Pre-Production

Below is the plot outline for my short story.

When I created this plot outline, it gave me a clearer sense of how to structure my story and organise the parallels between the two women. Seeing the story broken down into sections helped me pinpoint the key activities I want to focus on, like waking up, meal preparation, and social interactions. It also gave me a framework for showing the differences between their lives without making it feel forced or unnatural.

Having a turning point, like the shared event or global crisis, helps me create an emotional connection between the women, even if they never meet. The outline also reminded me to include small, meaningful details that reflect their individual struggles and strengths, which will make the characters feel real. Writing the resolution with both women reflecting on their lives gave me an idea of how I can tie everything together and leave the reader with a sense of hope and reflection.

This process made me feel less overwhelmed because now I can focus on one section at a time, knowing how it fits into the larger story. It’s not just about the differences—I now have a plan for weaving in their shared humanity too. 

Silk and Shrapnel

The faint chime of an alarm echoed through the quiet morning air as sunlight crept through the half-drawn curtains of Anna’s apartment. She stirred lazily, her body wrapped in a cocoon of soft blankets. The faint hum of city life filtered in—a distant siren, the murmur of traffic, and the laughter of children on their way to school. She swung her legs off the bed, feeling the plush rug beneath her feet. A quick stretch, a yawn, and she shuffled to the kitchen, where the scent of freshly ground coffee beans greeted her. Outside, the world of convenience waited: running water, stocked supermarket shelves, and a reliable train to whisk her to work.

Amina’s day began not with the soft insistence of an alarm but with the sharp cries of a rooster and the shuffle of feet outside her home. The sun had barely risen, casting an orange hue over the parched earth. She stepped out into the dry, cracking landscape, her feet bare against the dirt. The village well beckoned in the distance, a line already forming as women balanced empty jugs on their hips. Each step was a reminder of the fragility of her world—a place where water was scarce and survival was the only constant. The air carried no laughter, only murmurs of caution and weariness.

Two women. Two worlds. Divided by privilege, yet unknowingly tethered by the sky above.

Anna’s morning unfolded predictably. A warm shower, the sweet aroma of toast and marmalade, and the reassuring beep of her phone as emails began to trickle in. She drove through orderly streets, her air-conditioned car providing refuge from the mild heat outside. Her biggest concern? Finding the perfect outfit for a client meeting—a balance of authority and approachability.

Amina’s day was a series of obstacles. She carried water home, her shoulders aching under the weight of the jug. Her children’s laughter was fleeting, often interrupted by the stern voice of reality. Cooking was a delicate balance of rationing and improvisation—every grain of rice accounted for, every scrap of food cherished. Her commute was not in a car but through checkpoints, her heart pounding with every interaction as she navigated the subtle dangers of a conflict-stricken land.

Societal expectations loomed large for both women - Anna juggled her ambitions with societal pressures to maintain work-life balance, whilst Amina’s world offered no such balance—her role as provider and protector was relentless, her sacrifices unspoken but deeply felt.

Dinner was a ritual for Anna—a canvas for creativity. Tonight, she sliced fresh basil, drizzled olive oil, and folded ribbons of pasta into a fragrant sauce. Friends gathered around her polished wooden table, glasses clinking as laughter punctuated the air. Conversations were light, full of aspirations and fleeting frustrations.

For Amina, food preparation was an exercise in ingenuity. She scoured her surroundings for firewood, the pot simmering with a thin stew made from foraged greens and lentils. The children sat cross-legged, their eyes bright with anticipation. While her neighbors gathered nearby, their talk was heavy with the weight of lost loved ones and transient moments of solace.

When the night settled, Anna read to her niece, her voice steady and soothing as the child drifted off in the safety of her arms. Amina, in the dim light of a flickering lantern, wrapped her children close, her heart a shield against the fear that lingered in the shadows.

The news broke like a thunderclap, rippling across borders and lives. Anna’s phone buzzed incessantly with updates. A crisis—a natural disaster—halfway across the world. She scrolled through headlines, each one a distant echo of something she couldn’t quite grasp. Her first instinct was sympathy, but it felt hollow, filtered through the detachment of her screen.

For Amina, the crisis was not distant; it was immediate and visceral. The ground beneath her had trembled, the earth itself groaning in protest. Homes crumbled, water sources tainted, and her fragile existence grew even more precarious. She clutched her children, as her mind raced with plans for survival.

