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The aim of these lessons on plot, character and setting
The aim of these lessons on plot, character and setting
Your ability to describe and utilise your characters and setting in your story is one of the biggest things that is going to influence your mark when it comes to creative writing. These lessons will allow you to practice developing your characters and setting. The most important part of your story is developing a plot.
Your ability to describe and utilise your characters and setting in your story is one of the biggest things that is going to influence your mark when it comes to creative writing. These lessons will allow you to practice developing your characters and setting. The most important part of your story is developing a plot.
This is how plot, character and setting all come together
This is how plot, character and setting all come together
Lesson 1 - character
Lesson 1 - character
to know - the importance of developing a strong character for a short story
to know - the importance of developing a strong character for a short story
to be able to - develop characters you could use for your story
to be able to - develop characters you could use for your story
How to build a character
How to build a character
1 - Describe what they look like. This is a good way to include some language techniques in your writing.
1 - Describe what they look like. This is a good way to include some language techniques in your writing.
2 - Make their personality evident. What type of person are they? You can include this when your character is introduced or make it obvious when actions occur in your plot.
2 - Make their personality evident. What type of person are they? You can include this when your character is introduced or make it obvious when actions occur in your plot.
3 - Give your character a purpose. What are they trying to achieve? This makes your character more interesting for the reader. You can use this to help drive your plot.
3 - Give your character a purpose. What are they trying to achieve? This makes your character more interesting for the reader. You can use this to help drive your plot.
why are characters important for your plot?
why are characters important for your plot?
Let characters influence the plot. Think about the characters in a particular situation, and plot ideas will emerge. Author J.K Rowling says, "Plot flows most easily and genuinely from character . . . and the actions characters undertake because of the relationships they have and the frictions built into such contact. On the other hand, if you first work out the plot and then simply people it with characters who can carry out the actions you’ve dreamed up, your characters will seem wooden and unreal."
Let characters influence the plot. Think about the characters in a particular situation, and plot ideas will emerge. Author J.K Rowling says, "Plot flows most easily and genuinely from character . . . and the actions characters undertake because of the relationships they have and the frictions built into such contact. On the other hand, if you first work out the plot and then simply people it with characters who can carry out the actions you’ve dreamed up, your characters will seem wooden and unreal."
describing physical characteristics
describing physical characteristics
J.k Rowling - “If you want to write a physical description of your character that sticks with your audience, focus on the single most interesting characteristic, and build your character around that."
J.k Rowling - “If you want to write a physical description of your character that sticks with your audience, focus on the single most interesting characteristic, and build your character around that."
What to do
What to do
You should give your character a uniqe feature.
You should give your character a uniqe feature.
What feature should it be?
What feature should it be?
- It should be unique.
- It should be highly relevant to a specific character, or to the greater story.
- Something obvious your reader can imagine
What not to do
What not to do
Avoid the physical description shopping list:
Avoid the physical description shopping list:
- Height
- Hair colour
- Eye colour
- Skin colour
- Body shape
- Mouth shape
- Nose shape, fingernail shape, hair length, etc.
Why?
Why?
- They’re boring.
- They usually don’t add anything to the story.
- Many readers glaze over them, or find them hard to remember.
Let's have a look at some more examples from Harry Potter
Let's have a look at some more examples from Harry Potter
This is how J.k Rowling physically described the characters as they were introduced.
This is how J.k Rowling physically described the characters as they were introduced.
Hermoine
Hermoine
"Harry could always tell it was her by the tangle of hair sticking out over some ancient, arcane textbook. "
"Harry could always tell it was her by the tangle of hair sticking out over some ancient, arcane textbook. "
Why?
Why?
To build her character, to show that she was always busy and fretting over something.
To build her character, to show that she was always busy and fretting over something.
ron
ron
"A short boy with freckles, who always wore hand-me-down clothes."
"A short boy with freckles, who always wore hand-me-down clothes."
Why?
Why?
To outline Ron's strong connection to his family.
To outline Ron's strong connection to his family.
Voldemort
Voldemort
"Voldemort is described as tall and skeletally thin, with a chalk white face resembling a skull, vivid red eyes with vertical, cat-like pupils. His nose was flat with slits for nostrils, and he had especially long, thin hands, which have been described as spider-like. Voldemort lacked hair or discernable lips. His voice is described as sounding high and cold."
"Voldemort is described as tall and skeletally thin, with a chalk white face resembling a skull, vivid red eyes with vertical, cat-like pupils. His nose was flat with slits for nostrils, and he had especially long, thin hands, which have been described as spider-like. Voldemort lacked hair or discernable lips. His voice is described as sounding high and cold."
