Session 8: Stepping into the Drama

of the Story to Draft

Congratulations on bringing your stories and

characters to life!
Youve planned, made lists, decided on things,
sketched and suddenly the story has taken a life
of its own.
Youve maybe started to notice that your
characters speak and act in ways that surprise
you, even though you are writing them!
Thats the magical power of writing fiction! At

some point your stories take you by the hand and

drag you along for the ride!

Teaching Point:
Today what I want to teach you is this: before writers get going on a

draft, they think a lot about ways to make a draft into a really good
story. But once theyre in the midst of the story, they try to lose
themselves in it. They become the characters, and writing is a bit like a
drama, happening to them.
This happens all the time when we are reading a great book! You tend to
become the character you are reading about. You picture yourself in the
storyline.
In a book called The Stuff of Fiction, Gerald Brace (1972) says it this
way: It is not enough for a writer to tell us about a person or a place; he
must give us the illusion of being the person ourselvesthe basic failure
in much writing is the failure of the writers imagination: he is not worth
itnot trying hard enough to live from moment to moment in the very
skin of his characters.
***As writers, you need to try to do this workto live in your characters
skins as you draft their stories!

Demonstration
Re-read the latest section of our Esmeralda story and I tried to

put myself into her skin and I started from the moment she
entered the party.
I was finally at the party I wanted so badly to be at. Yet, there I was,
sitting on the floor next to the television that was blaring some reality
show. I couldnt make out anything that was being said on the show
because the stereo was also blasting. All of a sudden I heard a crash. I
looked away from the tv just in time to see a kid, I think from my science
class, pick himself up off the floor.
Whos next? he asked. He gestured to the couch. I am, another guy
said and hopped up to stand on the back of the couch, balancing on his
toes. 1-2-3 the crowd called. All at once the new kid, who I didnt
recognize, jumped off the couch and landed with a thud on the coffee
table.

Remember our plot diagram???

Im going to pretend that the next dot on the diagram says, She goes

into another room only to hear a few people gossiping about one of
her friends.
Im still working on trying to BE Esmeralda.

I mean, did you see what Tilly wore tonight? Liz snorted. No
one wears that color anymore.
I just sat quietly on the edge of the chair. I didnt think I even
knew what Tilly was wearing. I never paid attention to those sorts
of things.
Another girl, I didnt know her name, rolled her eyes, Shes
always wearing and saying and doing the wrong things. Its like she
doesnt care what people think.
I was shocked. They had to know I was friends with Tilly. We ate
lunch together everyday and, if she hadnt been late to the party, we
would have been sitting together. Why would they talk about my
friend in front of me?

Recap
Do you see that when you write-when any

fiction writer writes-you keep in mind the big

plan for how a story will probably go, but you
let the details emerge from the specific, exact
actions the characters take?
Usually our scenes involve two or three
characters, and one does or says something
and then the next one reacts.

Active Engagement-Handout
With a partner, you will work together on the unfolding scene. You will add

your work to the handout.

Remember, you need to be Esmeralda to do this! You are sitting
uncomfortably in a room with people you thought you wanted to be friends
with, but now your not so sure.
Again, you really want these people to like you, but you also want to be
loyal to your friend Tilly!
Remember that actions matter, dont just use dialogue!
Be the character
Put yourself in the scene
Then describe what the character is doing, feeling, thinking.

We will be sharing with the class so get something GOOD down!

I was shocked. They had to know I was friends with Tilly. We

ate lunch together everyday and, if she hadnt been late to the
party, we would have been sitting together. Why would they talk
about my friend in front of me?

Add to your Handout: How to Write

Compelling Fiction
Become the main character, living through

the drama of the story and then allow your

writing to unfold.

Mid-Workshop Teaching-Creating Patterns

as a Means of Cohesion
How do writers make sure the various pieces

of their stories feel connected and integrated,

thus cohesive?
Transition words and phrases (handout)
Interconnected patterns throughout your story.
Look at Samees story and notice how he mentions
certain names and details often so that the scene
fits together!

Transitions and Transitional Phrases

Paragraphing to Structure Fiction

You can also use paragraphs to move your story from

one place to another.

Example: Student draft from last year!
Forcing myself to get up and do something
productive. Sighing, I slowly lifted up my duvet
savoring the warmth beneath my sheets. I stood up
slowly heading to my dresser.
I took the snow globe that sat on the corner of my
dresser immediately turning the round object
upside down. I reached into the broken rubber base
pulling out my silver key. I took my time getting to
my closet. Inserting the key into the keyhole and
then twisting the knob. I sighed relief washing
through me as the scent filled my nose.

Paragraphs also create dramatic

impact!
Look at this example from Thirteen and a Half:

Ashley started sobbing again.

Maybe I should call my mom, I whispered.
Dont leave! screamed Ashley.
So I didnt.
Notice how the lines of dialogue are indented. This shows you
that a new person is speaking. Do you see how the last line is
set off? There is no real reason for this. Its Rachel Vails way of
creating dramatic impact! This is a big moment in the story!

How to Write Compelling Fiction

Use paragraphs wisely (to move in place and

time, to highlight something, or dramatic

impact).

Homework:
Look at your paragraphs.
See if you use them for organization
(separating some things and connecting others)
Do you have transitions that help move your
story along? Add them in as necessary.
When a new person speaks, do you start a new
paragraph?

If you arent doing these things, make a note of it

and add them in!