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Category Archives: Story structure
The art of world building
I wanted to vacation on the banks of the San Antonio River as it meandered through the center of town. The river that had once created messy floods was now encased by sidewalk with a sprinkling of shaggy bald cypress … Continue reading
Posted in Literary devices, Literature, Story structure, Writer's resource
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Rebel with a cause
As much as people may be willing to mimic the behavior and appearance of others in order to fit in, secretly they often envy those who show intentional dissent. According research we admire the person who has the guts to … Continue reading
Posted in Group psychology, Story structure, Writer's resource
Tagged influence people, majorities, minority view, win friends
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The character who saw too much
Writing from the first person point of view routinely goes through periods of popularity only to be followed by a flood of amateurish first person novels. Then, writing “gurus” will advice the beginning writer never to write in first person. … Continue reading
Posted in Story structure, Teaching writing skills, Writer's resource
Tagged hero, point of view, villain
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Superhuman weakness
At one time there was a “story” circulating about a famous producer of modern supernatural fiction movies, and an unknown screen writer. The famous producer says “I have a new idea for a movie.” “What’s the plot?” asks the writer. … Continue reading
Posted in Literature, Story structure, Writer's resource
Tagged Characters, M Night Shyamalan, Superman, Supernatural, Vampire
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The problem with no problems
Dystopian novels are much easier to write than those set in a utopia. Typically the main character manages to lift the veil hiding the ugly truth behind the society. For example in H.G. Well’s novella, The Time Machine, an English scientists … Continue reading
The merits of fictional characters
Having seen discussion boards in which people spend time arguing about the merits of fictional characters, I would assume that a number of readers prefer these imaginary people to real ones. Fictional characters may be braver, more beautiful, or have … Continue reading
Deciding on a direction
“Say what you are going to say, say it, and finally say what you have said.” I don’t know how many times I’ve heard this rule for organizing the written word repeated in the educational realm. But rules are meant … Continue reading
What’s the problem?
When students embark on writing fiction, they can typically handle coming up with characters and settings. The element that causes the greatest problem for the students is the problem (a.k.a. the conflict). Reading fiction may be a form of escape … Continue reading
Hiding the truth in plain sight
“I don’t get it. It just about a bunch of animals, but the pigs are mean.” I still cringe when I hear students make comments like this. My own children were introduced to George Orwell’s Animal Farm, when they were … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction in education, Story structure, Writer's resource
Tagged Allegory, Animal Farm, Education, George Orwell, Student, Writers Resources
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