Story writing

The five key elements (or stages) of a Story Writing are as follows-

1. Character
2. Setting
3. Plot
4. Conflict
5. Theme

10 important tips to write story writing are as follows -

• Tip #1: Fewer Characters
• Tip #2: Develop Characters for Theme
• Tip #3: Single and Short Time Frame
• Tip #4: Vivid Surroundings
• Tip #5: Catchy First Line
• Tip #6: Choose Suitable Point of View
• Tip #7: One Conflict Only
• Tip #8: Intense but Real Conflict
• Tip #9: Theme in Focus
• Tip #10: Break Rules if Needed

As story writing involves creative writing skills, please follow the below mentioned points to write a good story -

1. The narrative should be in Ist or IInd or IIIrd person.
2. Setting of the story should be made.
3. Time, location, context and atmosphere should be described to create imagery.
4. Meaningful dialogues to be used. Dialogues should have expressions.
5. Characterization - identify 2 - 3 main characters and a few side characters in the story.
6. Plot of the story should be interesting but short because the word limit should not be exceeded. It can include the following -

1. What happens
2. Story line
3. Action
4. Flashback
5. Climax
6. Conflict
7. Resolving a conflict
8. Create conflict and tension
9. Opposition between characters and their internal or external conditions
10. Balance b/w opposing forces of the conflict
11. Mystery
12. Empowerment
13. Surprise
14. Empathy
15. Crisis or climax
16. Turning point of the story
17. Resolution or solution to the conflict
18. Open type- reader’s view
19. Resolved – clear cut outcome
20. Parallel to beginning- same as the starting of the story
21. Monologue / dialogue of the characters
22. Closing image

Story Writing Samples for Class 10

Marking Scheme for short story writing-
Title & Moral - 1 Mark
Content - 4 Marks
Expression - 5 Marks (Coherence, relevance of ideas) (2½ marks) (Accuracy, appropriate words and correct spellings (2½ marks)
Suggested value points: (The beginning of the story is given in the question) 

Solved examples of short story writing

1. Write a short story in 200 – 250 words, with the help of the cues given below. Give a suitable title to the story.                                                                                                                                  

Going to Mumbai by train to attend the marriage of a friend ..... got stuck in a traffic jam ..... reached the railway station late ..... boarded a wrong train ..... realised after two hours ..... now you ... ... ...

A series of Unfortunate Events
I sat down with relief as I ticked off the last task in the checklist. I wanted everything to be perfect as it was my best friend’s marriage in Mumbai. The alarm rang next morning, I woke up in excitement and booked a cab to the railway station. Everything was going perfectly until I got stuck in a traffic jam. I reached the railway station late but on the sight of the train still waiting on the platform, I hurried and somehow managed to get into the train. I breathed a sigh of relief and got comfortable. It was only when the Ticket Collector came, I realised that I had been in the wrong train for two hours. I panicked and deboarded the train at the next station. I tried booking a ticket for the next train to Mumbai but there was no availability. On coming back from the ticket counter, I realised that my luggage was missing. Even after hours of finding and reporting it, there was no  trace of it. I got tired and lost hope, tried booking a cab with the minimal amount I was left with in my pocket. The cab couldn’t reach on time as it was raining heavily. Disheartened, I finally walked my way to the nearest hotel, contacted my parents and recited them the series of unfortunate events that happened during the day. Alas, I couldn’t even make it to my best friend’s wedding.

2. Write a short story in 200 – 250 words, with the help of the cues given below. Give a suitable title to the story.                                                                                                                                                                 

Satish was standing on the balcony watching the last rays of the Sun. Loud and angry voices in the street below distracted his attention. He ran down the stairs to see what had happened ... … …

The Last Day
Satish was standing on the balcony watching the last rays of the Sun. Loud and angry voices in the street below distracted his attention. He ran down the stairs to see what had happened. His neighbours were again fighting over some parking issues. It was a common scene among the residents of that area. No sooner did he reach there when suddenly the land between the neighbours’ buildings started tearing apart.  Everyone got frightened. Satish ran back to his house to find his daughter and wife. They were both ready with their emergency baggage. The family got out of the house and started running as fast as they could, passing the falling trees and buildings. Water was penetrating out of the departing land and everyone was panicking and running in any direction to save their lives when suddenly, Satish’s daughter fell down. A tree fell over her feet. Satish was trying to help his crying daughter when they both saw a building falling over them. Satish hugged his daughter and shouted at the peak of his voice which finally woke him up. With sighs of heavy breathing and excessive sweating, Satish went to his daughter’s room only to find that everything was fine. He kissed her forehead, went back to his room and wondered; “Phew! This one really took the life out of me”.