“A story is the narrative , or telling, of an event or series of eventscrafting in a way to interest the audience, whether , they are readers,listeners or viewers. At its most basic a story has a beginning, middle and endIt has compelling characters, rising tension and conflict that reaches some sort of resolution. It engages the audience on an emotional and intellectual level,motivating viewers to want to know what happens next.”
Creative Writing Center – 45min?
Here are some possible exercises, depending on the age and interest of the group. I don’t think we’d have time to do more than two.
I think I would also prepare simple handouts to inspire the writing and creative possibilities:
- a list of the other Greek gods and their traits/powers
- a list of some key Objects of power (Zeus’ lightning bolt, etc.)
Setting Exercise
- Describe some aspect of the New City, which Hades has built. Consider that he has made this city to challenge and mock Zeus. What would it look like, for him to achieve that goal?
- Remember not to focus on visuals only. What does it smell like? Feel like? Try to teleport your reader into this space you’ve created.
o New City as a whole
o The palace
o Hades’ throne room
o The home of a human family
Dialogue exercise:
- Try writing dialogue for one of the following situations (followed by discussion on the basics guidelines of writing strong dialogue).
- REMEMBER: first decide where the scene takes place and who all is there. Later, discuss setting, dialogue tags, emotion, and more.
o Hades and Zeus have a public debate
o Hades and Zees meet privately
o Zeus asks another god for advice
o Another god tries to convince Zeus to declare war
Point-of-View exercise
- Try writing a scene for one of the following situations. Use first person POV. First, write it from Hades POV. Next, try Zeus’ POV.
- Followed by discussion on different types of POV and how/why it is so important to creative writing.
o Hermes delivers news that all of the gods have joined Hades against Zeus
o Zeus and Hades meet on the battlefield
o Humans declare a revolution against all of the gods
Conclusion/Resolution exercise
- Discussion of the various ways a story can end: the various ways readers are cued to the resolution of a story
- Pick one of the methods and devise a conclusion to this story
o Solution of the central problem
o Theme/Emergence of a moral
o Natural termination (day into night, etc.)