CLASS IX

HANDOUT: ‘STORY WRITING- AN ENCHANTING ART’

Hmmm…….THE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING CRAFT OF WRITING STORIES…………….SO,

STUDENTS……………..LET’S SEE WHAT WE HAVE HERE!

SETTING CHARACTERIZATION PLOT CONFLICT

CLIMAX ANTI- CLIMAX RESOLUTION MORAL

SETTING
• Tells the reader where and WHEN AND WHERE the story takes place. You need to identify the
people, places, times and objects involved. Use SENSORY details and DESCRIPTIVE
language to create a VIVID picture with your words.
• Capture your readers right away by describing your setting using ACTIVE VOICE
• Enhance your description with appropriate SIMILES, METAPHORS AND
PERSONIFICATION.
• Don’t hesitate to bring your characters in as part of your setting description.
CHARACTERIZATION
• Characterization is how we learn about a character
• We learn about them through:
• How they look/ act/say
• Use ADJECTIVES, POWERFUL VERBS AND ADVERBS to develop your characters
DIALOGUES

• Wherever the dialogues are sufficient to take the story further AVOID USING
UNNECESSARY NARRATION ( Remember we have limited word limit)
PLOT
• A SERIES OF EVENTS through which the writer reveals what is happening, to whom, and
why.
• Parts of Plot: introduction, conflict, rising action (complications), climax and resolution
CONFLICT
• It is the PROBLEM IN THE STORY that needs to be resolved. In a short story this will not be
too complex.
CLIMAX
• When the ACTION COMES TO IT’S HIGHEST POINT OF CONFLICT and usually when
the story can go either way
RESOLUTION
• The story’s action after the climax until the end of the story. It leads to SOLVING OF THE
PROBLEM TO THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION of the story.
THEME
• It is the ‘MESSAGE’ or ‘TAKE AWAY’ ,the writer intends to communicate through the story.

CHECKLIST
 TITLE INTERESTING PROPER THE STORY
BEGINNING DEVELOPMENT HAS A
( CAN INCLUDE OF PLOT, MEANING-
ELEMENTS OF CHARACTERS, FUL
SHOCK) SETTING AND MESSAGE
CLIMAX

NO SPELLING AND IF THE STORY ADHERENCE

NEGATIVE GRAMMATICAL HAS A MORAL TO THE
ELEMENTS ERRORS MENTION IT GIVEN
SEPARATELY WORD
AT THE END LIMIT

SO WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT KIND OF LEADS YOU COULD BE GIVEN?

LET’S CHECK IT OUT!

1. STORY WITH THE OPENING LINE GIVEN- In these kinds of questions the beginning
of the story is given and you have to develop a story from that point in continuation.
Remember to write the opening lines provided in the question.

2. WEAVING A STORY- Here the question will give you hints from within the proceedings
of the plot and you have to develop a story around those pointers which are provided.
Remember to use all the information or hints given in the question. It is mandatory to
use all of them.

3. STORY BASED ON A THEME- The question can ask you to write a story on a given
theme. For example- Write a story on ‘Fact is stranger than fiction’. Remember not to
digress from the theme.

SO STUDENTS, YOU MUST BE THINKING…..GOD! I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT….BUT

HOW DO I GET STARTED!

NO WORRIES……WE HAVE TWO SAMPLE STORIES LINED UP FOR YOU, WHICH WILL
GIVE YOU A FAIR IDEA OF THIS CRAFT, BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY START WRITING .SO
HERE WE GO……

Sample Story-1

Dear students……… A story could be based on a particular incident from real life as
well…Read this story to understand what that means…….
 A Memorable Day

When I was six, my mother, dad and I lived in a little city called Mapusa in Goa. (SETTING)

Mr. and Mrs. Garg lived next door. Mrs. Garg was motherly and loved to talk. (CHARACTER
DESCRIPTION). I loved her cooking. While her husband, was a kind of a funny character who smelled of
cigarettes. For instance, you never knew what he might say!

One evening my parents were going out. Mrs. Garg was cooking Mexican food and invited me to eat
with them. I begged until my folks said ‘yes’.

Mr. Garg had invited company too. The small house sounded like a crowded market. (USE OF SIMILE)
Everywhere I walked, the air dripped with spicy smells from Mrs. Garg’s steamy kitchen. I didn’t feel like
talking and laughing. All I wanted was to…..EAT!!

