Writing Short Stories


WRITING A SHORT STORY: A PLANNING SHEET

SETTING
When (time period, season, time of day) ______________________________
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Where (continent, country, urban/rural, outdoors/indoors) _____________
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CONFLICT
Person versus Self _________________________________________________
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Person versus Person ______________________________________________
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Person versus Nature ______________________________________________
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CHARACTERIZATION
Protagonist
Name and Age ____________________________________________________
Appearance _______________________________________________________
Hobbies __________________________________________________________
School Performance ________________________________________________
Pets ______________________________________________________________
Likes _____________________________________________________________
Dislikes __________________________________________________________
Fears _____________________________________________________________
Hobbies __________________________________________________________
Antagonist ________________________________________________________
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Supporting Characters ______________________________________________
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POINT OF VIEW
First Person (“I”) or Third Person (“S/he”) ______________________________
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STYLE
Figures of Speech (alliteration, similes, metaphors) _____________________
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Descriptive language ________________________________________________
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Length of sentences_________________________________________________

PLOT
Introduction ______________________________________________________
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Rising Action (introduces the conflict and shows the struggle)
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Climax (the turning points where the problem is resolved or changes)
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Falling Action (further description of the resolution)
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Conclusion (the ending)___________________________________________
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THEME
The “life lesson”___________________________________________________
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