FIFTY FICTION how to write short stories FIFTY

FIFTY FICTION how to write short stories

FIFTY FICTION KS 2 Learning Objectives (mapped from the National Curriculum for English En 3 (Writing)) 1. d—Use and adapt the features of a form of writing, drawing on their reading. 2. a—Plan: note and develop initial ideas. 2. b—Draft: develop ideas from the plan into structured written text. 2. c—Revise: change and improve the draft. 9. a—Imagine and explore feelings and ideas, focusing on creative uses of language and how to interest the reader.

FIFTY FICTION KS 3 Learning Objectives (mapped from the National Curriculum for English) 1. 2. b—Use inventive approaches to making meaning, taking risks, play with language and use it to create new effects. 2. 3. j—Vary sentence structure for interest, effect and subtleties of meaning. 2. 3. q—Use planning, drafting, editing, proofreading and self-evaluation to shape and craft their writing for maximum effect.

FIFTY FICTION KS 4 Learning Objectives (mapped from the National Curriculum for English) 1. 2. b—Experiment with language, manipulate form, challenge conventions and reinterpret ideas. 2. 3. a—Write imaginatively, creatively and thoughtfully, producing texts that interest, engage and challenge the reader. 2. 3. l—Use planning, drafting, editing, proofreading and self-evaluation to revise and craft their writing for maximum impact.

FIFTY FICTION Here’s a story written by a famous American author called Ernest Hemingway: For sale: baby shoes, never worn. How many words does the story contain? From those (very) few words, what do we know? And what ideas do you have about why the shoes are for sale and have never been worn? Do you think it is a good story? Explain.

FIFTY FICTION The key to Hemingway’s sentence is that he clearly had an idea in his head about a whole story. But instead of writing it all down, he just chose one episode. And once he knew what he was going to write down, he chose as few words possible. He avoided using connecting words (such as ‘and’ or ‘but’) and used punctuation (a colon and a comma) instead.

fifty fiction Your turn! You are going to write a ten-word story about a particular object. You’ll find out what that object is in a minute. Remember to: PLAN out a whole story (think about characters and setting). Decide what part of the story is the most interesting and think how you can hint to your audience WHO is involved in the story and WHERE it is set. Write out a DRAFT of your chosen episode, then count up how many words you’ve used. REVISE your story by crossing out any connecting words and replacing them with punctuation. Make sure you include at least one ADJECTIVE. Keep revising your story until you have just TEN words.

FIFTY FICTION 10 words at least 1 adjective as few connecting words as possible clever use of punctuation —: ; , .

FIFTY FICTION 10 words at least 1 adjective as few connecting words as possible clever use of punctuation —: ; , .

FIFTY FICTION Now let’s have a look at a fifty-word story, it’s called Porch. The glider glides as the sun slides down. “Almost time for our afternoon shower, ” Audrey says. “ I can hear that thunder a-coughing. ” The New Moulin Rouge awaits the shuffle of feet. The old chair creeks as we prepare ourselves for another sultry, southern night. Porch time is among us. WHO is involved in the story? WHERE is it set? WHAT is happening? HOW is punctuation used?

FIFTY FICTION On the next page you’ll see another fifty-word story, this time with an illustration to go alongside it. Remember to ask yourself WHO is involved in the story, WHERE it is set, and WHAT is happening. Remember to look at HOW the story is written What punctuation is used? Are the sentences are long or short or a mix? What adjectives are included? How many (if any) connecting words are used?

FIFTY FICTION Your turn! This time you will be writing a fifty-word story. PLAN the whole story: WHO is going to be involved? WHERE is it going to be set? WHAT is going to happen? Choose one part of the story, one episode, that you think will be the most interesting. DRAFT the first version of this episode: Include at least one adjective. Include a mix of different sentences (some long, some short). Take out as many connecting words as you can (such as ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘although’). Try to use a range of different punctuation (such as commas, colons and dashes). EDIT your draft: Count up how many words you have and decide what you can cross out or add in. Check you have kept everything in the same tense (past, present or future).

FIFTY FICTION an EPISODE out of your whole story idea at least one adjective a range of long and short sentences as few connecting words as possible different types of punctuation just one tense (past, present or future)

FIFTY FICTION an EPISODE out of your whole story idea at least one adjective a range of long and short sentences as few connecting words as possible different types of punctuation just one tense (past, present or future)

FIFTY FICTION an EPISODE out of your whole story idea at least one adjective a range of long and short sentences as few connecting words as possible different types of punctuation just one tense (past, present or future)

FIFTY FICTION an EPISODE out of your whole story idea at least one adjective a range of long and short sentences as few connecting words as possible different types of punctuation just one tense (past, present or future)

FIFTY FICTION an EPISODE out of your whole story idea at least one adjective a range of long and short sentences as few connecting words as possible different types of punctuation just one tense (past, present or future)

FIFTY FICTION This time it’s a competition. You are going to write a fifty-word story on the same subject as a published author. When you’ve finished planning, drafting, and editing your story, you can read it out. Then the story by the published author is read out. You can decide which story is better! The subject of the story is. . .

FIFTY FICTION PEN

FIFTY FICTION There’s an opportunity to have your story illustrated like some of the ones you’ve seen in class, and to have it printed and sold alongside stories written by famous writers such as Michael Morpurgo. There’s a website called www. fiftyfiction. org that accepts submissions from ANYONE who wants to write a fifty-word story, although it does have some simple rules when it comes to writing them. If your story is chosen by the editors, it will be turned into a limited edition beautiful print (only ten copies will be made) and all proceeds go to charity. People who go to the website choose a story without knowing who has written it. So they might well pick your story over Michael Morpurgo’s! And they’ll only find out once they receive it in the post. On the following slide, you’ll see some examples of subjects you could write a fifty word story about. You can choose one of them, and have a go. . .

FIFTY FICTION Mushrooms Weighing Scales Owl Trumpet Razor Watch Cabbage Corkscrew Rat Rollerskates Shirt (Smoking) Pipe Carrot Ketchup Dog Dice Hat Suitcase Cherries Coffee Cat Sofa Guitar Toothpicks Pumpkin Salt Cuckoo Toilet Roll Mill (Eye) Glasses Lemon Soup Spider Clothes Peg Book Handbag Fork Butterfly Beetle Iron Ink Ring Flour Caterpillar Hot air balloon Washing Powder Camera Wig Sail boat Basket Birdcage Comb Teapot

www. fiftyfiction. org