A short story is a piece of narrative writing that exist for the purpose of ente rtainment.

In order to achieve this primary goal, it must contain seven elements . These are: Genre Setting Plot Plot Structure Point of view Character Literary Devices GENRE The very first thing that you should do, after reading the question or topic tha t is given, is to decide what genre you will be using. Genre is a term that desc ribes any category that stories, music, art etc. are placed. Some examples of ge nre are: Fiction Non-fiction Fairytale Horror Mystery etc. SETTING The second step in the story writing process is to establish the setting. Settin g refers to the time, place and mood of your story. Therefore, if you choose to use horror, then you might think about allowing the story to occur in the middle of the night to early morning (time), in an old decrepit house (place), and the mood might be tense. The setting is very important to the development of the story because it adds mo od and atmosphere. Therefore, attention should not only be payed to things that the reader can see, but what he or she can hear and smell as well. PLOT & PLOT STRUCTURE Plot The plot is the framework, or outline, of consideration. It, like the setting, must tails of your evolving horror short story e genre, such as a haunting, the presence fear and anticipation.

your story and it is next in line for align with the genre. Therefore,the de must now possess characteristics of th of ghost and the pervasive element of

Plot Structure While the plot centers on the details, or the 'flesh' of your story, the plot st ructure speaks to the literal skeletal framework. It is important to think about the possible details (plot) in your story before you decide on the structure be cause it (the plot structure) acts as the enhancement factor. Therefore, it is o nly after you have worked through the possible details in your story that you th en decide on a physical layout. Three types of plot structures are basic, flashb ack and cliff hangar. Basic: Starts with an interesting beginning Slowly climbs Climax occurs Slow descent Then a resolution

Flashback: Starts at the climax A slow descent occurs, where the author explains what has led up to the climax Resolution of issues occurs at the end Cliff Hangar: Starts with an interesting beginning Slowly climbs Climax occurs Ends with the reader literally hanging in suspense Point of View This is the position, or view from which you will be writing. Think of the point of view as different pairs of sun glasses. One might be tinted pink, so the rea der receives what you are saying, through your story, in shades of pink, while a nother sun glasses might be grey, so the reader sees shades of grey. The point o f view, therefore, is the lens through which the reader receives your story. You control how the reader sees and perceives the events in your story based on the lens through which you choose to tell the story. Some examples of point of view , or lenses, are: First person narrator Third person narrator Third person omniscient narrator Omniscient narrator First person narrator: Can only know and talk about the things that they have experienced in the story. He or she can reflect on these things and make deductions from them. The narrator cannot describe the thoughts of other characters. This narrator is characterized by the use of 'I'. Third person narrator: The narrator does not comment on characters Does not make judgments about the action of the story. He or she can be considered to be unintrusive. This is some-one outside the story that refers to the characters as 'they', 'him ' or 'she'. Third person omniscient narrator: This is some-one outside the story who refers to the characters as he , she and knows everything that is happening and can describe the thoughts and feelings of the characters. The narrator can also express his/her views about the characters and evaluate th eir actions. Omniscient narrator: The narrative knows everything about the events and thoughts of every character in the story. CHARACTER The characters are the individuals who populate your story. There are four types of characters, in terms of development, that can be found in stories. These are flat, round, stereotype and stock. they .

Flat Character A simple, one dimensional character. Remains unchanged throughout the course of the narration. Round Character Complex in mood and motivation. They are fully described and change as a result of the situations and events tha t they encounter. Stereotype Character An over-simplified character who acts and thinks in a predictable way. Stock Character Conventional and behaves in predictable ways. E.g. wicked witches of fairy tales. Literary Devices A literary technique that produces a particular effect. Examples of literary devices are simile, metaphor, personification etc. The use of these devices makes the story interesting. They create visual pictures, in the readers mind, of the events in the story. See Literary Devices

TIPS: Cohesion between Literary devices Ensure that your If you are given Ensure that your

the elements listed above is essential for a successful story. enhances the visual impact of the story, so USE THEM! story relates to the question asked. a line as a prompter, insert the line in your story. story relates to the prompter in a very relevant way.