REALISTIC

FICTION
WRITING UNIT
By Jill Rattinger
STRATEGIES FOR GENERATING
PERSONAL NARRATIVE TOPICS
Think of a person who matters to you, list small
moments.

Think of first times or last times you did something, list,
list small moments you could tell about each.

Think of moments that really mattered because
realized or learned something, list those moments.

Think about a place that matters, use pictures, a map,
or quick notes to jot about the small moments that
occurred there.
HOW TO FIND IDEAS FOR FICTION

Pay attention to the small moments in your life that could be
fictionalized.

Consider places where stories could take place, and imagine those
stories.

Read current events in newspapers, blogs, magazines, etc. Be
inspired by true events that could be fictionalized.

Ask, What stories do I wish existed in the world? Let this questions
lead you to invent a character with traits, struggles, actions.

Think about an issue that is important to you, and create a character
who struggles with that issue.
SCENE BOOT CAMP
Scenes are small moments or mini-stories
Include a clear setting that is woven
throughout the moment
Have a characters who are thinking, talking,
acting, or perhaps doing all of those things
Contain a character motivation and obstacle or
some sort
SCENE BOOT CAMP CONTINUED
Students first attempt at writing a scene:

Include what the character is feeling think of small
actions that can show how the character feels rather
than telling.
Include dialogue.
Describe what the character wants in the scene and
what obstacles are getting in his or her way.
SCENE BOOT CAMP CONTINUED
While students are writing in first person ask:

Show the setting. Where is the character right
now? What little detail of the setting can you
mention?
Describe what the character is thinking right now.
Show the characters actions big or small (kicking
a soccer ball or taking a sip of soda).
Have your character make a decision. It can be
big or small.
HOW TO WRITE COMPELLING FICTION
Brainstorm a great story idea (small moments, places, events, issues,
struggles, stories you wish existed in the world?
Make your character come alive.
* Generate traits.
* Reveal wants and challenges.
* Consider characters attitude toward self.
* Explore characters relationship with others.
* Describe characters motivations, facial expressions,
tics, style, quirks, etc.
Test Drive your characters scenes.
* Make sure character does things big or small.
* Show Feelings.
* Include dialogue.
* Develop the setting.
* Try different points of view (first and third person).
WAYS TO DEVELOP CHARACTERS
Work on creating the insides of your characters

How does your character feel about themselves?

* This is important to the characters sense of well-being,
how
they react to problems, how others perceived them.

What is your characters attitude toward others-
toward the secondary and minor characters in the
story.
GIVING CHARACTERS STRUGGLES
AND MOTIVATIONS THAT MIRROR REAL
LIFE
What does your character want and why do
they want it?

What obstacles get in the way of your
character getting what they want?
PLOTTING WITH TOOLS TIMELINES,
LISTS, STORY ARCS
Timelines chronological order of the events of
your story.
Lists- list all of the ideas you have for what will
happen in the story. They do not need to be
in chronological order.
Story Arcs - the predictable way that stories tend to go,
an arc. (Remember, the characters journey through the
arc will be messy- they dont always get the things they
want or solve problems as they set out to which is like
real
life. This messiness adds richness, depth, dimension,
and
believability to characters.)

Remember, problems need to get worse before they get better.
HOW TO WRITE COMPELLING FICTION
Brainstorm a great story idea (small moments,
places, events, issues, struggles, stories you wish
existed in the world)
Make your characters come alive (with traits,
wants, and challenges, self-attitude relationships).
Test-drive your character in scenes (envision and
write actions, feelings, dialogue, setting, point of
view).
Plot several versions of your story, aiming to
intensify the problem (use arcs, timelines,
storyboards))

PLANNING AND WRITING SCENES BY
INCLUDING EVIDENCE

Draft 3-D story idea (story-tell bit by bit, include
evidence of your characters actions, thoughts
and feelings.
SOME WAYS TO BUILD TENSION IN
YOUR STORY

