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Return to course: Writing Fiction for Upper Elementary Age Students – Semester 1

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Writing Fiction for Upper Elementary Age Students - Semester 1

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Why should I write fiction?
Introduction to this course
Read a short story
The elements of a short story
Planning your story - Beginning, Middle and End
Examples of story actions
Create a satisfying ending
Dictating or typing your stories (especially if you have dyslexia or dysgraphia)
Finishing and Posting Your Story
Create and write a great short story
Recap and Reflect: You’re a Story Writer!
Mark optional lessons complete
(Optional) Christian Writing Supplement: Why write fiction

Create your ideas
Use genres for story ideas
Use this site's story prompts to activate your imagination
Activity: Create a list of fun story ideas
Write a short story using one of your ideas
Recap and Reflect: Creating Story Ideas
(Optional) Christian Writing Supplement: Created to Imagine

All writers revise their stories
How to study your story
Making your revisions
Grammar: The Secret Superpower of Great Writing
Punctuation: The Music of Your Story
Activity: Write a new story quickly
Revise your story
Recap and Reflect: Revising your story
(Optional) Christian Writing Supplement: Revising your story

What makes a character interesting?
Activity: Read a short story about an interesting character
Your character must be active
Physical and emotional descriptions
Activity: Create a list of interesting character traits
Character wants and needs
Activity: Building a character profile
Write a short story about your character
Recap and Reflect: Making Characters Come Alive
(Optional) Christian Writing Supplement: Developing Characters

What is a plot?
Read a story with an interesting plot
Conflict in a story
The importance of stakes
The Plot Diagram
Cause and Effect + Plot Twists
Developing a Plot-Centered Story Idea
Activity: Planning and Outlining Your Plot
Write a story with an interesting plot
Recap and Reflection: Your Story’s Journey
(Optional) Christian Writing Supplement: The Power of Plot in God’s Story

Who tells the story: First, Second, and Third Person Points of View
Perspective: Seeing through the Character's Eyes
Read a story with different points of view and perspectives
Why use each type of Point of View
Writing in First Person
Writing in Third Person
Choosing the right point of view for your story
Activity: Create a story idea and define possible points of view
Write a story with one of your Points of View
Rewrite your story with a different Point of View
Revise your story
Recap and Reflection: Point of View
The Movie Frozen and the Power of Point of View
(Optional) Christian Writing Supplement: Seeing through God's Eyes

The role of dialogue in stories
Read a story with interesting dialogue
Writing realistic dialogue
Writing dialogue that reveals character
Using dialogue to reveal character's ideas and motivations
Creating a conflict with dialogue and turning it into a story
Punctuation and format of dialogue
Activity: Create an idea for a story with a conflict expressed as dialogue
Write and revise a short story with dialogue
Recap and Reflection: The Power of Dialogue
(Optional) Christian Writing Supplement: Words that Reflect the Heart

Why your Antagonist should be interesting
How to make your Antagonist interesting
Different Kinds of Antagonists
Giving the Antagonist a Goal
Creating Sympathy (or Not!) for Your Antagonist
Antagonists Who Change the Hero
Writing Dynamic Antagonist Scenes
Activity: Create an interesting Antagonist and set up the conflicts
Write and revise your story with an engaging Antagonist
Recap and Reflection: Building Powerful Antagonists and Unforgettable Conflict
(Optional) Christian Writing Supplement: Antagonists, Conflict, and God’s Work in the Story

Activity: Create a list of story ideas and choose one for your final story
Build the pieces of your story
Write the first draft of your story
Revise and edit your story
Revise, edit, and post your story
Celebrate what you've learned in this course!
Mark optional lessons complete
(Optional) Christian Writing Supplement: Story Writing Accomplishment

What makes a character interesting?

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