Realistic Fiction

Writing: What is REALISTIC FICTION?

• A story with CHARACTERS, SETTING, PROBLEM and SOLUTION/RESOLUTION

MADE-up human characters close to their own age that COULD be real with details that tell about them

One or more REALISTIC settings (TIME and PLACE) with details

A BELIEVABLE problem and a REALISTIC solution to that problem

• The events in the story happen in order using transition words

(first, then, next, suddenly, later, after that, while, finally)

• Includes the characters’ actions and their feelings as they solve the problem

ACTION: The ball hit the the vase, which cracked into many pieces.

FEELING: Jamie’s jaw dropped. Oh no! Mom was going to be SO mad. He quickly gathered the pieces together. His hands shook as he picked up the little pieces.

(Now we are trying to include STRINGS of multiple actions, not just a single one)

• SHOWS, not tells what the character is doing or feeling

SHOWING: Jamie jumped up and down with excitement, a huge smile on his face.

TELLING: Jamie was happy.

• Elaborates on the MOST important part where the character changes or learns or lesson by including the 4 types of fiction details in chart below
• Has a BOLD beginning to hook the reader and an EXCITING ending to leave them thinking

BOLD BEGINNINGS - try using sound words, dialogue, action, describing the character or setting, ask a question, get their attention.

EXCITING ENDINGS - Character learns a lesson, End with a twist or a laugh, hint about the future, or making the ending echo the beginning to come full circle