Anna sat at her desk, staring at a donation page. The glossy images of devastation felt surreal. She clicked “donate” and closed her laptop, her heart heavy but her world untouched. She turned to her window, where the city buzzed on, oblivious to her inner turmoil.

Amina, meanwhile, waded through knee-deep water, her children clinging to her as she searched for higher ground. Her neighbors formed a chain, passing supplies hand to hand. Each step was a battle, her spirit bending but never breaking. In the face of destruction, she found moments of strength—not in what she had, but in the resilience that kept her moving.

That night, under the same sky, both women paused. Anna gazed at the stars, her mind churning with questions she couldn’t answer. How had she been so blind to the fragility of others’ lives? What could she do with her privilege beyond token gestures? For the first time, she felt the stirrings of a deeper responsibility.

Amina, despite the weariness etched into her bones, smiled as her children slept soundly beside her. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but tonight, she allowed herself a moment of peace. The stars above reminded her of the vastness of the world—both its cruelties and its quiet beauties.

In that quiet, shared moment, the women’s lives converged, their humanity bridging the chasm between privilege and survival.

Feedback from Tutor

"I enjoyed this very much, it is a moving piece and effectively written, poetic and insightful in places and I like the idea of sharing the world and showing its huge differences. 

For me though it is not quite yet a story, even though Anna is moved enough by the news of a disaster to sign a petition, this does not really constitute an arc, a change and in any way show a character's needs, Amina's story is clearly tragic, and devastating, traumatic but you also need to be careful for it not to be too clichéd. You tell us these things and do not show us - we are not really immersed and experiencing either story quite yet these needs to be more for us to see, feel and experience. 

But is a great idea for a story - one that I feels needs to converge more, and perhaps should be a longer piece where Anna goes to Gaza or Somalia or vice versa - we don't really know where Amora is - and Amora's less of a continual victim but someone we see fight and resisting - some we invest in their story more.  Anna doesn't just sign a petition she trued to make change and comes up against forces that make this vey difficult for her. "

This is the second draft of my short story. I read and took into account the suggestions/feedback that my tutor provided me with and made the relevant changes that I needed for the completion of my second draft. I think that with these adjustments, my story has more structure and I have included more 'showing and not telling' skills in order to create a stronger character arc and steer away my plot from being too cliche.

Silk and Shrapnel

The faint chime of an alarm echoed through the quiet morning air as sunlight crept through the half-drawn curtains of Anna’s apartment. She stirred lazily, her body wrapped in a cocoon of soft blankets. The faint hum of city life filtered in—a distant siren, the murmur of traffic, and the laughter of children on their way to school. She swung her legs off the bed, feeling the plush rug beneath her feet. A quick stretch, a yawn, and she shuffled to the kitchen, where the scent of freshly ground coffee beans greeted her. Outside, the world of convenience waited: running water, stocked supermarket shelves, and a reliable train to whisk her to work.

Amina’s day began not with the soft insistence of an alarm but with the sharp cries of a rooster and the shuffle of feet outside her home. The sun had barely risen, casting an orange hue over the parched earth. She stepped out into the dry, cracking landscape, her feet bare against the dirt. The village well beckoned in the distance, a line already forming as women balanced empty jugs on their hips. Each step was a reminder of the fragility of her world—a place where water was scarce and survival was the only constant. But she did not let the burden crush her; she held herself tall, exchanged greetings with the women around her, and adjusted the scarf covering her braided hair.

Two women. Two worlds. Divided by privilege, yet unknowingly tethered by the sky above.

Anna’s morning unfolded predictably. A warm shower, the sweet aroma of toast and marmalade, and the reassuring beep of her phone as emails began to trickle in. She drove through orderly streets, her air-conditioned car providing refuge from the mild heat outside. Her biggest concern? Finding the perfect outfit for a client meeting—a balance of authority and approachability. Yet, something gnawed at her—an unease she couldn’t quite name, a feeling of detachment as she scrolled past another news notification on her phone.

Amina’s day was a series of obstacles. She carried water home, her shoulders aching under the weight of the jug. Her children’s laughter was fleeting, often interrupted by the stern voice of reality. Cooking was a delicate balance of rationing and improvisation—every grain of rice accounted for, every scrap of food cherished. But she was not merely surviving. She taught her eldest daughter how to make flatbread from memory, passed down from her mother. She laughed when the girl, covered in flour, tried to shape the dough into a heart. She was more than struggle; she was resilience, she was love, she was life continuing despite everything.

