101 Ways to Write a Short Story

Welcome to 101 Ways to Write a Short Story! In this course, students will read short stories from various genres and time periods. They will develop an understanding of the short story form and short story elements that writers use to create exciting plots and deeper meaning. Student writers will participate in open and safe dialogue about their writing and ideas. Students will explore creative resources for writing and publishing work, and have an opportunity to write creatively regularly. During this course, students will also write two creative short stories to showcase their understanding of short stories and the creative process! As they delve into short stories and the creative writing process, they will consider how and why readers around the world short stories connect with short stores.

As students learn various ways to write a short story, they will explore many elements and devices that make a short story exciting and engaging. They will begin by learning about the basics of a short story and how writers plan for a story. They will also learn what qualifies as a short story. Theme and connecting short stories to the world around them will be a focus throughout the course. In Unit 1, they will learn about the importance of plot and structure, as well as the effect of the sequence of events in a story. Students will also learn about the importance of setting and how it can impact a story. 

In Unit 2, students will learn about conflict and characters. They will begin by learning about internal versus external conflict, and how to create conflict in a story. Students will learn about different types of characters and their roles in a story. They will learn how to create several types of characters and how to develop a point of view in a story. 

In Unit 3, students will focus on creating meaning through literary devices and style. They will consider various ways meaning can be created, analyze literary devices, and determine how incorporating them will add layers of meaning to a story. Students will also learn how to adjust style, including diction and syntax, to enhance a story. Finally, students will be able to create character dialogue and learn how to incorporate a theme into a story. 

In the final unit of the course, students will focus on the process of planning, writing, and publishing a short story. Students will write their final short story and have an opportunity to give and receive feedback on their short stories. 

This course is aligned with the English Language Arts Common Core 9-10 and 11-12 Reading Literature standards. In this standard-level course, students are expected to invest approximately 6 hours per week on their coursework.