Writers Craft
The way characters communicate. It may be conversation between characters or it may be interior thoughts.
What is dialogue?
"Not mine, not mine, not mine, but Ms. Price is already turning to page thirty-two, and math problem number four."
What is Eleven by Sandra Cisneros?
This wannabe memoir is told in the second person. Why can't it be a memoir?
Memoirs are written in the first person.
The tree bark was rough against her skin.
What is touch?
The main character who moves the action forward.
Who is the Protagonist?
The variations in the rate of speed your characters move through scenes and chapters to reach the end of the story. Consideration is given to when to slow the action and when to speed it up.
What is pacing?
And even though I didn't agree with her then, I knew that she understood how much I had suffered during the evening's dinner.
What is Fish cheeks by Amy Tan?
This wannabe memoir tells the story of Ms. Herson's fantastic journey to another galaxy, where she slays a dragon and befriends a community of aliens. Why is this not a memoir?
Memoirs are non-fiction, true stories.
The familiar tang of his grandmother’s cranberry sauce reminded him of his youth.
What is taste?
The event that leads to a character's transformation (emotional change). This is the most intense moment of the story.
What is the climax moment?
The perspective from which the story is told. There are three: first person, second person and third person. Sometimes authors alternate points of view.
What is point-of-view
An excerpt from the Author: "I had to make a decision, follow my husband or stick to the groomers. On this day, I chose to follow and things went seriously wrong."
What is Out of Bounds?
This wannabe memoir spans the entirety of your life, start to finish. Why can't this be a memoir?
Memoirs are the stories of "small moments" and their "big impacts" on your life.
After eating the curry, his breath reeked of garlic.
What is smell?
The events that happen in the character's life before the reader meets the character and the story begins.
What is exposition (background information)?
The process an author uses to reveal the personality of a character either directly (author description) or indirectly (the reader must infer what the character is like). The descriptions may include how the character speaks, thinks, feels and acts.
What is characterization
This memoirist has the perfect seat at the lunchroom table. It now up to her to keep it. She must stand up for herself by facing off with the popular girl at school. (Looking for the name of the Character/Memoirist)
Who is Ms. Goldenberg?
This wannabe memoir is an excerpt from a science textbook. Why can't this be a memoir?
Memoirs are literary and teach the reader something about humanity based on the memoirists personal knowledge.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
What is sound?
The characters journey. The plot events that complicate matters for the protagonist by presenting obstacles or challenges along the way. This is where the story's suspense or tension builds.
What is the rising action?
This is a roadmap from the beginning of a story to its resolution. It is a sequence of connected, causal events that lead to the final resolution.
What is plot (or narrative arc)?
"Don't touch my books," Marilyn snapped at me. "I'm proud to be Jewish, so go on with your friends."
What is Making up and Shedding Enemies?
This wannabe memoir is a cool moment in an author's life about which his or her only reflection is "so uh...yeah." Why can't this be a memoir?
Memoirs include a reflection or reason for the story and show what the author has learned.
In the far distance a helicopter skimmed down between the roofs, hovered for an instant like a bluebottle, and darted away again with a curving flight.
What is sight?
The main character goes on some kind of journey with many problems and obstacles, and when the journey is finished, the main character has transformed (changed) in some profound way.
What is the Narrative Arc?