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How to Write a Simple Story

Stories offer a place for the imagination to flex and a forum where thoughts and writing can intersect into a manageable structure that the reader can comfortably digest. Allowing the mind the freedom to wander is often the most difficult first step in capturing an idea for a story. After latching on to an enticing narrative idea, introduce a few skills and techniques into your writing repertoire to complete and conclude the story.

Instructions

    • 1

      Keep a daily journal of thoughts and experiences to help choose a story to write. One of the most important tasks a writer has to learn is observation. Observe the world and take notes on what interests you.

    • 2

      Pinpoint a character through daily observations. Pinpoint a person or character that stands out and grabs your attention on a daily basis, preferably someone you do not know or have close ties. Give this character a name.

    • 3

      Begin writing a day-in-the-life of this new character. Consider how this character behaves on a "normal" day. Describe that day in as much detail as possible.

    • 4

      Go back over the day-in-the-life description. Choose a spot where the character's journey veers from normal activity.

    • 5

      Take notes on what interferes with the character's regular routine. Determine why the character has been intruded upon or why the character decides to intrude on someone else. This is the central conflict of your story.

    • 6

      Write the introduction, a description of the moment just before the normal routine veers into a different pattern.

    • 7

      Write the initiating action, using the notes to describe the event or activity that causes the normal routine to change.

    • 8

      Continue writing the central conflict of the story, allowing the character to take the journey that began as a result of the initiating action. This central conflict comprises the rising action, climax and falling action of the story.

    • 9

      Conclude the story when the conflict has either resolved or turned into another conflict.

Fiction

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