How To Write in a Few Easy Steps By Baby Girl
For her school hobby fair, Baby Girl chose writing as her hobby. Later in the next week or so, she will post an interview she did with a top-secret awesome YA author. And today, she offers some simple advice on how to write the perfect short story.
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Do you have stories that you want to share with somebody but no one will listen? Well, why don’t you share them with a piece of paper! If you read this spectacular piece about writing then you too can become an amazing author!
First off, maybe you have a special place you like to go when you want to be alone. Perhaps somewhere comfortable and quiet, a place where your ideas can flow. Then, think of what type of story you want to write. Do you want an adventure or a mystery? You also have to decide if you want it to be a personal experience or something you made off the top of your head.
Now, make a four square with who, what, where, and why. Under who, you write who is in your story. Below what, you write the special items or what is interesting in your story. In the where section, you write the setting or where it takes place. For why, you write why this happens.
Next, it’s rough draft time! This is where you make your story. After you’re done writing your story you look for spelling mistakes, improper grammar, and words that are used a lot.
Finally, it’s time for your final copy where there are NO mistakes. You rewrite your story with all the changes you made, and now you have a perfect petite paper.
First off, maybe you have a special place you like to go when you want to be alone. Perhaps somewhere comfortable and quiet, a place where your ideas can flow. Then, think of what type of story you want to write. Do you want an adventure or a mystery? You also have to decide if you want it to be a personal experience or something you made off the top of your head.
Now, make a four square with who, what, where, and why. Under who, you write who is in your story. Below what, you write the special items or what is interesting in your story. In the where section, you write the setting or where it takes place. For why, you write why this happens.
Next, it’s rough draft time! This is where you make your story. After you’re done writing your story you look for spelling mistakes, improper grammar, and words that are used a lot.
Finally, it’s time for your final copy where there are NO mistakes. You rewrite your story with all the changes you made, and now you have a perfect petite paper.
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See how simple it is!
Thoughts? How do YOU write in a few easy steps?
18 comments:
Wow! That cuts through the garbage doesn't it? Excellent.
Mark:
Pretty much.
I felt so enlightened after I read it. So free! Like, "Ah ha . . . so that's all there is to it."
My procedure is more like:
Think of title.
Think of character.
Write a few pages.
Edit a few pages.
Head . . . meet desk.
E
Very methodical approach, BG. Nice!
Of course, when is also important, so maybe a small square for that.
If I were going to try to teach someone to write short stories in a few easy steps, step #1 would be to read Flannery O'Conner's collection titled The Complete Stories. Read it cover-to-cover. Short fiction just doesn't get any better than that.
Step #2: Create a character
Step #3: Give your character a goal, something urgent, something s/he has to accomplish--or else.
Step #4: Set up opposing forces that make it seem impossible for your character to reach his/her goal.
Step #5: Let the games begin
Jude:
Great advice. When I started writing way back when in grade school, I wrote "nice" stories and I don't know that I thought about conflict much and how essential it is. BG seems to inherently get it. She has great conflict in her orphan story and well-defined bad guys and problems.
E
I've been using pen and paper. It is very freeing and it changes my writing. When I write on a computer, everything is more external thoughts. When I write on paper, it is more internal. Could it be because as a kid paper is where I learn to share my private thoughts? Then as an adult I learned to share my public thoughts on a computer.
Way to go Baby Girl. Whether you become a professional writer as an adult or chose another path you will be able to communicate and this will take you farther than anything else you learn in your chosen career.
Richmond:
Wow . . . what an insight. I feel like I write faster and get less frustrated with my computer because my typing almost keeps up with my thinking--but I may try to write longhand and see what happens. You might blog about that . . . I think you probably are onto something there. Very interesting!
E
Damn, I wish I read this 15 years ago. I probably could have saved myself a whole lot of time and trouble! Tell Baby Girl I said, "Thanks!"
Very good, BG! I love hearing processes!! Simplest is best. I heard an experienced writer once say about short stories: Establish the problem on first page; solve it on the last.
My process: character, problem that digs at that character's soul, three (or more) major obstacles, subplot(s) that complicates main plot, and resolution. I can let the world develop as I draft, but I've learned the hard way that I must have a resolution before I can start drafting. Otherwise the pages languish in Story Purgatory.
I draw a line write major obstacles at each quarter point above the line. I write subplot complications below the line.
Debra:
She will likely drop by after school. :-) I'll make sure she sees your note!
E
Sex Scenes:
I love that you work visually (the line). I used story maps. I can't really work from a written outline--or don't enjoy it. But the doodles and story maps--love it. I write notes to myself with questions on them, too. :-)
E
Wow, I love it, Baby Girl! Short stories totally rock. I'm going to have to share that with my students.
One of my students told me this formula, which is almost as good as yours:
Create a character.
Make her want something.
Give her a problem.
Have her fix it so she get what she wants.
I wish school had suggested we write short stories when I was young! How fun that would have been!
Hi Spy:
I am continually awed by her clarity. She is quite an amazing kiddo.
E
Wow, that's awesome!
Ask Baby Girl if she wants to come over and tackle my edits for me :-)
Merry:
LOL! Depends on the pay. :-)
E
Baby Girl, your process is amazing! Clarity is a lost art imo, and you've nailed it with your list. Way to go! I wish you were in charge of instruction manuals too. I look forward to buying your books one day too.
Good planning, BG. I wish I had been so organized so early.
Thanks Everyone! I love writing!!
The simplest advice always helps me the most. Don't worry about rules or formulas, just cut to the basics and write. Great advice, BG!
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