Why?
Why?
To make him look like a combination of scary things to show how evil and unnatural he is.
To make him look like a combination of scary things to show how evil and unnatural he is.
hagrid
hagrid
"Half human, half giant."
"Half human, half giant."
Why?
Why?
Rowling uses Hagrid's strong physical size to contrast his soft and warm personality.
Rowling uses Hagrid's strong physical size to contrast his soft and warm personality.
dumbledore
dumbledore
"Albus Dumbledore is tall and thin, with silver hair and a beard so long that they can be tucked into his belt. He has a very long and crooked nose that looks as if it has been broken at least twice. "
"Albus Dumbledore is tall and thin, with silver hair and a beard so long that they can be tucked into his belt. He has a very long and crooked nose that looks as if it has been broken at least twice. "
Why?
Why?
To show that he is wise and very old.
To show that he is wise and very old.
draco Malfoy
draco Malfoy
"Draco had that cocky sneer."
"Draco had that cocky sneer."
Why?
Why?
To show that Draco is arrogant and stuck-up.
To show that Draco is arrogant and stuck-up.
sirius black
sirius black
"His hair was greasy, filthy but most of all, it was pitch black."
"His hair was greasy, filthy but most of all, it was pitch black."
Why?
Why?
To make him feel tough, rugged and hard done by.
To make him feel tough, rugged and hard done by.
Gilderoy Lockhart
Gilderoy Lockhart
"T five-time winner of Witch Weekly’s 'Most Charming Smile' Award."
"T five-time winner of Witch Weekly’s 'Most Charming Smile' Award."
Why?
Why?
To show the reader that he is a well known, handsome and egotistical person.
To show the reader that he is a well known, handsome and egotistical person.
snape
snape
"There's a coldness to him, but he's not without depth, seen staring off into the distance with a faint smile (or perhaps sneer?) on his face. The wheels in his mind are undoubtedly moving, but we can only guess what he's thinking about."
"There's a coldness to him, but he's not without depth, seen staring off into the distance with a faint smile (or perhaps sneer?) on his face. The wheels in his mind are undoubtedly moving, but we can only guess what he's thinking about."
Why?
Why?
To demonstrate how Snape is a lonely, solitary character who is always has something on his mind.
To demonstrate how Snape is a lonely, solitary character who is always has something on his mind.
Task 1 - characteristics from characters you know
Task 1 - characteristics from characters you know
Choose five heroes or villains - either from your current work, or from your favourite books/movies, and pick out three their defining physical characteristics. You need three characteristics per character. Be ready to share your answers at the end of the ten minutes.
Choose five heroes or villains - either from your current work, or from your favourite books/movies, and pick out three their defining physical characteristics. You need three characteristics per character. Be ready to share your answers at the end of the ten minutes.
design your own character.pdftask 2 - Design your own character
task 2 - Design your own character
Design your own character using this template. Fill out the table first and then draw what your character looks like. Make sure to have one unique physical feature.
Design your own character using this template. Fill out the table first and then draw what your character looks like. Make sure to have one unique physical feature.
Lesson 2 - setting
Lesson 2 - setting
to know - the importance of developing a setting when writing a short story
to know - the importance of developing a setting when writing a short story
to be able to - develop a setting you could use for your short story
to be able to - develop a setting you could use for your short story
what is setting?
what is setting?
The setting of your story is when and where it takes place. Establishing a strong setting is essential in creative writing. Having a clear and interesting setting makes your plot engaging and easy to follow along for the reader. Your plot and your characters are also influenced by the setting you choose.
The setting of your story is when and where it takes place. Establishing a strong setting is essential in creative writing. Having a clear and interesting setting makes your plot engaging and easy to follow along for the reader. Your plot and your characters are also influenced by the setting you choose.
Some famous settings in books
Some famous settings in books
wonderland
wonderland
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
gotham city
gotham city
Batman Graphic Novels
Dracula's castle
Dracula's castle
Dracula
Brian's lake
Brian's lake
Hatchet
smaug's lair
smaug's lair
The Hobbit
london
london
1984
Task 1 - describe the setting for each of the images here
Task 1 - describe the setting for each of the images here
Your answer has to be two sentences long per image.
Your answer has to be two sentences long per image.
Write your answer in your book.
Write your answer in your book.
You can write when and were this story would be taking place based on the image.
You can write when and were this story would be taking place based on the image.
Be ready to share your answers after the five minutes.
Be ready to share your answers after the five minutes.
Task 2 - what would these stories be about?
Task 2 - what would these stories be about?
Write a one sentence story description for each of the settings here.
