Short Story Organization

A short story can be a simple or complicated thing. Stories are often known to have the witch hat structure including an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. However, unlike the traditional story, a short story does not always a resolution or falling action. Often times short stories are meant to leave the author hanging for more. Short stories can be made to leave the reader wondering. However, when planning any story it is best to come up with an outline. This can be anything from character traits, scenery, or plot structure. Here is an example of a story diagram taken from blogspot.com. What other ways do you organize your stories?

More Poetry: Acrostic Poems

Another type of poetry is an acrostic poem. Acrostic poems are poems in which each line begins with a letter that either makes a word or a sentence. This is a basic type of poetry easily done with children, often spelling names.

Here is an example of an acrostic poem that I have written. If you look at the letter at the beginning of each line you will see that this poem spells out a sentence. Acrostic poems don't just have to list a group of characterstics.

Ex.
B- Beautiful
E- Elegant
L-Lovely
L- Lively
A-Adorable

Acrostic poems can be written in free verse. You can use imagery and descriptive language to make it exceptional.

My Lost Soldier

If only I could leave this slumber and escape from my lonesome chamber!

What would I see in the night

If I floated out of my window, passing through the glass like the ghost I have become?

Leaves flying over the brightly lit moon like a ladle over a steaming bowl of soup?

Languages of unknown origin spoken softly under dark rooftops?

 An old beggar breaking his fiddle strings to make ends meet?

Lambs of pure white being guided through a pasture?
Would I hear songs of the hungry and laments of the rich?
Are children crying; their bloody fingers stringing a bow as they fight for their life?
Your wife is calling, my soldier!

Sound of my coming might not register to your ears, but you know I am getting closer.

 Lost I have become thinking of this misery. I will see the world with you for one last time.

Our love will guide me to you.
Violent thrashing of bullet after bullet will only bring us closer.
Every last breath you take I see as a step forward.

You shouldn’t be sad my soldier; I saw it coming before your sergeant rang my doorbell.

Over crimson fields I fly as you flee from explosions, leaking the same red I see.
Under a tree you rest for the last time, and I am there to be with you. Together forever.

Poetry: Haiku & Object Poems

When writing creatively your best friend is options. It's imerative to have choices when it comes to creative writing, especially poetry. One unique way to constuct a poem is through a Haiku. A haiku poem is a three lined poem with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line. Here is an example of my own Haiku.

 

Forgotten Splendor

Clouds of mist surround (5 syllables)

Silk descends into the void (7 syllables)

Dark waves mystify (5 syllables)

 

Here is a website that gives more examples and a history of Haiku poetry:Haiku Poems

 

 

Another type of poem is an object poem. This type of poem allows the writer to transpose the characterstics of an object in a way that delivers new perspective. These types of poems can be written about any object, living or nonliving. Here is an example of my own object poem about a dandelion. 

Fatal Farewell

 

Dear dandelion,

Why do you allure me so?

Your white tuffs of cotton,

Your rounded head,

Your fragile stem,

They call to me to take a step further.

 

Temptation is your demise

I cannot help but pluck you from your restful home

My childlike instincts push me forward

Without a choice, I rip you in half

You cry silently

Sticky, sugary fluid leaks over my fingers

I hold your sweet tears in my hand without regret

 

Friend of mine, your life is at an end

Beautiful as you might be, I cannot let you stay

With a gust of air you loose your mystique

Your strange fluffy petals flutter into the sky

Goodbye dandelion

May I one day see you again.

 

This website gives more information about object poems: their purposes and ways to go about forming an object poem: Object poem