STORY WRITING
Class 12 Art English Grammar
STORY WRITING
Story writing is an ancient art form that has been used to entertain, educate, and inform people for centuries. It is a way to share experiences and feelings and to let people know about different cultures and ways of life.
There are many different types of stories, including folktales, legends, myths, fairy tales, short stories, epics, historical fiction, fantasy novels, science fiction books, crime-fiction novels, and autobiographies. Sometimes the same type of story can be told with different subgenres which are stories with distinct features or characteristics. For example, a short story might be non-science fiction instead of science fiction (and it would not necessarily be shorter).
Types of Stories
Fairytales are very common in folklore. They feature characters with magical abilities, like fairies and dwarves, who often grant wishes to the protagonist (the main character). They tend to be fairly simple, not containing much or any violence. The Brothers Grimm famously collected fairy tales that had been passed down through the generations; these are some of the most common fairy tales.
Legends are another type of story that is passed down through generations. They often tell about historical events, but they are not strictly accurate history books. They may contain supernatural elements like gods and monsters, which might help explain natural phenomena. A legend usually takes place over a long period of time involving many characters.
Myths are like legends, but they are usually about gods or heroes. They often explain the origin of things, like why the sun shines or how rivers were formed. Myths usually have a moral lesson to teach.
Epics are long stories that tell the history of a people or a country. They can be very detailed and may be written in poetry or prose. They often have a moral message that teaches about the culture of the people who tell the epic.
Historical fiction is a type of novel that is based on real events, but it is not strictly factual. The author may take some liberties with the facts in order to make a more interesting story. Historical fiction can help people learn about the past, especially if they are unfamiliar with some of the historical events.
Science fiction novels are stories that take place in a world that includes new technology or futuristic inventions. They may include aliens or robots, and they often focus on possible changes to society as a result of these technologies. Science fiction books are usually set in the future.
Crime fiction novels are also known as mysteries or detective stories. In them, a crime is committed and it must be solved by a detective. The reader tries to solve the mystery along with the detective until they find out who committed the crime at the end of the book. The crimes can include poisonings, robberies, or even murders.
These are all very common types of stories. Many other varieties of stories exist as well, such as those contained in comic books and graphic novels. There are also many subgenres of the types of stories that have been mentioned above. For example, fairytales can be about princesses or animals.
Writing
The story is a write-up in which one explains any event or creates a fictional event that leads to a series of events followed by a conclusion.
The importance of stories is overlooked sometimes but the story is a work of art that can inspire readers as it stimulates their imagination and allows them to put themselves in the character’s shoes.
Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world” -Robert Mckee
Elements of Story Writing-
- Setting-
The setting defines where and when the event took place. It states the geographical location, time( past, present or future) and where the character stands culturally and socially. A good setting is written keeping the five senses in mind -Sight, smell, taste, feel and sound. The reader should be teleported instantly to the place, where the author is trying to take them.
- Characters-
The characters are the lifeblood of any story. Any person, animal or anything which can be personified are known as the character of the story. There could be one main character or more, it depends upon the author. The reader views the story from the character’s viewpoint.
- Plot-
The plot is an organised pattern or sequence of events that make up a story. It is the spine of the story which supports all the actions from and around the characters.
There are five parts of a plot-
- Exposition– Introduction; characters, setting and conflict (problem) are introduced.
- Rising Action– Events that occur due to the main conflict.
- Climax– Climax is the part of the story that has the highest point of tension and drama.
- Falling Action– This is where the conflict eases and the character starts resolving the issue.
- Resolution– This is where the conflict is resolved and all the loose ends are tied up together.
- Conflict-
Conflict is a struggle between the two opposite sides in a story. This is a problem or a challenge around which the plot is based. It forms the main structure of the plot. Conflict can be external and internal. External conflict is created by any outside force, and internal conflict is inside the character’s mind.
- Theme-
The theme of the story is the central idea of the story which the author is trying to convey to the reader. It is the lesson the reader learns after reading the story.
Readers have to sometimes try to see the big message that the writer is trying to give by showing the characters actions or ways of thinking.
