Creative Writing : UNIT II Fiction Writing, Lecture notes of English

Download Creative Writing : UNIT II Fiction Writing and more Lecture notes English in PDF only on Docsity! U N I T II : F I C T I O N W R I T I N G Practice Activity Below is a dialog between friends. Read the following dialog. Help solve writing problem of the two character. Suggest your solutions. Rico: Our teacher, Miss Gonzales, asked us to present a 15-minute skit in class. We have just two weeks to prepare an original story. She says the story should focus on “bayanihan.” We need your help, Jen. Jen: Oh! Rico, that’s easy! First, we’ll just have to prepare a storyline and a script for it. How many members does your group have? A REVIEW OF THE ELEMENTS OF FICTION Two of the most common forms of fiction are the short story and the novel. The short story is a condensed narrative usually set in one particular time and place. It focuses on a character, and his or her interests or feelings under a certain situation. The novel is longer due to its complex plot which is presented through multiple chapters. A novel includes a main plot and subplots. A novel also has more characters than a story. Characters The characters are the people in the story. Characters can often be classified as flat or round. A round character changes over the course of the story. For example, a selfish character might become kind and generous, or a timid character might become brave. A flat character, on the other hand, has the same traits at the end of the story as at the start. Examples of round character:  Odysseus (Odyssey)  Anna (Anna Karenina)  Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol)  Jeremy Flinch (To Kill a Mockingbird Examples of flat character:  Grendel (Beowulf)  Emily (A Rose for Emily)  Tybalt (Romeo and Juliet)  Jane (Pride and Prejudice) The main character in a story is the protagonist. This is the character around whom the plot revolves, and may also be the main point of view character in the story. The antagonist is the character who causes problems or conflict for the protagonist. In some stories this character could be called the villain. Other characters may be supporting characters or minor characters. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Setting This is an element of fiction that tells when and where the events occurred. In some stories, the setting presents “local color” which is indicative of the scenery, language, practices, and beliefs of the people in a certain place. It is a device used to help the readers in creating a mental picture of the setting. Sometime the setting also affects the behavior of the characters as well as the turn of events. Examples of fiction set in local color:  “The Wedding Dance” by Amador Daguio  “How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife” by Manuel Arguilla Conflict Conflict refers to the problem or complication that the character must face. It may be a clash between characters in the story, or against other forces. A story without a conflict is nothing, because it is what adds color. Some stories have only one main conflict, while other stories have more and different types of conflict. The two main types of conflict are internal and external conflict. Internal conflict is shown through a character’s inner struggle. He or she may be torn between varying emotions or differing plans of action. The character Gollum from the Lord of the Rings is an example of a character with internal conflict. External conflict can be described as man versus man, man versus nature, man versus society, man versus culture, and man versus supernatural beings. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Plot This refers to the events – often in sequence – which portray characters facing conflicts. Some plots do not follow the regular structure of a story. Authors may use flashback to highlight previous events or foreshadowing to create suspense. Based on Freytag’s pyramid, a god plot must have the following parts: (insert image of Freytag’s pyramid) Point of View Point of view tells through whose eyes we are seeing the story. It also reveals the attitude of the writer toward the characters. It has the following classifications: A. First Person point of view: the narrator tells the story using the pronoun “I.” He or she may be the protagonist, a witness to the events, or a minor character. B. Third Person point of view: the narrator tells the story using the pronouns “he,” “she,” or “they.” It may be a limited third person, where the narrator is not involved in the story or is an outsider. He or she relates the events, but is not one of the characters. C. Omniscient point of view: also referred to as the “know-it-all” narrator; the narrator knows the innermost thoughts and feelings of each character. He or she also explore the mind of every character. EVALUATION Answer the following questions: 1. Give your own examples of a round character and a flat character. Explain your answer. 2. What are the parts of the plot? 3. Name different types of conflict and give an example for each type. 4. What point of view do you most often see used in stories? What do you think are the advantages of using this type of point of view? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ e. What are the limitations and negative qualities of your character? f. How is the character affected by his or her limitations and fears? Appearance a. What does your character look like? Describe his or her physical attributes. b. How does the character feel about his or her appearance? IS the character satisfied with his/ her appearance or not? Personality a. Is your character emotionally stable or not? What are the character’s innermost feelings? b. Is your character expressive of his/her feelings? Is your character secretive? c. How do other people view your character? Is your character affected by others’ perceptions of him/her? LESSON FOUR: CHOOSING A TYPE OF CONFLICT We face problems on a daily basis as we profess objectives that are different from the people we come in contact with. Agreeing on what to eat for dinner or what movie to watch after; where to go for vacation; who brings out the trash; or what model of phone to buy, are examples of many simple conflicts we may face each day. Choosing who to vote for; between advocating or opposing death penalty; between renewable energy or combustible fuel; and many other big conflicts are at the center of the most important issues facing not only our country but the whole world as well. Conflicts are an essential part of our lives as human beings. The world of creative writing is not far off. A story without conflict problem is lifeless. Few would be interested in a story where the character shows ideal traits, has no worries or anxieties, faces no challenges, and has a perfect life. Every good story must have a conflict and choosing the right conflict necessary in order to begin the story with significant impact on the reader. Conflict is an essential element of fiction because it helps bring out the best in the character as well reveal the themes. Tension springs from the clash between characters or opposing forces. Presenting a clear conflict at the beginning will definitely make the readers want to know the succeeding events. Study the images below and tr to identify the kind of conflict encountered by the characters. