Writing a Short Story

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Writing a Short Story

• Four Basic Plots
• Conflict

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Plot 1 Overcoming the Monster

• The hero learns of a horrible monster terrorizing
  the land. The monster can be human (terrorist)
  or an actual monster (a vampire!). The hero
  decides to fight the monster, but it proves to be
  even worse than the rumors. The hero endures
  extreme hardships, then manages a thrilling
  escape from death. The hero defeats the monster
  in the end.

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Plot 2 Rags to Riches

• The hero starts out poor or mistreated or teased.
  Then he/she gets a glimpse of success or the
  possibility of success. Right after that,
  everything goes wrong and the hero is miserable.
  Self discovery follows. The hero develops
  inner strength and confronts his/her problem(s).
  In the end, the hero becomes rich, famous or at
  least appreciated.

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Plot 3 The Love Story

• This is a story with a happy ending. The story
  usually starts with a misunderstanding between
  two characters, who dislike each other. The two
  are actually right for each other, but they
  both dont realize it because one or both
  characters true nature is hidden. Then the
  characters have a change of heart and realize
  they love each other.

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Plot 4 Tragedy

• This is a story with a sad ending. The main
  character starts off without any type of goal or
  interest. Then they focus on something they want
  and decide to go after it. However, anything
  that can go wrong, goes wrong and things get very
  bad. Then worse. The main character is overcome
  with despair and either dies or is destroyed by
  other forces.

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Stories Need Conflict!

• Nobody wants to read a story about a perfect guy
  who meets a perfect girl and they have a
  perfectly lovely day and the whole rest of their
  life is perfect.

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External Conflict

• Conflict with antagonist (person vs. person)
• Antagonists can be human, animal or fantasy
  creatures. They try to keep the main character
  (protagonist) from reaching their goals.
  Sometimes the fight is out in the open and
  sometimes the antagonist uses sabotage.

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External Conflict

• Conflict with nature (person vs. nature)
• Storms, high mountains, deserts, stinging insects
  . . . whatever gets in the protagonists way.
  The more the better!

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Internal Conflict

• Feelings (Person vs. Self)
• If the protagonist struggles with feelings of
  grief, worry, rage, bitterness, jealousy, fear,
  denial, the conflict increases.

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Internal Conflicts

• Question of Right and Wrong
• Other internal conflicts deal with the
  protagonist struggling with their conscience
• Should I lie to save my friend?
• Should I return a wallet full of money or keep
  it?
• Should I copy someone elses paper or actually
  do some work?