2.2 Creative Writing - Short Stories
Develop your creative writing skills by crafting engaging short stories.
50 min
2 oppgaver
Story elementsShow don't tellDialogueStrong openings
Din fremgang i kapitlet
0 / 2 oppgaver
Writing Short Stories
A short story is a brief work of fiction with a limited cast of characters and a focused plot.
Good short stories:
- Start quickly and engage the reader immediately
- Focus on one main conflict or event
- Create memorable characters
- End with impact
Story Elements
Setting: Where and when
- Be specific: "a rainy Tuesday in November" not "one day"
- Use sensory details
- Be specific: "a rainy Tuesday in November" not "one day"
- Use sensory details
Characters: Who
- Give them goals and flaws
- Show personality through actions and dialogue
Conflict: The problem
- Person vs. Person
- Person vs. Self
- Person vs. Nature
- Person vs. Society
Plot: What happens
- Rising action → Climax → Resolution
Show, Don't Tell
One of the most important rules in creative writing is "show, don't tell."
Telling: She was nervous.
Showing: Her hands trembled as she reached for the door handle. She wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans for the third time.
Telling: He was angry.
Showing: He slammed his fist on the table, sending coffee splashing across the keyboard.
Why showing is better:
- Creates vivid pictures
- Engages the reader's imagination
- Feels more real and immediate
Dialogue Tips
Make dialogue sound natural:
- Use contractions ("don't" not "do not")
- Let characters interrupt each other
- Give each character a distinct voice
- Use contractions ("don't" not "do not")
- Let characters interrupt each other
- Give each character a distinct voice
Avoid "talking heads":
- Add action between dialogue
- Show what characters are doing while talking
Punctuation:
- "Hello," she said. (comma inside)
- "Hello!" she exclaimed.
- "Are you coming?" he asked.
Said is not dead:
- Use "said" and "asked" most of the time
- Only use "exclaimed," "whispered," etc. when necessary
✏️Strong Opening Lines
What makes a good opening line?
Example 1:
"The letter arrived on a Tuesday, which should have been a warning."
- Creates mystery: What letter? Warning about what?
"The letter arrived on a Tuesday, which should have been a warning."
- Creates mystery: What letter? Warning about what?
Example 2:
"My grandmother always said I would die doing something stupid, and standing at the edge of the cliff, I realized she might be right."
- Raises questions and creates tension immediately
Example 3:
"Before I found the diary, I thought I knew my mother."
- Suggests secrets and transformation
What makes them work:
- They create questions in the reader's mind
- They suggest conflict or change
- They make you want to read more
📝Oppgave 1
Rewrite these "telling" sentences using "showing":
a
"She was scared."
b
"The house was old."
c
"He was in love with her."
📝Oppgave 2
Write a short story (500-700 words) using one of these opening lines:
a
"The phone call came at 3 AM, and nothing was ever the same."
b
"I wasn't supposed to be there, but curiosity had always been my weakness."
c
"My best friend kept a secret from me for three years, and I found out in the worst possible way."