Increase the obstacles (or difficulty or the
obstacles).
Make it challenging for the character to act.
Create a time crunch.
Raise the characters motivation.
Add danger.
What do you want for a snack? asked Ashley?
I dont know.
Ashley climbed up onto on e of the counters and opened a cabinet. Lets have Mallomars, she
said. I think you can tell a lot about a person by the way she eats Mallomars, dont you?
She brought down the box, and held it open for me to choose one. I picked one in the center of
the back row, wondering what that revealed about me. She took one from the far right front
and said, Come on an meet my bird, Sweet Pea. Did I tell you Ive had him since I turned
three?
My Mallowmar was melting a little on my fingers as I hurried to keep up with Ashley, around
corners and then up, up, up a steep flight of stairs with dark red carpeting worn out in the
center of each step. My house is just regular.
Sweet Pea is a budgie, Ashley was explaining. People think thats the same as a parakeet, but
its not. Budgies are slightly larger and much more exotic. Do you like exotic animals?
Um, I said.
I got Sweet Pea when I was three years old an though tragically he never learned to talk people
language, he is still able to communicate, at least to me. I can tell his chirps apart. Youll see.
This is my brothers room dont go in there, she warned, indicating a closed door. This is
the bathroom do you have to go?
No.
Ok. Tell me when you do.
I took a bite of my Mallomar, maybe revealing that I was a hungry type of person.
Ashley gripped a doorknob on a tall white door. And this this is my room.
HOW TO WRITE COMPELLING FICTION
Brainstorm a great story idea (small moments, places, events,
issues, struggles, stories you wish existed in the world)
Make your characters come alive (with traits, wants, and
challenges, self-attitude relationships).
Test-drive your character in scenes (envision and write actions,
feelings, dialogue, setting, point of view).
Plot several versions of your story, aiming to intensify the problem
(use arcs, timelines, storyboards)
Manage space and time
Use summary to quickly move a character across space and time.
Use transitional words and phrases to show changes in time or place.
TRANSITIONAL PHRASES
All of a sudden
And suddenly
Afterward
Meanwhile
The next day
That night
Last year
Earlier that day
After what seemed like forever
In the distance
To the left/right
On the other side
If only
TECHNIQUES FOR CRAFTING
LEADS
Sometimes stories begin not with a big action, but with a small
action, which can be against the backdrop of a setting.
Some stories begin by conveying a mood, and only afterward
does the sequence of actions begin.
Sometimes the time and the place are revealed slowly, bit by bit,
as the character sees or moves into the setting.
Some stories foreshadow a central theme or idea by including a
telling image, piece of dialogue, or action.
THE HOUSE ON FIRE TEST: KEEP
WHATS IMPORTANT, GET RID OF
WHATS UNNECESSARY.
Whats Important to Keep (or include)
Actions, thoughts, and dialogue that move the story
Actions, thoughts, and dialogue that develop the character
Descriptions and moments that highlight theme
Images and metaphors that pop out meaning
Scenes that are significant
Summaries that explain important information
What Can Probably be Cut?
Actions, thoughts, and dialogue that dont do any work
Adjectives and frilly language that could be replaces with strong nouns and verbs
Descriptions that dont give important information
Distracting details (no matter how fun they are)
Scenes that dont give important information, or could be easily summarized
Summaries that give background information that the reader doesnt need

HOW TO WRITE COMPELLING FICTION
Brainstorm a great story idea (small moments, places, events,
issues, struggles, stories you wish existed in the world)
Make your characters come alive (with traits, wants, and challenges,
self-attitude relationships).
Test-drive your character in scenes (envision and write actions,
feelings, dialogue, setting, point of view).
Plot several versions of your story, aiming to intensify the problem
(use arcs, timelines, storyboards)
Manage space and time
Use summary to quickly move a character across space and time.
Use transitional words and phrases to show changes in time or place.
Revise the Lead and hence the entire story (small action, mood,
time and place, foreshadowing).
Research key facts to make the story more believable.
Get rid of extra stuff that weighs the story down.
THE PRINCIPLES OF CRAFTING
QUALITY ENDINGS FOR FICTIONAL
NARRATIVES
Keep in mind what your story is really about and make sure the
ending helps to show that.
Pay attention to the structure of the story and make sure the
ending fits the arc.
Has the character evolved?
How has the plot developed?
Ensure that all loose ends are tied up.
BEING YOUR OWN BEST EDITOR
I couldnt take it anymore. As much as I wanted to be liked by them,
I didnt want to like them if they were going to be mean like this.
Seriously, guys, you need to check yourselves first, I said.
What? Maeve said, a snarl showing up on her perfect nose.
Tiffanys my friend. I wont let you say stuff thats rude about her, I
said. I wished my voice was louder and stronger, and my face
wasnt burning. But I was glad I was speaking up. I forced my
eyes up from the rug to look them in the eyes. They both looked
shocked. Liz was leaning all the way forward on the bed now,
mouth hanging open.