Story writing || a major discourse || master in writing a story

 1. STORY WRITING or NARRATIVE

A story or narrative is some narration of a set of fictitious events often used to convey a moral message. Write the story or narrative either in first person or in third person point of view. Usually past tense is preferable in stories. Use some dialogues wherever necessary in quotation marks. The only difference between story and narrative is a story has an end but narrative has an open end. If a story can be extended after the end it is called narrative.

Can be included:

Introduction of characters: It is done through dialogues or narration in the story.  

Plot: Description of an event/accident/incident i.e., what is going to happen.

Climax: This is the end of the story must be most interesting and unpredictable.

Theme: What is the message or theme the writer is trying to communicate with the story or narrative to be underlying in the story or narrative.

Steps:

Ø    Set the context

Ø    Introduce characters

Ø    Develop plot(s)

Ø    Reach climax

Ø    End the story

E.g. 1: You have read the poem, ‘Another Woman’. There in the poem she was tortured and finally was killed. Now write a story using the theme/incident of the poem.

Another Woman

               Mr. Narayana was a poor farmer. He had a young girl to be married off. He searched for a handsome groom. The groom’s family liked the dowry offered by Narayana and accepted to offer the young girl to be one among them. Though poor he solemnized the marriage in a grand manner by going into a financial debt happily for his baby.

               Few weeks flew happily for the new bride. Then the greediness of the in-laws began to throw her into troubles. They always asked and scolded her to bring additional dowry. She had no right to speak or act according her will. But she bore to tears that she wouldn’t make her parents worried again as she knew how her parents were being suffered to solemnize her marriage. The in-laws suffered her scolding and beating sometimes. Her husband was a bit crueler towards her.

One day her mother in law scolded her for buying vegetable to cook. But the reason behind this scolding is to get rid of this lady from their house. She did nothing but crouched on the floor behind the stove in the kitchen and watching the flame hissing. Just then it happened that ever she had known the only choice. The kerosene was thrown and a spark of light made her burnt to ashes. She cried and screamed running around the kitchen.

People around the house were unaware of that and busy in their routine. The police and the other officials came and the report was given that she was mad and committed suicide. Another woman; and another parent are wailing in grief; though aware of the reason but unable to act. The fate cursed them.

E.g. 2: You have read the one-act-play, ‘The Dear Departed - 1’. Now convert the play into a story.

THE DEAR DEPARTED - 1

Mrs. Slater, a plump and active lady is in mourning and she is getting ready to receive some guests. She beckons to her daughter Victoria, who is ten years old, and instructs her to change into something sober. It is revealed that Victoria’s grandfather has passed away and the Slater family is getting ready to receive Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Ben. Victoria expresses surprise at this news because her aunt uncle had not paid a visit for year’s altogether. Mrs. Slater reveals that they were coming over to talk about grandfather’s affairs, on hearing of his death. Meanwhile, Mr. Slater enters. He is stooping and heavy man and he is also in mourning dress.

Henry Slater is doubtful whether Elizabeth will come or not for last time when Mrs. Slater and Elizabeth had quarreled she had vowed never to pay a visit again to their house. Mrs. Slater gives Henry new slippers of her father. She also plans to take away the new bureau of the grandfather and shift it to their room, before Elizabeth and Ben arrive. Both the husband and wife lock the front door and shift the bureau down and put their old chest of drawers there. Victoria wants to know why they were stealing grandfather’s things but her mother tells her to remain quiet. Grandpa’s new clock is also taken away. Meanwhile there is loud knocking at the door and the Slaters take plenty of time to look normal Mrs. Jordan and Ben pretend to be emotional at the death of Mr. Abel Merry weather. Both the ladies compare their mourning dresses, criticizing the others outfit. Mrs. Slater reveals that her father had been happy in the morning and he had apparently gone to pay the premium of his insurance policy. He was generally going to “Ring-O-Bells’ frequently and the night before he had come drunk and had gone to bed without having dinner. Mrs. Jordan and Ben prefer to have tea before going and look up father. All four of them start discussing about the obituary and the kind of announcement in the newspaper to be inserted. Mrs. Jordan wants a long poem but Mrs. Slater protests by saying that father had willed his gold watch to her son jimmy. Mrs. Slater feels very offended and refuses to believe it.

