Writing FictionWriting Fiction

Grade 3 LunneyGrade 3 Lunney

Session 1 Session 1

Imaging Stories From Ordinary Imaging Stories From Ordinary MomentsMoments Sunday baking, fudge, 2 layered white Sunday baking, fudge, 2 layered white

cake topped with boiled icingcake topped with boiled icing When I arrived, taking me shopping and When I arrived, taking me shopping and

buying me new clothes and shoesbuying me new clothes and shoes Ear piercingEar piercing Moving to my Aunt’s and Uncle’s placeMoving to my Aunt’s and Uncle’s place Bailey’s knee surgeryBailey’s knee surgery Kayaking in the Bay of FundyKayaking in the Bay of Fundy On-Tree, first time, being really frightened On-Tree, first time, being really frightened First time up to bat at SoftballFirst time up to bat at Softball

Try to read with a writer’s imagination Try to read with a writer’s imagination seeing possibilities in what first might look seeing possibilities in what first might look

pretty ordinarypretty ordinary

From watching a lot of the travel channel, I From watching a lot of the travel channel, I decided this summer was going to be filled with decided this summer was going to be filled with adventure. I heard about a place called On-Tree, adventure. I heard about a place called On-Tree, this is an obstacle course in the trees. I managed this is an obstacle course in the trees. I managed to get through the training and I thought, “Well, to get through the training and I thought, “Well, this isn’t so bad.” this isn’t so bad.”

As I stepped out for the first time to bat, I thought, As I stepped out for the first time to bat, I thought, “Will they laugh at me if I strike out?” I took my “Will they laugh at me if I strike out?” I took my first swing… “STRIKE”. I took my next swing… first swing… “STRIKE”. I took my next swing… “STRIKE TWO.” I took my, what could have been “STRIKE TWO.” I took my, what could have been my last swing and…my last swing and…

Turn and talk to your partner. Turn and talk to your partner. Together see if you can imagine Together see if you can imagine growing one of these into a story.growing one of these into a story.

Fiction Writers find story ideas Fiction Writers find story ideas in moments and issues of their in moments and issues of their

liveslives Writers need an imagination to write. But I used to think Writers need an imagination to write. But I used to think

that most fiction writers found ideas by looking up into the that most fiction writers found ideas by looking up into the clouds and imagine stories about puppy dogs and castles. clouds and imagine stories about puppy dogs and castles. We look into everyday moment of our lives- into moments We look into everyday moment of our lives- into moments as ordinary as watching a spider make a web or wanting as ordinary as watching a spider make a web or wanting more adventure in your life- and we see the possibilities. more adventure in your life- and we see the possibilities.

Today and for the rest of this year, whenever you want to Today and for the rest of this year, whenever you want to write fiction, reread your writer’s notebook with a fiction write fiction, reread your writer’s notebook with a fiction writer’s eyes. Remember to reread and then wait, and writer’s eyes. Remember to reread and then wait, and imagine. It’s easy to flick away a story about a spider, imagine. It’s easy to flick away a story about a spider, thinking, that’s not important. Don’t do that. Have the thinking, that’s not important. Don’t do that. Have the imagination to say “Wait. There might be a story here.”imagination to say “Wait. There might be a story here.”

When you get a new story idea mark it with a sticky note or When you get a new story idea mark it with a sticky note or * then write a new entry based on your original entry, * then write a new entry based on your original entry, putting the idea it sparks onto your page.putting the idea it sparks onto your page.