260 likes | 506 Views
Revising your short story…. First line. Read your first line. Does it make you: -Think -Wonder -Picture something important? Try to write an alternate first line. . Last line. Read your last line. Does it: R esolve the story Surprise the reader Leave the reader wondering
E N D
First line • Read your first line. • Does it make you: -Think -Wonder -Picture something important? • Try to write an alternate first line.
Last line • Read your last line. • Does it: • Resolve the story • Surprise the reader • Leave the reader wondering TRY A DIFFERENT LAST LINE!
Title • Do you have a title? • If not, write one, remembering…. • Is it short? • Is it simple? • Does it confuse the reader? • Does it point to the “REAL MEANING” of the story? • Try an alternate title!
Dialogue • Does your story have dialogue? • Find at least one place you can add dialogue NOW!
Dialogue 2 • Do you start a new paragraph EVERY time the speaker changes? • Check for this • Add paragraph symbol where you need to.
Dialogue 3 • Is your punctuation correct? • “Dialogue should look like this,” said Mrs. I. • Take a minute and make sure you have grammar inside the quotes and on the outside, at the end of the dialogue tag.
Dialogue 4 • Does some of your dialogue have a movement along with the spoken words to show not tell this moment in your story: • Example: • “No way!” screamed Aliza, as she slammed her fist on the table. • Can you add some movement to at least two of your dialogue lines?
Character • Does your main character have a name? • Does your main character have some details about him or her that make him unique? • Does his/her looks/clothing/habits/hobbies/relationships reflect his personality in some way? • Add some details to give your character some flair.
DO you have other show not tell details? • Where can you add sight, sound, touch, smell, taste? • Find two places you can add this.
Show not tell 2 • What adjectives or verbs can you replace to make your story vivid? • Example: • Bad: Tiredly, Cheryl yawned and got out of the bed • Better: Cheryl’s mouth gaped in exhaustion as she dragged her resistant body out of the warm, cozy bed. • Find at least two places you can do this.
Conflict • Does your story have a problem. • What is it? • Write this on an index card. • Is that problem resolved? • How? • Write that on an index card. • Hand in (NAME!)