Read “The One Left Behind” for tonight

I had it on the syllabus, but it may have escaped your attention. This story embodies the classic magazine feature form. It starts as late as possible. The theme is developed in the first half. Deep in the story the writer goes back to the boyhoods of the two brothers and then returns to the present. That’s the chronology.

Writing the narrative proposal: Due next Wednesday, October 11.

We will discuss this tonight.

Write a short proposal for your project that demonstrates your knowledge of the principles of narrative writing. Base it on the checklist of principles below and send it to me by email. Write it in the order of the checklist. Make it no more than two pages. This is a summary, a draft, an outline. This is a percentage of your grade in the course.

 Checklist for Narrative Proposal

Name and email address

Title (write a strong title that embodies the theme of the proposal).

Start as late as possible.

Set the story in time and place. Where and when? How does the place shape the story?

Describe the main character. What is her or his problem or need?

(For the character description, use the research questions about profiles in the Blundell handout, “Planning and Execution.”)

Short descriptions of other characters and their problems or needs.

Write a tight chronology for the story, or a timeline.

Write a main theme statement (Blundell’s term) or what in films we call a “log line.”

If you could reduce your story to one word, what would that word be?

Feel free to use any of the other instructional pieces on the Art of Narrative blog.

If you feel lost, follow the six-box form for fiction in the instructional pages.

Send it by email. We will discuss