman at
the last moment of her life. Write an imaginary story with a suitable tide in 150-200
words.
Type 3. Write a short story in about 150-200 words by continuing the following story: “I
jumped out of the bed at midnight…………………..”
Elements of Story Writing
There are five key elements to every story: plot, setting, characters, point of view,
and conflict.
1. PLOT
The plot is the events or actions that drive your story — it describes the “what” of
your tale. The plot lets the reader know what’s happening, describes the
problems your characters are trying to solve, and gives the details on how they
attempt to solve them.
2. SETTING
The setting of your story is both the physical location and point in time in which
your plot takes place. For some stories (like the fantasy novels) setting is a huge
part of the story. You can build a whole new world with its own languages and
creatures. In this case, the setting almost acts as its own character in your tale.
3. CHARACTERS
The characters are the people, animals, beings, or personified objects driving
your story. A story can have many characters or just one main character as the
focus.
4. POINT OF VIEW
The POV you choose can help shape your entire story. There are several
different POVs to consider, but the most common are first person, second
person, and third person.
5. CONFLICT
At its most basic, conflict is the clash of opposing forces with a character’s
pursuit of a goal. The character must overcome these opposing forces to achieve
the goal. These opposing forces might take on numerous shapes, and might even
exist solely within the character’s own psyche.
Video on Purpose of Conflict
[Link]
What do you mean by ‘ Story Structure’?
As the sequence and backbone of your tale, the story structure is the order in which you
present the narrative. The linear storyline shapes the flow of events (rising action,
climax, and resolution) while establishing the setting and [Link] are a few
fundamental structural elements worth learning. They include:
Opener (Exposition)
The opener establishes your story’s setting, premise, plot, and character roles. A
compelling opener teases readers with what challenges or conflicts are ahead. It gives
the reader the background info they need to jump right into your story’s world. This is
often found towards the beginning of your story.
Even if you choose to jump right into the action, somewhere along the way your reader
needs to get a crash course on your characters’ or setting’s history.
Incident
Stage two is the story’s incident. As the catalyst or instigating force (inciting incident)that
compels your main character to act, the incident establishes the conflict that sets the
stage for the third phase of a story’s structure.
Crisis ( presented as Rising Action)
As a consequence of the inciting incident, the story’s crisis is an unfolding of the
primary conflict or series of issues. A crisis must be realistic and related to the plot. If
the character experiences more than one crisis, each should build on the last,
heightening the sense of danger and tension.
The rising action is the moments in your story that lead up to the climax — choices your
main characters have made and the events happening that are at odds with your
characters’ goals. This is where your story builds and your reader begins to invest in
your characters.
Climax
Stage four is the climax or the height of the crisis. Depending on your perspective, you
can also think of the climax as the bottom of your action. At this stage, the character has
hit rock bottom in the storyline–hopeless and seemingly out of options. The climax is not
the end of the story but the beginning of the end.
Falling Action
Now that the main conflict is resolved, it’s time to begin wrapping everything up. The
falling action is a great time to tie up any loose ends while also giving your characters a
chance to deal with the aftermath of the climax.
Ending
The final stage of the story structure is the ending or close. Success or failure are both
valid outcomes, but the ending should provide a conclusion and resolution to your story.
The ending should close the loop on all crises, plot twists, and loose ends but could also
leave the reader wanting more.
How to plan and write a story (Steps )
1. Write a one-sentence summary of your story. Start with one central idea and
systematically add more ideas to create your plot
2. Think of details of events and note down each in one sentence. You may use the
given plot timeline or plot diagram to plan the outline of your story. Ensure that
there is one sentence for each stage of the pyramid. Alternatively, you may use
the Story Spine to structure your story.
3. Expand each sentence or add more details wherever needed.
4. Connect the paragraphs and edit / trim simultaneously.
5. Group the edited text into three paragraphs. Edit the story and its structure, and
organise the flow to be more engaging.
Tips for writing a short story:
1. Plunge your main character into terrible trouble as soon as possible.
2. Think of a powerful first line. It’s all in the hook. Toni Morrison’s Paradise begins
“They shoot the white girl first.”
3. Start with something happening. The important thing is that the reader gets the
sense he’s in the middle of [Link] means not wasting explaining
backstory or setting or description. It means cutting the fluff and jumping straight
into the story.
4. Write the story from the perspective of one major character.
5. Show, don’t tell.
Video links -How to show, not tell.
[Link]
6. Use dialogues to take the story forward.
7. Stick to one tense.
8. Follow the format - Title and 3 paragraphs
9. Think of an engaging title.
Do's and Don'ts for 120-150-Word Stories with Examples:
Do:
● Focus on a single, powerful moment:
○ Do: The old woman clutched the worn photograph, a single tear tracing a path
through the decades of wrinkles. (Focuses on a specific action and detail that
hint at a larger story)
○ Don't: Sarah had a difficult childhood, losing her parents at a young age. She
bounced around foster homes,never feeling like she belonged. Now, at 80, she
still held onto the hope of finding her lost siblings. (Too much exposition for a
150-word story)
● Use strong verbs and sensory details:
○ Do: The rusty swing creaked mournfully as the wind whipped through the
deserted playground, scattering fallen leaves like memories. (Strong verbs and
sensory details create a vivid image)
○ Don't: The park was empty, the swings swaying gently in the breeze. (Lacks the
emotional impact of strong verbs and details)
● Leave room for interpretation:
○ Do: The telegram lay heavy on the table, its stark message a punch to the gut.
He reread the words, a single line that shattered his world. (Leaves the reader to
infer the nature of the message and its impact)
○ Don't: The telegram arrived, informing John that his brother had died in a car
accident. John crumpled to the floor, overcome with grief. (Spells out the
message and emotional response)
● Consider using a title that packs a punch:
○ Do: "Lost and Found" (Intriguing title that can have multiple interpretations)
○ Don't: "A Telegram Arrives" (Lacks the emotional impact of a stronger title)
Don't:
● Get bogged down in backstory:
○ Do: Rain lashed against the window, mirroring the storm raging inside her.
(Focuses on the present moment and its emotional impact)
○ Don't: Since childhood, Sarah had always dreamed of becoming a musician.
Years of practice and countless rejections hadn't dimmed her passion. Now,
standing backstage before her biggest audition yet... (Introduces too much
backstory for such a short story)
● Introduce too many characters:
○ Do: The young girl pressed the seashell to her ear, listening intently. The ocean's
roar whispered secrets only she could understand. (Focuses on a single
character and their experience)
○ Don't: The old fisherman sat on the weathered dock, mending his nets. A young
girl skipped by, her laughter echoing across the pier. The fisherman smiled,
remembering his own childhood days by the sea. (Introduces two characters and
their separate stories)
● Explain everything:
○ Do: The footprint, etched in the damp sand, was the only trace he found. Hope, a
fragile flame, flickered in his chest. (Leaves the reader to infer the character's
situation and emotions)
○ Don't: He searched the deserted beach, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear
and hope. The only clue he had was a single footprint, leading away from the
overturned boat. He knew what it meant, but a part of him refused to believe it.
(Spells out the character's thoughts and emotions)
Use complex sentence structures with caution:Complex sentences can slow down the
reading pace.
Use short, strong sentences can emphasise key moments or details in your story.
Simpler sentences create a faster, more dynamic flow, which can be especially beneficial in a
story where you want to pack a punch in a limited word count.
Remember, a 150-word story is a challenge, but it's a rewarding one. By following these do's
and don'ts, you can craft tiny stories that leave a lasting impact.
Story Spine
PLOT TIMELINE
PLOT DIAGRAM 1
Plot diagram 2