At last we sat down around a long table crowded with deep bowls and platters. On a plate, especially
meant for me, Mrs. Garg built a mountain of beans and rice. On the top of that mountain, plopped a
thick, brown taco bulging with cheese, olives, lettuce and tomatoes. The smell alone would make a
meal!! (DESCRIPTIVE WRITING)

I ate every bite.

Mr. Garg noticed.

“Honey”, he said “David and I want another taco”.

“No, thank you,” I said, holding up my hands. “I’m full”.

Mr. Garg winked and growled, “ Nonsense! No one ever quits after just one of Mrs. Garg’s tacos”

The second taco plopped onto my plate.

“ Thank You”, I said in a small voice.

Mr. Garg chewed fast and swallowed hard. “David and I want another taco”.

“Noooo!”, I said

PLOP! Came another taco on my plate. ( NOTICE : THE USE OF DIALOUGES )

“Thank you”’ I said.

Mr. Garg winked and chewed.

I matched him chew for chew. The last bite seemed to be stuck in my throat as if waiting and searching
for some space in my stomach.

The process continued and more tacos kept landing on my plate.

After eight tacos Mr. Garg’s speed slowed down and finally he said “David doesn’t want any more
tacos”.

“Thank you”’ I whispered. There did not seem to be any room for a voice in my body. I tottered over to
the sofa and collapsed in a heap.

The next morning at school the girl beside me complained to the teacher.

“Miss Monika,” she complained to the teacher, “somebody in here smells real bad!!”

It didn’t take Miss Monika much time to sniff me out. I was exhaling a deadly breath of garlic.

I spent the rest of the day perched in the front row where only the chalkboard was in danger of cracking
and peeling from my deadly gas!

I didn’t mind. I’d done something that no one else had ever done.

I’d matched Mr. Garg taco for taco.

( So students…did you notice how a simple incident can be turned into such an entertaining
and funny story…. But of course!!…you do need to exaggerate facts to bring in humor at
times.. but that’s okay….that’s what storytelling is all about !! )

Now let us look at another kind of story which has opening lines mentioned in the task…..

SAMPLE STORY 2

Q. Write a story with the following opening lines:

When Amit woke up in the morning and looked at his face in the mirror, he did not
recognize the face looking back at him. “This is not me”, he cried aloud ……..

An Unbelievable Night

When Amit woke up in the morning and looked at his face in the mirror, he did not recognize
the face looking back at him. “This is not me”, he cried aloud because he saw another face in
the mirror but a very familiar one.

Flabbergasted beyond measure, his mind drifted off to the sequence of events that had
occurred the previous night. He had been all alone in the house diligently doing his homework.
However, as was trying to focus on a math problem, he heard a knock at the door. He thought
that his parents had returned but it turned out to be his best friend Raghav. Raghav Seth was a
tall and lean boy . Today, had taken care to dress in a polka dot shirt and had also matched it
with a hat. Somehow Amit had found the expressions on Raghav’s face very enigmatic and this
set him on a trail of thoughts.
Amit said, “What is the problem ? You look so scared ! ”. Raghav replied, “Everything is fine, just
wanted to spend some time with you”. Amit knew instantly Raghav was hiding something but
he did not want to trouble him any further. So they sat on the stairs and started talking about
school, friends, cricket etc. They recounted their childhood memories and spent some quality
time together. They laughed off silly things that had once bothered them and cherished their
together moments.

Just then Amit heard the phone ringing. He went to take it and the voice on the other end was
that of Raghav’s mother. She sounded terribly worried, almost frantic. She was crying
incessantly and when Amit enquired about the reason she informed him, through her
uncontrollable sobs, that Raghav had met with a car accident and was no more. Amit could not
believe his ears. He rushed back to the stairs to look for Raghav but was astonished to find a
note lying instead. The note read ‘Thank you Amit and Goodbye’.

Amit did not know how to react- Too much had happened in one night. He ended up crying
bitterly. He had experienced an unnatural occurrence, something which he would never be able
to explain or understand………..

So, that was another kind of story……..and now that you have a fair idea of this
skill……..here are some practice questions for you to try your hands on………….

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. Write a story in 150-200 words based on the lines given below:

We had all been eagerly waiting for this Children’s Day outing, as we longed to be out
with our buddies for an entire day. But we never imagined that the day had something else
in store for us. We heard a loud sound and then…….

2. Write a story using the hints given below ( Word limit:150-200 words):

Ankit, a clerk, wanted to become an IAS officer - discouraged by all - had no time and
money – worked hard during nights – failed once – tried again – cleared the test in 3rd
attempt.