How to write a short story

How to write a short story

By Ms. Torralva

Genre

​Genre types and matching tone.

The first step is to choose a genre. The genre is the type of stories such as horror, comedy, fiction, fantasy, and non-fiction. Without a genre then you can not match the tone of the story to the plot and the characters. Your tone must always match the genre style or else there will be disharmony in the story.

Plot, conflict, and character

Plot and confict evolution

Now is the step where you create a plot. After the plot, you will create an intro to characters where they will experience a situation where they will evolve and grow as characters. This is where you introduce the conflict, which is the story's climax. Follow Freytag's pyramid.

Match

Match the definition to the word

• Exposition

• Initial Incident

• Rising action

• Climax

Background information of the plot that includes characters and setting

The very first conflict that occurs in the plot

Three major events that add suspense or tension to the plot that leads to the climax

The most suspenseful part of the plot. The turning point for the protagonists character.

• Background information of the plot that includes characters and setting

• The very first conflict that occurs in the plot

• Three major events that add suspense or tension to the plot that leads to the climax

• The most suspenseful part of the plot. The turning point for the protagonists character.

Match

Match the following words to the correct definition

• Falling action

• Resolution

• Denouement

Events that unravel the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist that lead to the rosolution

The conflict is resolved, and we discover whether the protagonist achieves their goal or not.

The 'tying up of loose ends'.

• Events that unravel the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist that lead to the rosolution

• The conflict is resolved, and we discover whether the protagonist achieves their goal or not.

• The 'tying up of loose ends'.

Keeps to the laws of physics. Generally, the same systems and reality that we live in. Does not hugely divulge from what we know.

Not world building

New world, New races, New laws, New reality, New everything.

World Building

World Building

Multiple Choice

Do characters evolve over the course of a story?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

What is a genre?

• The style of the story

• The tone of a story

• The culture of a story

• The heart of a story

Activity

Short story

​Create a short story. It must be written in 3rd person, and the minimum is 300 words. You need to choose a genre. Create a plot, setting, tone, conflict, and characters, and follow along with the Freytag pyramid. Be creative and discriptive.