Short Story Draft & Play Watching Extra Credit

1. Take your homework (see posts below) and choose the most interesting situation(s) and choose the most interesting character(s) from your brainstorming. Combine situation(s) and character(s) in any way you choose to tell an interesting story. Think about your story before plunging into it.

2. Choose an OPENING from the types of story openings. Choose an ENDING from the types of endings. Jot these down on the back of the index card. Use them to guide your story.

3. Go to the lab. Write the story. Your story should be short (there is no novel here, just the short story). Work toward the chosen ending. Compose a draft. Your story might be 500 words, it might be 10,000 words. You haven't completed this draft until you reach a satisfying ending. Call this story draft #1.

Use the time in the lab today to write your draft. Proofread and turn in your story (see below).

HOMEWORK: If you do NOT finish (did not write to a satisfying ending with some sort of point, character development, diction, tone, and setting) then complete your draft and turn it in January 3.

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY: Play watching for those eager young playwrights!:

Our next unit is play script writing. Feel free (for extra credit) to watch any of the following over the break. To gain extra credit, watch the performance then respond to the question on the FORUM.

The Loveliest Afternoon of the Year by John Guare (part one)
The Loveliest Afternoon of the Year by John Guare (part two)

A Day for Surprises by John Guare

Mystery of Twicknam Vicarage by David Ives

Mere Mortals by David Ives

English Made Simple by David Ives

The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of Where Babies Come From by Christopher Durang

The Funeral Parlor by Christopher Durang

Drafting a Short Story: Short Fiction

Previous HOMEWORK (from last class): create at least 5 situations and 5 characters (not necessarily related) in your journal. Keep your journal handy for notes during class.

Let's take a look at a few short stories and apply what we have learned.
1. Beginnings/endings
2. Diction (texture)
3. Characterization
4. Plot
5. Setting

As we read, please look for the specific aspect of the story noted on your note card.

After our class reading and analysis, please use the lab to complete the following:
1. Take your homework (see above) and choose the most interesting situation(s) and choose the most interesting character(s) from your brainstorming. Combine situation(s) and character(s) in any way you choose to tell an interesting story.
2. Choose an OPENING from the types of story openings. Choose an ENDING from the types of endings. Jot these down on the back of the index card.
3. Go to the lab. Write the story. Your story should be short (there is no novel here, just the short story). Work toward the chosen ending. Compose a draft. Your story might be 500 words, it might be 10,000 words. You haven't completed this draft until you reach a satisfying ending. Call this story draft #1.

HOMEWORK: None.

Clue: Solution & Flash Fiction

Today is Mr. Bodensteiner's last day. We appreciate his work and wish him well. We will finish watching and studying the character development for the movie Clue. Afterward, let's chat about your homework (the flash fiction).

HOMEWORK: Please create at least 5 situations and 5 characters (not necessarily related) in your journal. Bring with you next class for the story we will be writing. Details to follow.

Get a "Clue", Character Design, & Flash Fiction

We are screening the film Clue. Info about the film can be found here.

Mr. Bodensteiner will work with you on helpful graphic organizers for developing character. He has also provided you with an excellent on-line source for designing characters. If you missed it on his blog, please check it out here. Seriously. This is good stuff for you.

For those of you who only want to write a novel--what is this short fiction stuff for anyway--let me suggest to you that in order to improve your narrative techniques and CRAFTING fiction (whether it is an epic 900-page novel or a micro-story of fifty words) you need to work with the short stuff first.

HOMEWORK: So--read the packet of flash fiction stories handed to you in class today for next class. As you read, please pay attention to how the author BEGINS and ENDS the story while developing either plot, character, or theme (the usual suspects) along the way. We'll chat about these stories next class. Come to class ready to discuss them.

Hint Fiction

Please refer to Mr. Bodensteiner's blog. We have been writing hint fiction (very short fiction).