STORY WRITING
Five Elements of A Short Story
Character: A character is a person, or sometimes even an animal, who takes part in the action of a short story or other literary work.
Setting: The setting of a short story is the time and place in which it happens. Authors often use descriptions of landscape, scenery, buildings, seasons or weather to provide a strong sense of setting.
Plot: A plot is a series of events and character actions that relate to the central conflict.
Conflict: The conflict is a struggle between two people or things in a short story. The main character is usually on one side of the central conflict. On the other side, the main character may struggle against another important character, against the forces of nature, against society, or even against something inside him or her (feelings, emotions, illness).
Theme: The theme is the central idea or belief in a short story.
Points to Remember
1. Have a clear theme. What is the story about? It is the underlying message or statement behind the words. Get this right and your story will have more resonance in the minds of your readers.
2. An effective short story covers a very short time span. It may be one single event that proves pivotal in the life of the character, and that event will illustrate the theme.
3. Don't have too many characters. Each new character will bring a new dimension to the story, and for an effective short story too many diverse dimensions (or directions) will dilute the theme. Have only enough characters to effectively illustrate the theme. Make every word count. There is no room for unnecessary expansion in a short story.
4. Focus. The best stories are the ones that follow a narrow subject line. What is the point of your story? Its point is its theme. It's tempting to digress, but in a 'short' you have to follow the straight and narrow otherwise you end up with either a novel beginning or a hodgepodge of ideas that add up to nothing.
SAMPLE
The Missing Sweetmeat
One fine day Divya woke her mother up and said, “Mummy it is so long since you made my favorite coconut barfi – please make it today!" Mummy was in a good mood and so she smiled and said, “All right dear, I will keep it ready for you by the time you are back from school." Divya went to school with a big smile on her face and spent the entire day dreaming about the delicious coconut barfis.
Meanwhile that afternoon, her elder brother, Dhruv came home with his friends. Mummy had gone to the market and he found a plate full of freshly made barfis on the kitchen platform. He decided to give his friends a treat and within minutes the plate was empty! Just then mummy rang up and told Dhruv to give Divya a barfi when she came back from school. Poor Dhruv how was he to know that the barfis were made specially for Divya? A naughty idea struck him and he left his pet frog on the plate and placed a lid over it. He left the house chuckling.
Divya got home in the evening, eagerly went into the kitchen and opened the plate. A pair of eyes glistened at her. Four-year-old Divya was shocked. She went to her mother and asked “Mummy, do barfis have eyes?" “Certainly not", said mummy “Go on and eat the barfis!" This time when she went and removed the lid, a frog jumped right at her! The poor little girl jumped back in fright and went crying to her mother. She told her mother about the frog who consoled her and waited for Dhruv to get back that night. When he came she took him to task and made him apologize to Divya. The next day mummy made some more coconut barfis and this time little Divya more than got her fill!!
PRACTICE QUESTION
a) Complete the story given below in about 120-150 words:
Last summer vacation I visited Kulu and Manali along with my friends. Kulu is a beautiful valley full of lush green trees, apple orchards and forests………………………………
b) Given below is the ending of a story. Begin it suitably and connect it with its ending. Word limit 120-150 words.
………………………………………………………………….. Kunal decided that once he comes out of the hospital he would follow the footsteps of his elder brother Kathik and go to school regularly
Please click on below link to download CBSE Class 10 English Story Writing Worksheet
