Creative Writing: Second Quarter

Fiction

Story that is all made-up and is not presented as objectively as possible. Not factual, rather, a make-believe world.

Character

People or Animals who take part in the action; Central Focus of the story.

Character

They control the plot (causing twists and turns, setting the ultimate resolution).

Character

They are given the illusion of reality and made believable to take the readers to places.

Characterization

Ways that writers develop their character; might also show how other characters react to a character, and their thoughts on them.

Protagonist

Principal character

Antihero

Inept or Ridiculous character

Antagonist

Villain character or character in conflict with the hero; creates conflict

Dynamic or Round Character

A fully developed character; recognizes changes or adjust to circumstances.

Dynamic or Round Character

A character that shows human growth and decline.

Flat Character

A character that does not grow and remains the same; stereotype character of conventional traits.

Flat Character

A character that exhibits only one side or aspect of him; no depth and changes (usually the supporting character)

Foil Character

A character that points the qualities or characteristics of another, typically the main character.

Omniscient

A Point of View that freely delves into minds of any characters at any point in the story.

Omniscient

A Point of View where the narrator is aware of all the thoughts, actions, and feelings of all characters.

Limited Omniscient

A Point of View where the narrator shows the thoughts and feelings of only one character.

Objective Third-Person Observer

A Point of View where the author relates what happens in an objective manner without giving his own comment/portraying what goes in the mind of his character.

Objective Third-Person Observer

A Point of View that makes fiction more realistic or life-like.

Third Person Limited

A Point of View that adheres closely to 1 character’s perspective.

Third Person Limited

A Point of View where the narrator is not a character, but looks at things only through the eyes of a single character.

Third Person Limited

A Point of View that permits the narrator to quickly build a close bond between protagonist and reader, without being confined by the protagonist’s educational or language restrictions.

First Person Observer

A Point of View where the narrator tells the story in first person. They may be the protagonist, minor character, or the writer itself.

First Person Observer

A Point of View where the observer shares whatever scene or events an eyewitness to the story would be able to see.

First Person Participant

A Point of View where the narrator tells their own story. Where they use “I” to refer to themselves.

First Person Participant

A Point of View that is used primarily for autobiographical writing. Narrator may be the central character, first person protagonist, or minor character.

Second Person Point of View

A Point of View where the narrator tells the story to another character using the words “You”, “Your”, “You’re”. The author could be talking to the audience.

Second Person Point of View

A Point of View that is used to address the audience in technical writing, advertising, songs, and speeches.

Camera View

A Point of View where the narrator records the action from their own point of view, without any of the characters’ thoughts.

Plot

Framework or outline of the story; Plan of action and arrangement of events.

Plot

Based on conflict or struggle between opposite forces.

Linear

A type of plot where it is arranged chronologically, most common plot as it follows natural order of events.

Circular

A type of plot where it is a Linear + Flashbacks, the opening scene will be repeated.

En Medias Res

A type of plot where it starts in the middle part.

Exposition

A Part of Plot where it introduces the main character(s), setting, conflict, background information.

Rising Action

A Part of Plot that is a series of events, called complications that build suspense; stakes increase as the character faces complications.

Conflict

A Part of Plot that is the struggle between opposing forces; opposition, struggle, collision, clash.

External Conflict

A type of conflict that is not within character’s control, could be a mystery that needs solving. Without this = no plot, only anxiety

Internal Conflict

A type of conflict that is within the main character, resolves in some ways for the characters to grow. Something the character bring to the story on page 1. Without this = character have no depth

Internal Conflict

A type of conflict that is brought to light when the character is confronted by the other conflict.

Suspense (or Crisis)

A Part of Plot where challenge/problem is created, leads the readers to expect something good or bad.

Climax

A Part of Plot that is the moment of truth, greatest moment of tension in a story; where main either triumphs or fails.

Resolution (or Denouement)

A Part of Plot where it is winding up a story; where conflict/complication in a story are finally resolved. Readers understand the position of protagonist.

Episodic Plot

It is a narration composed of loosely connected incidents; each one more or less self contained. Connected by a central character(s).

Episodic Novel

It is a narration where no matter what occurred in any given episode, the character, motivations, and their relationship would change little or not at all.

Plot Structure

Refers to the sequence/series of causes & effects in the story; each scene must be a logical expression of the scene that came before.

Short Story

Invented narrative prose shorter than a novel, have few characters, and focuses on creation mood rather than plot.