Tips on Writing a Good Story
- Develop the Characters– Character development is an integral part of any good story. The characters should have depth in them so that the audience can connect with them. The real reason that Spiderman comics are so famous is that the young audience could connect with that character. So to better develop your characters, read more and observe people around you so that your characters can be relatable which would amount to a good story.
- Choose the Setting Carefully– Setting plays an important part in a story and it has wide implications on almost every part of the story. So choose the setting of the story carefully. For example, a story about a black girl becoming the CEO of a company would be different if the setting is in 1995 or the present day. This is because, in the earlier days, racism was much more widespread than it is today. So the girl would have to go through more challenges to become CEO in 1995 compared to today. Hence, setting has a high influence on the story.
- Create an Outline of the Plot before Writing– Creating an outline plot or the gist of the story before writing is useful because it helps in connecting ideas in the story and knowing about plot holes before beginning to write the story.
- Incorporate dialogues that reveal a Character’s Thoughts– Telling about the character’s thoughts makes the story interesting and tells the reader what motivates the character to do what they are doing and is good in driving the plot forward.
- Make the Setting more Dynamic– Making the setting more dynamic by describing the scenes using the sensory details like sounds that are heard by the character or describing what they are seeing makes the story more engaging to the reader.
- Build circumstances where the Character has to get out of his/her Comfort Zone– Building these types of circumstances makes the story more interesting to the reader because these circumstances can bring forth hidden qualities of the character which can be conveyed through the scene rather than explaining it.
Choose the Ending Carefully– The ending of the story should be such that it fits with the story meaning that it does not look out of place and leaves an impression in the mind of the reader. Almost all good stories provoke an emotional response when they are finished so the ending should not look random or out of the box.
Sample
- I got up in the middle of the night, I was sweating profusely……….Complete the story in 150-200 words.
A Narrow Escape
I got up in the middle of the night, I was sweating profusely. I switched on the light only to find that there was some kind of electricity failure. I came out of the room to get some fresh air. It was stormy outside and that might have been the reason for the electricity failure. I drank cold water, took a chair, and sat in the verandah. Suddenly, I heard a loud shriek. It was coming from our neighbour’s house. I was so confused, now what to do. Then I gathered courage and went inside to fetch a torch. I took the torch and started moving towards my neighbour’s house.
I peeped inside from the window and saw two people who were covering the owners at gunpoint. I stepped back and started thinking of my next step. At that moment I heard a motorbike approaching near. It was cobra police on their patrolling. I signalled to them. They stopped and asked me the reason for stopping them. I told them the whole story. They immediately went inside to help the old couple. The miscreants were shocked at the sudden arrival of the police. They tried to escape but the policemen took prompt action and caught them. We heaved a sigh of relief. Suddenly, the whole area was illuminated as the power supply had resumed. The old couple saw me and thanked me for my sharp wittedness.
- Seema decided to write a story for her school magazine, but after some time, she could not complete the story as she had to go out for some urgent work. Complete the story on the basis of the beginning given below using 200–250 words. “An old man had two daughters. He loved both of them. Once he asked them…”
Salt and Sugar
An old man had two daughters. He loved both of them. Once he asked them,
“What is the sweetest thing in the world?”
“Sugar,” said the older girl.
“Salt,” said the younger girl.
The old man thought the younger daughter was mocking him. He said, “If salt is sweeter than sugar, you had better find another home where the cooking is more to your taste.” And he pushed her out of the house.
It was a beautiful summer night. The pretty maiden sat singing in the forest near her father’s cottage when a young prince, who had lost his way hunting came to her. Struck by her beauty and gaiety, he fell in love with her and took her to his palace and married her.
The bride invited her father to the wedding banquet without telling him who she was. All the dishes were prepared without salt. The guests began to murmur.
“Oh”, said the bride’s father, “salt is truly the sweetest thing in the world. But when my daughter said so, I threw her out of the house. If only I could see her again and tell her how sorry I was!”
Drawing the veil from her face, the happy girl went to him and hugged him. Then properly salted dishes were brought in and all the guests ate their fill.