[melissah]

I've taken a few courses and done a few degrees over the years, and have picked up a few tips about how to throw together a short story. I thought it might be fun for all of us to spend the next few weeks running through this process. Hopefully, I can impart some of the knowledge that my awesome teachers have passed on to me.

EXERCISE: Over the coming weeks, I will update this challenge with new parts of this exercise. I will update this post, as well as include an additional post in the thread to bump this one up. Once we have the structure of the story, we'll hold weekly write ins at a convenient time until we have finished it.

Lesson One
Time limit: Three days
Spend some time coming up with an idea. It doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't even have to be good. All you're after here is a starting point for your story. You should be able to write it down in one line.
I usually like to make sure I include my hero, and action or catalyst, and a purpose or consequence. I try to swap names for short descriptions of my characters, as some characters are typecast by their names. You can be specific, or you can be general. And you know what? This is text. If it doesn't quite work out the way you planned, you can always come back and change it.

Example 1: A bored socialite (hero) seeks to escape the doldrums of her privileged life (purpose) by slumming it in a small town hidden in the bayous of the deep south (action).

Example 2: A warrior-monk (hero) sees his own death (catalyst) and must take leave his faction to prevent it (consequence).


Lesson Two
Time limit: Four days
Now that you have a story idea, spend some time thinking of the themes you want to address in your story. A theme is a single word that describes your story. A story can have many themes, and these really help to set the mood. Once you have your theme or themes, write a premise. A good premise is one sentence that ties your themes together to give you a reason for the existence of the story.
Having trouble? Try brainstorming! Throw a whole bunch of words down on a page and pick the ones that resonate with you, that might give you some kind of foundation for your story or a reason for it to exist. Note that I am not requesting us to write a literary gem filled with pieces of wisdom and lessons to learn. I am, however, encouraging all of us to question why we want to write a particular story.

Example 1: Boredom and passiveness: these themes lay at the very foundation of the story, in the way that the main character speaks and the way that she treats those around her. She has become a victim of her own circumstance, and it has left her as a shadow of a person, someone who is almost unable to see the forest for the trees.

Change: this is a big one, as it is at the route of the main character's desire for change. It will manifest in change of scenes, perhaps even in a myriad of bit characters who are of no value to her and, in turn, the reader (another aspect of passiveness).

Regret: will run through the story like a vein of gold, subtle and glinting. She regrets leaving, she regrets staying, she regrets not calling, but when she does, she will regret calling.

Premise
While boredom and passiveness might lead to a desire for change, change can bring regret.


Example 2: Fear: this exists all around the main character. It is within him, within the world around him, within those of his order who see him go, within those who knows he is doomed.

Death: The stink of death will be over the character and the story itself. Death manifest through the obvious avenues, and through the not so obvious when a priest of a death god is introduced.

Betrayal: the main character faces betrayal at every corner, and will also urge him to betray those he cares for.

Premise
Fear of death can encourage the ultimate betrayal.

[Chudz]

Interesting, I R trying to think of one now. . . .

[melissah]

Great, Chudz! You could even try coming up with a few ideas. As you flesh them out, one might stick out more than the others.

Also, with NaNo coming up, I will be very understanding if everyone requests a break from this exercise.

[melissah]

I'm going to use an idea that I've been considering for a little while now.

A young storyteller must thrill a paranoid duke with her exotic tales, or risk execution.

[Chudz]

Sorry, I've been wrapped up in NaNo stuff mostly. Maybe after I flame out next month, heh.

[Child of the Sun]

I would love to do this.... If I find some time at some point during this hectic time.

[W0LF]

I'm going to use an idea that I've been considering for a little while now.

A young storyteller must thrill a paranoid duke with her exotic tales, or risk execution.

good idea only it's happened already with the tale of Scheherazade and the Arabian knights.

[melissah]

good idea only it's happened already with the tale of Scheherazade and the Arabian knights.

Why the negativity? If you stopped every story because the basic premise has already been told, you wouldn't write anything. Anyway, what you should be doing is coming up with your own idea.

For what it's worth, I've acknowledged the similarities already. My storyteller character's name is Azada.

[Chudz]

Okay, here's mine:

A group of special forces, embedded with civilian contractors, seeks to destroy the last known vampire, who they've located in Lyon, France.



This was part of the history of the world in which my NaNo 09 novel was going to be set. Of course, I didn't even come close to finishing it during November, but it doesn't mean I can't plug away at it slowly, heh.

[W0LF]

"QUOTE(W0LF @ Nov 12 2009, 12:12 AM) *
good idea only it's happened already with the tale of Scheherazade and the Arabian knights.


Why the negativity? If you stopped every story because the basic premise has already been told, you wouldn't write anything. Anyway, what you should be doing is coming up with your own idea.

For what it's worth, I've acknowledged the similarities already. My storyteller character's name is Azada."

Sorry I did not mean any offense, and to prove of my regret I will post an idea:

A press agent finds himself alone after a mysterious plain crash.

[Chudz]

Melissah! When we doing this??

[melissah]

We start now, actually. The time has been rebooted. I will post the next exercise in three days.

[melissah]

The next lesson is up.

[melissah]

Themes
Paranoia: This is evident in the setting itself. The duke, like his forefathers, have held the city in lockdown since the dragons were thrown from the lands nearly 200 years ago. The duke himself displays this quality when he allows his fear of a war (that many believe is long dead) to get the better of him and almost demands the execution of the Azada.

Deception: The dragons were deceived by the old duke’s men. The current duke is deceived by Azada and the dragons. The town is also deceived when they are enchanted by Azada’s tales.

Premise
Paranoia may leave a man blind to true deception.

[Chudz]

Themes: (I had trouble thinking of one word answers. Hopefully this will still work.)

Combined Force: The integration of disparate units to achieve an outcome. For the attackers, this relates to normal military units using conventional and specially designed weaponry who are assisted by magic users and civilian specialists. For the defenders, this relates to a security force comprised of normal humans, mages, and other fantasy creatures.

Good vs. Evil: The standard fare in that the attackers are trying to stamp out one of the biggest threats to humanity.

Premise:

Humanity uses combined forces in an attempt to destroy an evil being of great power

[melissah]

I see where you're going, Chudz. It still feels as though you're telling me what's going to happen, rather than the core message the underpins the whole story. Try asking yourself some questions like, why are they trying to get rid of the vampire? What threat does it pose to society (other than the obvious one with murder and bloodsucking and death and maimy stuff)? Why send these people out? Furthermore, why are you writing this story? Sure, it sounds like it'll be fun, but what is the current lying beneath?

Is it a story about conflict? About tradition? About single-mindedness? Values? Ignorance? Fear? Hatred? Try brainstorming. Write down a whole bunch of words that interest you and try to place a context for the story. Please know that I'm not asking you to write some epic story that will change the world. I am, however, attempt to encourage all of you--all of us--to give some kind of meaning to our stories. I'm trying to help us have something to write about. The best stories have something there.

EDIT: I've added to the lesson and have even included examples.

[Chudz]

Thanks for expanding it, Melissah. I'll give it a shot and see what happens.


Anyone else joining in??

[Chudz]

Let me give this another shot.

Themes:

Brotherhood - This is evident in the strong bonds felt between members of the unit that we follow into battle.

Fear - Evident in fearing for your life and those around you.


Premise:

The bonds of brotherhood can help you face your fears and push onward.

[melissah]

Beautiful, Chudz.