Pleasure, Insight, Essence of Good Drama, Source of Enjoyment, Enlarging our Experience

Reasons for Reading

Interest, Divert, Stimulate, Instruct

Purpose for Fictional Stories

Truth in Reporting, Logic in Reasoning

Purpose of Non-Fictional Stories

Experience, Imagination, Reflection, Perception,

Basis of Fictional Stories

News Report, Feature Article, Editorial, Historical Work, Biographical Work

Basis of Non-Fictional Stories

Short Story

Depicts 1 or 2 main characters’ conflict inner or with others. This usually has a Thematic Focus.

Short Story

Produces a single, focused emotional and intellectual response to the reader.

Tone

Writer’s feelings or insights towards the subject matter, or of the audience, or both. His mood/moral value.

Mood

Pertains to the overall insights or feelings of the audience perceived by the story.

Beginning

This is the exposition of a Short Story.

Middle

This is the climax of a Short Story.

End

This is the resolution of a Short Story.

Modernism

A form of Modern Short Story that is peculiar to modern times.

Post-Modernism

A form of Modern Short Story that refers to the phase of 20th Western Culture.

Fabulation

A Post-Modern literary technique that openly delights in its self-conscious verbal artifice, thus departing from the conventions of realism.

Magic Realism

A Post-Modern literary technique where fabulous and fantastic events are included, but maintains reliable tone for realism.

Metafiction

A Post-Modern literary technique that self-consciously and systematically draws attention as an artifact to pose questions about the relationship between fiction and reality.

Pastiche

A Post-Modern literary technique that is a literary work composed of elements borrowed either from various writers or early authors.

Bricolage

A Post-Modern literary technique that is an artistic work which is an assemblage or improvised from materials ready at hand.

Preview (the story), Read (the story actively), Respond (promptly to the story)

Guidelines in Reading

Private Response

A type of response that is inner thoughts, own perception disclosed to self.

Public Response

A type of response that is disclosed to the public, may be conducted by inner thoughts or controlled due to public demand.

Pen or Pencil, Underline, Notation, Jot Down Phrases, Note Questions/Reactions

Techniques to be an Active Reader

Drama

Composition in verse or prose intended to portray life/character or tell a story usually involving conflicts and emotions.

Drama

Done through action and dialogue and typically designed for theatrical performance.

To do or Act

What does the Greek word: “Dran” mean?

Drama

Work of art made up of words.

Dramatic Performance

Involves rehearsal based upon imagery inherent in the dramatic text.

Stage

Platform which plays/operas are performed.

Playwright

Writer of plays.

Plot, Action, Conflict

1st Element of Drama that is an ordered chain of physical, emotional, intellectual events that ties actions together.

Plot, Action, Conflict

1st Element of Drama that planned sequence of related actions.

Plot, Action, Conflict

1st Element of Drama that begins in a state of imbalance, grows out of conflict, reaches a peak of complications, and revolves into new situation.

Character

2nd Element of drama that is the person created by the playwright to carry actions, languages, ideas, emotions of the play.

Point of View and Perspective

3rd Element of Drama that depicts that playwright give us object raw materials, and action and words, but arranges them that we ourselves must draw all the conclusions.

Setting

4th Element of Drama that is described in the opening stage directions.

Scenery

4th Element of Drama that is the first thing we see on stage.

Set

4th Element of Drama that is a series of platforms, characters, rooms, stairs, and exits that form the location for all actions.

Diction, Imagery, Style, and Language

5th Element of Drama that depicts dialogue that may reflect the details of deepest thoughts about life.

Diction, Imagery, Style, and Language

5th Element of Drama that states that words must fit the circumstances, time, place.

Tone and Atmosphere

6th Element of Drama that signifies the way moods and attitudes are created and presented.

Symbolism and Allegory

7th Element of Drama that signifies meaning or beyond the intrinsic identity of itself.

Symbolism and Allegory

7th Element of Drama that states that a play is this if it pertains to moral values/teaching to generate human experience.

Subject and Theme

8th Element of Drama that states that playwrights write plays that dramatize ideas about the human condition, which constitutes the play’s subject.

Subject and Theme

8th Element of Drama that states that dramatized ideas on a subject make-up the play’s theme or meaning.

God, Fortune, Social Forces, Universal Values, Self

Superior Forces

Tragedy

A type of drama where the character is brought to a disastrous end in their confrontation with superior force(s).

Melodrama

A type of drama where it relies on implausible events and sensational action for its effect.

Melodrama

A type of drama where it ends happily, protagonist defeating the antagonist, at the last possible moment.

Comedy

A type of drama where it intends to interest, involve, and amuse the reader/audience; no terrible disaster and ends happily.

Farce

A type of drama where it is characterized by broad humor, wild antics and often slapstick, pratfalls, or other physical humor.

High Comedy

A type of Comedy that is characterized by verbal wit.

Low Comedy

A type of Comedy that is characterized by physical action, less intellectual.

Romantic Comedy

A type of Comedy that involves love affairs.