Lesson 11 - Building a Captivating Plot
As you build your story it is important to "show" rather than to tell. This is done by using imagery.
Example
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Angie's mouth watered as she watched the flames gently roasting the marshmallow extended on the wooden skewer. She could hardly wait for the first warm, gooey sweetness to touch her tongue. CRUNCH! Angie twirled around, but could only see darkness. In a flash Angie was on her feet with the marshmallow skewer extended like a sword. |
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Angie was roasting a marshmallow when she heard a loud crunching sound in the woods behind her. She stood up and turned around with the skewer in her hand. |
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Be sure your dialogue is meaningful.
Dialogue Tips
· Keep the dialogue short - Write only three to four lines between quotation marks then add an action and change speakers.
· Show conflict by going back and forth between characters quickly.
· Conversation should change the plot in some way - revealing information, figuring out something together, etc.
· Do not always use the word said. Here are a few other words that can be used:
added, commented, remarked, asked, demanded, replied, retorted, suggested, observed, concluded, began, interrupted
· Include actions in the source phrase.
· Vary where you place the quotation: beginning, end, or interrupted
· Use punctuation to show how words are spoken.
Jeanne DuPrau often uses the period to "show" how words are spoken.
"They're from my imagination, Lina said feeling slightly embarrassed."They're pictures of . . . another city."
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Now you are ready to write the rest of your story.
How to Write a Story
