Writing a story

Charles Dube

SCHOOLS open this week and it is all systems go. The journey to passing end of year examinations starts now hence this page offers hints on various topics weekly. Of late analysis of Literature set books dominated these pages such that other readers felt left out, however, can I assure them that the intention here is to cover a cross section of areas pertaining to English language.

This week let us discuss part of composition writing. This writer wishes to share ideas researched from various sources. Students already know that there are a number of composition types. The most familiar is story writing. Students choose to write stories from the topics presented to them. Although they achieve pass marks their stories would not be the best. Story writing is not as easy as many students would like to believe.

Experts say to do well in story writing, write stories with familiar settings. What are stories with familiar settings? Stories in familiar settings are set in real places and are about “real life” people, their feelings and the things they do. One writer goes on to suggest that places you know well could be exciting places: an old house, an old mine; secret places like a tree house or a place under some overgrown bushes. It could be ordinary places like a park, a shopping centre or your home.

Others could be holiday places like ruins, caves or even a forest. Stories with familiar settings often use: the past tense, for example, the thief jumped over the wall when cornered. They use the third person narration, for example, (he) saw a lion — not I saw a lion. Chris Powling says: “Using a place you know well means it is easier to make your setting sound real. The lovely thing about familiar settings is that they are just that — familiar. You are surrounded by them — where you live, where you play, where you go to school. You’ve got all the details you need.”

The trick to make the settings sound real is never to tell the reader too much as this will be boring — like reading a list. Also, it will stop the reader using their own experience, seeing their own setting in their head. Powling offers tips for writers of stories with familiar settings. A top tip to get ideas for your story with a familiar setting is to use your own memories — about your happiest time, or saddest time, or funniest time, for instance. Also, read stories with familiar settings to succeed.

When planning to write your story, decide where your story is set. Choose a place you know well. Give your setting a name.

What is the weather like? For example, it can be windy, sunny, stormy. What time of day or year is it? Examples, early morning in the summer; night time, on New Year’s Eve. What can you see and hear? For example, animals, rush hour traffic.

You also decide on who are your main characters?

Choose one or two main characters. You can choose someone you know and then invent a bit, that is, change their name. Do not have too many characters. Stick to two at the most or you may lose control of them. What are your characters called? Do they have a title? For example, Dr, etc. What do your characters look like? What are they wearing? For example, a uniform, torn jeans. What is their voice like? For example, soft, hoarse etc.

You also decide on what sort of person your character is. For example, friendly, shy, bossy, helpful? How does your character feel? Hungry, excited, angry. Why? What is your character doing in the setting you have chosen? Is he meeting friends? Is he shouting at people? Is he assisting an elderly citizen cross a busy road? Finally, what will your character do/ see/ say? Before your write your story also try to see the setting in your mind.

Begin with the main characters doing what they enjoy. Have something go wrong. For example, a shout for help. Use powerful verbs and nouns. For example, the caretaker bellowed, not shouted. Describe what characters hear/ see/ smell/ touch and taste. Tell your reader about the characters’ thoughts and feelings. Another thing is to make sure that there is a reason for all of the events in the story. You can also improve your own story by including descriptions like the scorching sun, not just the hot sun.

Use paragraphs for each part of the story and do not rush the ending. You can also do language check. Have you used: the past tense all the way through? Third person pronouns, for example, he, she, they, except in dialogue? Have you used time connectives to tie the story together, for example, once, when, while, after? Have you used place connectives to show where things happen and where characters are? For example, in the park.

Make sure you check sentence punctuation. Check speech marks if you have used speech. Check spellings, common words like they, there, their, they are likely to be confused in writing. Today we looked mainly at creating a setting for a story. Here are some suggested words describing settings. You can pick some examples as it is unnecessary to try and use all of them. Beautiful goes with the following: amazing, brilliant, charming, delightful, elegant, fascinating, glamorous, good-looking, gorgeous, handsome, lovely, pretty, spectacular, stunning, sweet.

Note that these are suggested methods of story writing by some writers. Teachers have many other ways as well. Listen to them to be successful in examinations.

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