Good Foundations

Pre-test
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get much right. The purpose of this exercise is to
warm up your literary muscle. For further reading on writing terms visit the library or
google ‘how to write’. You’ll see there are many more words about writing that can
help you build your story -- be it fiction, nonfiction, or memoir. (The answers are
given on the last page).

Plot is
a. the highest point of tension or conflict in a book
b. the interaction between the ‘good’ guy and the ‘bad’ guy
c. a series of interconnected incidents that make up a book

The story hook is

a. the ‘grabber’ or ‘teaser’ at the beginning of the story
b. the unique angle from which the story is told
c. the practice of giving misleading clues like in a mystery

Flashback is
a. anything written in the past tense
b. a memory or reflection that interrupts the action of a scene
c. a reaction a character has to a bad memory

Climax is
a. a well-paced fight scene
b. the end of the story or book
c. the point of highest dramatic tension in a book

Setting is
a. the time and place in which a story occurs
b. the arrangement of text on the page
c. the practice of starting a book with an epilogue

©2006 Linda Leigh Hargrove | Linda@LLHargrove.com

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Dialogue is
a. a conversation in a story or book
b. a literary term for parenthetical thoughts
c. two or more journal entries

Theme is
a. another name for the introductory prologue
b. a musical score included in the back of a book
c. the overarching idea or message in a story or book

Purple Prose is
a. slang for high literature
b. an overly ornate or flowery way of writing
c. books written during the Victorian era

Cliffhanger is
a. fast-paced writing
b. a book that doesn’t sell
c. the practice of ending a chapter with the character in a precarious or dire
situation

Answers:

1. c 2. a 3. b 4. c 5. a 6. a 7. c 8. b 9. c

©2006 Linda Leigh Hargrove | Linda@LLHargrove.com

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Elements of a Story
A good story has certain key ingredients. Whether we’re talking about fiction, nonfiction, or
memoir – it should be supported by the following basic elements.

A beginning, a middle, and an end.

Every story has them – a beginning, a middle, and an end. Each section, flowing seamlessly into the
next, has a special ‘signature.’

In the beginning you’ll introduce all or most of your major characters and set up the primary conflict. A
good beginning starts with a good lead or hook – something to ‘grab’ the reader and propel them into
the story.

In the middle you’ll want to build on that original conflict, complicating it with a twist and a turn.
Middles are used to flesh out your main character’s personalities and motivations.

In the end you’ll bring the conflict to a logical and satisfying close and resolve your main character’s
dilemma. Remember, not all endings are happy but that’s okay; that’s real life.

Characters
In your memoir, the main character is you. Your job is to honestly portray yourself (and others in your
story) without bias and with as much flavor and detail as possible. Avoid flat or one-dimensional, or
stereotypical depictions of people. Strive to show how you and others change over the course of the
tale.

Conflicts
Literary conflicts make for a good story, or memoir. Conflicts, those trials of the heart and clashes of
wills, can be good things. They bring body to the story and build suspense. They make you ask, ‘how
can she succeed against such odds?’ Major conflict is the result of an external force putting pressure
on the goals and motivations of the main person in the story. So much so that the person feels there’s
no easy way out.

Conflict can be grouped into four categories: man vs. God (or nature); man vs. society; man vs. man;
man vs. self. Conflict can also be seen as either internal or external. The interplay of internal and
external conflict moves the story along, giving it a life of its own. The stronger the two are, the better
the story.

Climax
This is the point of highest emotion or drama in your story. All the conflicts and complications come
to a head at this moment in the story. The tension falls away after this point and the story line moves
quickly toward resolution.

Resolution
The resolution ties everything together and answers all questions (directly or indirectly). This ending
should be logical and satisfying. Your resolution doesn’t have to give solutions necessarily just
answers to the questions raised in your beginning.

©2006 Linda Leigh Hargrove | Linda@LLHargrove.com

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Just the Facts
The key to completing this section is focusing on writing down some facts. Use the
list below to write down the facts in a notebook. Write them down as quickly as
they come. Feel free to add to the list.

For now all we need are the names of places, things, and people. Keep your
responses short. Don’t get bogged down with a lot of details just yet. If you don’t
have a response right away, go on to the next one; you can always come back.

Include as many concrete pieces of information as possible (dates and full names,
for instance). Don’t bother writing things out in full sentences just yet. We’ll do that
later in the course.

Things like birth, baptismal, death, and cemetery records might help you when it comes to getting
some of the facts straight. You might event try tracking down school records, diplomas, or
newspaper clippings.

Your Roots:
(Names and birthdates, if known)
o Parents* The Present
o Grandparents o Schools and education
o Brothers and sisters o Marriage(s) and divorce(s)
o Other extended family o Major accomplishments
*If you are adopted but don’t know the o Significant others
names of your birth family members, o Fears
please note that fact. o Strengths & weaknesses
o Talents
The Early Years o Languages fluent in
o Friends & playmates o Past or present military service
o Favorite playthings
o Pets
o Schools & education

Adolescence through Young Adult

o Schools attended (location/dates)
o Best friend
o Other notable friends/classmates
o Pets
o Collections
o Nicknames
o School Honors and Accomplishments
o Sports Played

©2006 Linda Leigh Hargrove | Linda@LLHargrove.com

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