Victoria says that grandpa mightn’t paid his premium but had instead gone over to ‘The Ring of Bells’, the restaurant and managed by John Shorrocks, a widow. Everyone starts blaming the old man for not playing his premium. Victoria is instructed to go over a grandpa’s room get the receipt of the premium. Mrs. Jordan is surprised to note a new bureau and she wishes to know the details because she doubts on Mrs. Slater’s version. Victoria enters, looking dazed. She gives the shocking news that grandpa was stirring and moving.

E.g. 3: You have read the one-act-play, ‘The Dear Departed - 2’. Now convert the play into a story.

THE DEAR DEPARTED - 2

After shutting the door behind him Mr. Abel Merry Weather enters and is surprised to see his other daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan. He reveals that he was well and just had a slight headache he notices Henry wearing his new slippers and takes them. Mr. Abel wishes to know, why all were in mourning dresses. Mrs. Jordan makes up some story to pacify him. Abel Merry weather enjoys tea and has a generous slice of the apple-pie. He grumbles and scolds Mrs. Slater for taking away his bureau.
Mrs. Jordan gets agitated and accuses her sister of robbing her father. The husbands also join their wives in hurling accusations at each other. Abel discovers about his death. He addresses his daughters directly and declares that he was going to change his will and all the money will go to the one, in whose house he dies. Both the daughters fight with each other to keep their father with them. Abel is honestly watching all the fun. At last he makes his announcement which shocks everyone. On Monday, he would go to the lawyer and alter his will, and then he would go to the insurance office and pay his premium. After that he would go to the church and get married to Mrs. Shorrocks. Everyone is shocked. Abel reveals that he had at last found someone who was happy to keep him. He exits with an invitation of his marriage. He also thanks Mrs. Slater for shifting the bureau down-stairs for now it will be easy to cart away to “Ring-O-Bells’.

E.g. 4: You have read the one-act-play, ‘The Never Never Nest’. Now convert the play into a story.

The Never-Never Nest

There was a young couple, Jack and Jill, who had a cute and little baby. One day Aunt Jane paid a visit to them. She was surprised to find that even though Jack's salary was not very high, they lived in a beautiful house with all comforts, such as a radiogram, a car and a refrigerator. She began to wonder whether she had given them 2000 pounds instead of the 20 pounds, as a wedding gift, she had wanted to give them. Otherwise how did Jack and Jill buy all these things? She suggested that the rent for such a house must be very high. Jack replied that they owned the house.

               Then Aunt Jane understood that though Jack and Jill had everything, nothing really belong to them. They bought everything they had on the installment basis. Only a steering wheel of the car, a wheel and two cylinders had been paid for. And only one leg of the sofa that Aunt Jane sat on, belonged to them. The total amount to be paid towards installments per week came to more than seven pounds. Jack was earning only six pounds a week. Jill was a housewife. When Aunt Jane asked how he could pay seven pounds a week when he was earning only six pounds, Jack said that they could take a loan. Aunt Jane was shocked at the way Jack and Jill ran their family. Before she left, she gave ten pounds to Jill and told them to make at least one article completely theirs, using that money. While jack went with Aunt Jane to the bus stop, Jill sent the money to the doctor. Jack came back and said that he wanted to pay two months installments on the car using that money. But Jill said that by paying the money to the doctor, their baby would become completely theirs!

Practice these questions:

1.      You have read the one act play, ‘Dear Departed.’ Now write a short story of Dear Departed. You may include the following details…

·        Title of the story

·        Characters

·        Plot

·        Sequence of incidents and their consequences

·        Proper end or end in a different way

2.      Write a short story using the drama ‘The Never Never Nest.’ You may use the hints below…

·        Who visited Jack and Jill

·        Why Aunt Jane surprised

·        How Jack and Jill lead their life

·        How Aunt Jane dislikes their way of life and gives a cheque.

·        The pathetic end of the story

·        Give a title and introduce characters and other essential details

3.      You have read the incident of Socrates and the young man in the lesson, ‘Every Success Story is Also a Story of Great Failures.’ The young man asked Socrates for secret to success. You know how Socrates told him the secret. Now write a short story or a narrative based on this incident. Give a suitable title.

4.      You have read the poem ‘Once upon a time’ where the father regrets his habits and wants to relearn good things that once he had. He talked to his son how he was in the past and how he is now finally how he wanted to be in the future. Based on this poem’s theme and characters build a story using the characters, theme, setting, plot, and climax.