Write a one sentence story description for each of the settings here.
Say what the story would be about.
Say what the story would be about.
Write them in your book.
Write them in your book.
Be ready to share your answers after the five minutes.
Be ready to share your answers after the five minutes.
Story Graph Planner.pdftask 3 - design a plot around the setting
task 3 - design a plot around the setting
Choose one of the settings we have looked at this lesson and complete a story graph planner.
Choose one of the settings we have looked at this lesson and complete a story graph planner.
Use can use your character from last lesson.
Use can use your character from last lesson.
Be ready to share your answers at the end of the 15 minutes.
Be ready to share your answers at the end of the 15 minutes.
Work on drafting a story for your assignment if you have finished early.
Work on drafting a story for your assignment if you have finished early.
Lesson 3 - plot
Lesson 3 - plot
to know - types of plots and general guidelines to build a plot
to know - types of plots and general guidelines to build a plot
to be able to - plan a plot for a short story narrative
to be able to - plan a plot for a short story narrative
what is a plot?
what is a plot?
Plot is the writer’s plan for what happens when and to whom.
Plot is the writer’s plan for what happens when and to whom.
The events usually follow a pattern: a situation is established; a conflict or problem arises; certain events bring about a climax, or a character takes a decisive action; and the conflict is resolved (resolution).
The events usually follow a pattern: a situation is established; a conflict or problem arises; certain events bring about a climax, or a character takes a decisive action; and the conflict is resolved (resolution).
In a carefully constructed plot, details and events are selected and arranged in a cause-effect relationship so that each is a necessary link leading to the outcome of the story.
In a carefully constructed plot, details and events are selected and arranged in a cause-effect relationship so that each is a necessary link leading to the outcome of the story.
Recipe for building a story
Recipe for building a story
Conflict - develop a conflict. It creates tension and suspense in a story. Sometimes there may be only one main conflict. Sometimes characters may be involved in several conflicts.
Conflict - develop a conflict. It creates tension and suspense in a story. Sometimes there may be only one main conflict. Sometimes characters may be involved in several conflicts.
Climax - the high point of interest or suspense in a story. This is your reader's greatest emotional connection to the story. A climax is when the character takes a decisive action to end the conflict.
Climax - the high point of interest or suspense in a story. This is your reader's greatest emotional connection to the story. A climax is when the character takes a decisive action to end the conflict.
Resolution - the point in the plot at which the loose ends are tied up. The conflict is resolved and closure occurs.
Resolution - the point in the plot at which the loose ends are tied up. The conflict is resolved and closure occurs.
types of plots
types of plots
From problem to solution
From problem to solution
From mystery to solution
From mystery to solution
From conflict to peace
From conflict to peace
From danger to safety
From danger to safety
From confusion to order
From confusion to order
From dilemma to decision
From dilemma to decision
From ignorance to knowledge
From ignorance to knowledge
From questions to answers
From questions to answers
guidelines for building a plot for a short story
guidelines for building a plot for a short story
Let characters influence the plot. Think about the characters in a particular situation, and plot ideas will emerge.
Let characters influence the plot. Think about the characters in a particular situation, and plot ideas will emerge.
Avoid too much plot. Don’t create a crisis every paragraph, it creates too many characters and story lines.
Avoid too much plot. Don’t create a crisis every paragraph, it creates too many characters and story lines.
Know when to start the story. The action of your story should begin at the point at which the characters start moving toward the end of it. For example, a story about an athlete recovering from an injury should begin on the day they get the injury.
Know when to start the story. The action of your story should begin at the point at which the characters start moving toward the end of it. For example, a story about an athlete recovering from an injury should begin on the day they get the injury.
Let your characters grow. Between the beginning and the end of your story, your main characters should learn, grow, and be in some way affected by the events they have just lived through.
Let your characters grow. Between the beginning and the end of your story, your main characters should learn, grow, and be in some way affected by the events they have just lived through.
Task 1 - what would these stories be about?
Task 1 - what would these stories be about?
What would be the plot of each of these following images?
What would be the plot of each of these following images?
Say what the story would be about.
Say what the story would be about.
Come up with a main character and describe them for each image.
Come up with a main character and describe them for each image.
Write them in your book.
Write them in your book.
Be ready to share your answers after the five minutes.
Be ready to share your answers after the five minutes.
task 2 - develop and write a plot
task 2 - develop and write a plot
Download this document
Download this document
Develop and write your own story using this document as a guide. You make your own copy of this document and use it for your planning.
Develop and write your own story using this document as a guide. You make your own copy of this document and use it for your planning.
Plot Outline activity.docxPage updated
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