How to write a short story.

Mum gives a little girl some cakes to take to Grandma. She sets off. She
Decide on your PLOT
(STORYLINE): What is your story
about? What is going to happen?
Decide on a beginning, middle
(development) and end.
=
walks through the forest. A wolf sees her and follows. He talks to her. He
runs ahead and knocks on granny’s door. He eats Granny, then gets into
her bed. When the little girl knocks, he pretends to be granny and tells
her to come in. However, a woodcutter sees what is happening. He
rushes in and cuts off the wolf’s head. Then Granny pops out – she is OK.
Afterwards, Mum comes and everyone is happy. The big bad wolf is dead.
TASK: Put the verbs into the past tense.

Little Red Riding Hood

Cunning, sly, voracious, fast, scheming.
Sweet, young, little,
Think about your CHARACTERS. trusting, helpful,
Mum
Who is theloving.
story about? Who is the The wolf
Infirm, helpless, ill, bedridden The woodcutter
main character? Who are the
Caring, considerate, kind,warm-hearted.
Granny
supporting characters?
Mature, sensible, What are
quick-thinking,
they like?
TASK: Match up the character with suitable adjectives

A horror/ghost story A canteen in a college; hospital ward; club or pub;

Set the SCENE. Where and when
does the story happen? What is the
weather like? The scene/s should
set the mood for your story.
dance class; fairground; at the beach.
A murder mystery A desert/beside the Sphinx/out in the forest.
A dark gloomy castle, the wind is lashing the trees
A romance/love story
and making wailing noises.
An adventure story A ranch; the open plains; hot sunny weather.
A train; a smart house; dull weather.
A western/cowboy
TASK: Match up the genre with a suitable scene/scenes

Usually, the NARRATIVE tense is the PAST SIMPLE, with the

PAST CONTINUOUS for actions occurring at the same time.
TIME MARKERS. Help your
E.g. She was watching TV when the someone knocked at the
readers to know what is
door.
happening and in which order.
E.g. First, a few hours later,
DESCRIBE, by using ADJECTIVES and ADVERBS. Adjectives
in the afternoon, later that
describe a noun and adverbs describe a verb, they describe how Proof read your story!
day, after the meal, at 7
something is done. E.g. The huge dog lunged ferociously at poor, Here is a checklist.
o’clock, finally…..etc
1. Paragraphs. Vary the length
terrified Jim, who quickly jumped out of the way.
of your paragraphs.
2. Punctuation. Capital letters
THE FIVE SENSES. Make it interesting by drawing your reader and full stops etc. Start a new
in. Describe what your characters SAW, HEARD, SMELLED, line every time somebody
new starts talking. Remember
TOUCHED AND FELT. You need not use them all! E.g. Little RRH
speech marks. ‘Look out!’
watched the bright sun slowly disappear behind the thunder clouds and
Jane shouted.
she heard the distant howl of a lone wolf. She felt frightened, but when
3. Spelling
the enormous, shaggy wolf suddenly appeared, he smiled sweetly and ….. 4. Tenses.