Societal expectations loomed large for both women—Anna juggled her ambitions with societal pressures to maintain work-life balance, while Amina’s world offered no such balance. She was mother, protector, provider. The weight was relentless, but she did not bend.

Then, the news broke.

Anna sat at her desk, frozen. The screen blared headlines of a devastating earthquake in a region she had barely thought of before. Hundreds dead. Thousands displaced. Among the images, a photograph of a woman standing knee-deep in floodwater, clutching two children. The caption read: 'Somalian mother fights to save her children in aftermath of disaster.'  Something inside her shifted.

She refreshed the page, consumed article after article, feeling a growing sense of urgency. A petition? A donation? No. Not this time. The world needed more than just another click. But what could she do? Would it even matter? She thought of her privilege, of her comfort, of the space between their worlds. That night, she lay awake, staring at her ceiling, the woman’s face burned into her mind. And she made a decision.

Amina, amidst the wreckage, fought for survival. The earth had turned on them, the wells contaminated, the market reduced to rubble. Aid was slow, too slow. But she would not wait. She gathered the women of her village, took stock of what they had, what they could spare. They worked together, forming a network of support. She made plans, spoke with leaders, found ways to get messages to the outside world. She was no victim waiting for salvation; she was the force that refused to let despair win.

Two weeks later, Anna stepped off a plane, the heat slamming into her as she arrived in a humanitarian aid camp in Somalia. She had used every contact, every resource she had, pulled every string to be here. It wasn’t easy. The process had been tangled in bureaucracy, in doubts and obstacles, but she had pushed through. And now, standing in the middle of the camp, she saw Amina.

They met not as saviour and saved, not as wealthy and poor, but as women. As equals. Their hands clasped, and in that moment, the distance between their worlds disappeared.

 More Feedback from Tutor

"Much much better - more emotive, more immersive, more detailed  - great to read. Good job. 

I still feel it is a longer story though - I think you have a great story to tell and for me this paragraph is the where yo explore - getting these two women together. 

Two weeks later, Anna stepped off a plane, 

al this obstacles and hurdles are the how you show her needs and wants, her resolve and determination to overcome her own doubts to make a difference 

but the last lines are beautiful and poignant - certainly well written demonstrating all your talents of word choices and literary tools. 

Great project - -look forward to reading the article"

Before writing my feature article, I created this plan to help structure my ideas and ensure that my piece effectively explores cultural and social differences experienced by women worldwide. Planning allowed me to identify key themes, organise my arguments, and consider how best to engage my audience.

By outlining the five Ws (who, what, when, where, why), I was able to establish a clear focus for my article. The sentence starters helped me think about how to introduce my topic in a compelling way, while the introduction section ensured that I would grab the reader’s attention from the very beginning. I also used this plan to explore different tools and structural techniques, such as rhetorical questions and emotive language, to enhance the impact of my writing.

The paragraphs included in this plan are only brief summaries of my ideas rather than fully developed sections. They serve as a foundation, giving me a sense of direction and helping me shape my article into a coherent and engaging piece. This structured approach has been help in guiding my writing process, allowing me to refine my ideas and create a more polished final feature article.

The Ongoing Struggle for Women’s Rights: A Global Perspective

Across the world, women’s experiences are shaped by cultural, social, and political factors that determine their rights, freedoms, and opportunities. While progress has been made in many areas, gender inequality remains deeply entrenched, affecting women in both developed and developing countries. From workplace discrimination in the West to severe restrictions on basic freedoms in other parts of the world, the fight for women’s rights is far from over. Women everywhere face challenges, though the severity varies depending on location and societal norms. In Western nations, women continue to battle issues such as wage gaps, workplace harassment, and underrepresentation in leadership roles. A report by the World Economic Forum (2023) found that at the current rate of progress, it will take over 130 years to close the global gender gap. This highlights how even in countries where legal protections exist, social and structural barriers persist.