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There are many different types and writer may choose to portray one or more of these. 1. Man against himself The character is experiencing inner struggle or is in conflict with himself. He or she must make difficult decisions or is torn between two forces. Oftentimes, the character having an inner conflict is destroyed by his or her own doing. Characters who surpass this type of conflict is very strong character. 2. Man against man This is a type of conflict which shows two characters pitted against each other. This ma be fight between the protagonist and the antagonist in the story. The characters involved in the conflict are extremely opposite in terms of behavior, personality traits, beliefs, and principles. 3. Man against society The character is against a group of people or society itself. This happens when the character has done something which has greatly offended the society, he or she is part of it. Conflict is also shown when the character cannot adjust to the ways of the people around him or her. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Man against culture The character realizes that the customs and traditions he or she must get accustomed to are unacceptable. He or she fails to observe the culture in a certain place because the character finds the practices peculiar to his or her own ways. 5. Man against nature The character may have to deal with natural disasters such as storms or earthquakes. Or they may find themselves in a harsh environment such as the middle of the ocean or desert. 6. Man, against supernatural things The hero or protagonist must face extraordinary creatures such as gods or monsters before he can achieve his goal. There are some readers who expect a happy ending for their characters, while some like an unconventional ending where the readers are left with questions in mind. An effective writer is able to show character through conflict. It is these complications that enable the characters to reveal their “true colors”. W admire someone who can face trials or challenges. Thus, it is necessary that the type of conflict you choose will reveal character. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Great fiction is achieved based on the quality and quantity of conflict I the story. As a writer, think of other circumstances or situations that will make the conflict worse. Here are some suggestions on how you can increase tension in the story.  Choose the appropriate setting The events in your story must take at the place right time and at the right place. This often means putting the character in the worst possible situation. Tension increases when the character struggles in the most inconvenient place.  Involve other characters in the conflict It is common to have two opposing forces in your story, but involving other characters will certainly raise the stakes. Some of the characters will choose one side or the other. There is increased tension when other characters take active part in the clash.  Increase the complexity of events and trials the character will face Tension escalates when the events become more complicated for the character, and when he or she encounters more obstacles. This leaves the reader wanting to know how the character will respond to the challenges.  Create a conflict that readers can identify with Even if your characters are form a different culture or time period or even a fictional world, there should be something in the conflicts they force that relate to the lives of the readers. This helps the reader to identify with your characters and empathize with their struggles ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LESSON 5 DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE PLOT Character creation and conflict selection maybe a challenging work already, but there is another element of fiction that you might find even more difficult to do – developing a plot. Plot is defined as the chronological sequence of events. It sounds simple and easy to do, but a writer must consider the following questions to produce an effective plot: 1. How does the story begin? 2. What structure will the plot have? 3. How can you make the plot compelling for the reader? 4. What will be the pace of your story? 5. How is your plot connected to your characters? By answering these questions, we get an idea of how the plot will develop. Since it is a series of events, each event should follow logically from what has already happened. It is also linked to your character since she or he makes decisions, that lead to succeeding events. The plot comes from the characters’ choices, and their life situations. Plot presents a series of connected events. One event is related to another event; each event happens one after another. Given this definition of a plot, rearrange the events taken from a comic strip. Be able to justify the connection between and among the events. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Before structuring the plot, the writer must decide whether the story is character – driven or plot – driven. If it is a plot- driven story, the emphasis is on the events and not on the characters. The character is often “flat” or one that does not develop, because the ideal kind of character is the kind who would not need significant changes. He or she is not given as much importance, compared to what happens in the story. Plot - driven stories are full of thrilling events and high stakes. The result matters more than anything else in the story. Sci – fi, adventure, and thriller stories are often plot – driven. A character – driven story places more emphasis on character development, and how the character changes as the story progresses. The events of the plot are not as important as the thoughts and feelings of the characters. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------