Your tips on planning and writing SHORT stories (yr6)

[roisin]

DS1 is becoming increasingly frustrated with 'finish this story' as homework. His writing is very good, but it is very long. So he might, for example, write 4 pages which is the prologue or introduction; then another 4 pages which is the first chapter - ending on a suitable cliffhanger. But usually into the second chapter he's run out of time/energy/motivation.

Now, I know this is way too long for what he is expected to do, and his plots are way too complex.

But so far I have failed in my efforts to persuade him to produce something far shorter and simpler when required for school purposes.

He can do a short piece of writing when required; it's just stories that he can't do in a suitable concise format.

Any ideas?

bump

roisin have you seen this that dd1 wrote? OK it's not a "finish this story" but I guess it demonstrates how you can pack a punch in a fairly short space (equates to about 2/3 of a ruled sheet of A4). She is P6 (aged 10) as well, for comparison.

(Generally speaking she has the same problem as your ds, only they don't get it for homework. Her teacher felt that the best solution was to give her extra time to write her stories so that she could do the complex characterisation/in depth plot etc. It's difficult when your head is full of so many ideas I think!)

We always teach our Yr 6 children the 5 part structure of stories: opening (with basic intro to characters and setting), build up (more info about characters and how they interact, setting the scene for the 'problem'), dilemma (the problem or drama), events (the chracters reaction to problem and how they begin to solve it) and resolution or ending (all sorted out)!

I know this may seem weird but in fact most stories fit this structure (Cinderalla etc included). It helps children to focus on each bt rather than write a really long intro and then peter out.

Encourage exciting vocabulary and use of connectives (although, meanwhile, despite etc) to extend sentences. Another good thing is to throw in the odd short sentence to add effect (eg Silence. The children stopped.)

HTH
bb xx

How detailed are his plans before he writes? Does he just plan in his head (I think mental planning makes it easier to get carried away ). Belgianbun's pointers may help him to refocus a bit.

Yes, I just read it Miaou - it's good.
DS1 can do a short piece if you tell him to describe a single scene or one simple event.

But if he's told to write "a story" he seems to switch into 'novel' mode and wants to write something far more complex.

He can and does plan the brief outline on paper, but most of the detail is in his head, and is familiar with the structure you describe.

The thing is, the plot and characters for a yr-6 length story needs to be very simple, and he just can't seem to do it.

Complex and varied vocab and sentence structure are definitely not a problem!

Hmm yes, the problem with being a bright child and having to write "down" to a certain level

All I can suggest is that he makes more detailed plans initially, then sticks rigidly to them and not go off at a tangent (eg a long description or scene setting - just keep it to a couple of sentences).

I asked dd1 if she had any tips but she just said she suffers the same problem!

He has to hand homework in tomorrow (given just on Tuesday) and yet again it's an unfinished story.

So I've put a note in for the teacher to ask if she can teach him to plan and write short stories. She's not his regular class teacher, but has his set for literacy. But she is the G&T co-ordinator, so should understand the situation.

It's just so frustrating. I'd be happy for him to have an extension homework to actually complete writing one of these much longer stories. But actually for SATs (aarrgghh) and for selective school entry exam in January, it is most important atm that he does learn to write a concise, clearly structured story.

But I don't want to put him off writing nor to destroy all his imagination and creativity by teaching him to do it in a very formulaic fashion.

That's exactly the point dh just made - they need to teach him at school to do this!! I do sympathise - incredibly frustrating (and if he was unable to write a short story because he was struggling then you can bet the help would be there ).

Roisin - I always think that your ds sounds a delight when I read abotu his school exploits.

SOrry that school is stifling his creatvity a little (and that his teacher needs a kick up the pants about setting homework....).

But for the purpose of school (and sanity)
A paragraph planning flowchart.

One box per 'event'or'description' which can thenbe padded out.

Also,for the purposes of school, there are several 'stock' plots he could use. I always tell my classes to remember Bananarama: It aint what you do it's the way that you do it. Standard plot structures need not be boring if they are well told - and I amsure ds can do this.

I can bring somemore specific stuff homefromworkon MOnday if you are interested

Howwould he respond to theidea of a'capsule'story? Asummary of his story in 50-100 words.
Then pad it out.....

I'd love to read some more specific stuff popsycal.

I think the problem is I couldn't write a decent, interesting short summary of one of his stories, because they are too damn long and complex. So summarising the plot would mean there was no space left whatsoever for description or character development.

He's also a bit of a one for turning every creative writing exercise into the Sci-Fi genre. Did I tell you last year he wrote his Victorian Project as Sci-Fi? As a time-travelling adventurer? There was plenty of Victorian stuff in there too, but at least half of it was about the time travelling!

could you phrase it that it has to be for small children to read?

His victorian project sounds WONDERFUL!

I'll try it popsy.

We've had histrionics again tonight about homework - Maths this time and dead simple (SATs paper I think). I cannot be doing with h/w stress, so it's definitely time for a clamp-down, new start, restate the terms/conditions.

Watch this space!

"Hmm yes, the problem with being a bright child and having to write "down" to a certain level"

I don't think being concise is "writing down" is it?

Writing long complex stories and writing snappy short ones are two completely different skills. It looks as if your ds has cracked one of those skills and now needs to work on the other one. How about doing a plan of a 5 paragraph story, and give him 10 minutes (using a timer) for each paragraph. Short stories can be a rich and textured as long ones - it's just harder to write them!

You're right seeker; I did think that after I posted but didn't get round to coming back to this thread! It's true, they are two different skills.

Oh no roisin - homework hell is not good.

tell him to leave it on a cliff-hanger. Then he can stop after chapter 1.

Can I disagree, pointydog? I had a epic novel writer too - and it was very important for her to learn to write short, pithy stories. ~It wasn't curbing her creativity - it was helping her to learn a different way of doing things. There are lots of times in life when we have to write something brief and to the point. And it was actually more challenging and made her brain work harder to her to write properly structured short stories with a beginning, middle and end in a limited number of words. Letting her write one chapter with a cliff hanger would have been a cop out!

no you can;t disagree

Oh, OK, then, I won't!

sorry I a, being rather flippant

me too!

Thanks Seeker. I agree completely that is is a very important and an extremely difficult skill. It is crucial that he learns to do this well: hence the thread.

I'm really sorry roisin - I sort of lost track of your op thinking about people implying that limiting length was somehow limiting the child, and it made me sound like a patronizing git. Sorry again - and I'll try to avoid grandmother/egg-sucking responses in future!