In contrast, women in many developing countries face much harsher realities. In some regions, girls are still denied access to education due to cultural beliefs or economic hardships. The United Nations reports that 129 million girls worldwide are out of school, limiting their future opportunities and reinforcing cycles of poverty. Additionally, gender-based violence remains a widespread crisis. According to UN Women, one in three women globally experiences physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, with many cases going unreported due to stigma and fear. The situation is particularly dire in conflict zones and under oppressive regimes. In Iran, for example, women have been at the forefront of protests against mandatory hijab laws and state repression, risking their lives for the right to personal freedom. Similarly, in parts of Africa and the Middle East, child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) continue to threaten the lives and autonomy of millions of young girls.

While women in first-world countries enjoy more rights and opportunities than ever before, they still face significant obstacles. The gender pay gap remains a persistent issue—in the UK, women earn on average 14.3% less than men, according to the Office for National Statistics (2023). In the US, the situation is similar, with women earning approximately 82 cents for every dollar a man earns.

Beyond the workplace, women also face systemic barriers in politics and leadership. Despite making up half the population, women still hold less than 30% of parliamentary seats worldwide. In corporate settings, fewer than 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women.

Reproductive rights also continue to be a devastating battleground - in recent years, the rollback of abortion rights in the United States has reignited debates about women’s bodily autonomy. These challenges demonstrate that while progress has been made, gender equality is still far from being achieved, even in the most developed nations.

To further explore how cultural and social factors influence women's experiences, I interviewed my friend Natalia, who was born in Serbia but raised in the UK. Her story offers insight into the complexities of identity and the way cultural expectations can shape a woman's sense of self. Natalia described the challenges of balancing Serbian traditions with British societal norms. At home, she was immersed in Serbian culture—speaking the language, celebrating traditional holidays, and following customs. However, outside her home, she had to adapt to British culture, which sometimes made her feel like she was caught between two worlds.

"I remember feeling self-conscious about bringing Serbian food to school because it wasn’t what other kids were eating," she explained. "And people always had trouble pronouncing my name. Small things like that made me more aware of my cultural differences."

One of the most striking points from our conversation was her struggle with identity—feeling “not Serbian enough” while in the UK and “too British” when visiting Serbia. This is a common experience among many women raised in cultures different from their heritage. Society often pressures individuals to conform, making it difficult to fully embrace both identities. Despite these challenges, Natalia now sees her bicultural upbringing as a strength. "I used to feel like I had to choose between being Serbian or British, but now I realize I don’t have to. I can embrace both." Her experience highlights how cultural expectations can shape a woman’s sense of belonging, self-worth, and confidence.

The struggle for gender equality is not just a women's issue—it affects entire societies. Studies show that when women are given equal opportunities in education, employment, and leadership, economies grow, and communities thrive. Countries with high gender equality tend to have stronger economies, lower crime rates, and better overall well-being. The fight for women’s rights must be a global effort. While progress has been made in many areas, there is still much work to be done. Governments, organizations, and individuals all have a role to play in ensuring that women everywhere have the freedom to pursue education, careers, and personal choices without fear or restriction.

Women’s rights are not a luxury or a privilege—they are a fundamental human necessity. Whether it’s the fight for equal pay in the West, the right to education in developing nations, or the struggle for personal freedom under oppressive regimes, gender inequality remains a pressing issue. Natalia’s experience navigating cultural differences offers a perspective on identity and belonging, but it also highlights the privileges that come with being raised in a country where women have rights. Not all women have the ability to embrace their identities freely—many are still silenced, restricted, and denied opportunities. As individuals, we can contribute to change by advocating for gender equality, amplifying the voices of marginalised women, and supporting policies that empower women worldwide. The fight is far from over, but with continued awareness and action, a more equal world is possible.

Feedback from Tutor

"Across the world, women’s experiences are shaped by cultural, social, and political factors"

This is true - but not new information - consider a hook that shows this rather than tells; more story less essay. 

"A report by the World Economic Forum (2023) found that at the current rate of progress, it will take over 130 years to close the global gender gap. "

This grabs attention!! 

"interviewed my friend" - excellent - human interest - possibly get to this quicker -

using human interest is a great showing tool - we responded more to people's stories - empathy is key. Too many facts and telling will turn the reader off - 

just say interviewed Natalia (leave the friend out - you a journalist finding a story)  - or use a quote embedded in the text - make it more journalistic than essay 

"she had to adapt to British culture, which sometimes made her feel like she was caught between two worlds."

Yes! this is the story!!!!

"Her experience highlights how cultural expectations can shape a woman’s sense of belonging, self-worth, and confidence."

Excellent!