Karen S. answered • 01/26/20
Professional Writing Tutor Specializing in H.S. and College Level
Hi there! With an assignment like this, it can be helpful to first figure out the basic plot you want your story to have, and then work backwards to outlining and drafting the story. You can figure out the basic plot of the story by looking at your list of words. What would you expect a story containing these words to be about? Maybe how technology is a superpower? Or how the smart use of technology, such as a computer or a mobile device, can be a boon (meaning, a benefit) to people?
As an example, let's go with the first idea--that technology is a superpower. How is it like a superpower? What can you do with technology? Google can use tracking technology to identify where you are and where you're driving to (think Google Maps). How could someone use that to their advantage? Could someone hack into another persons's location information and stalk that person, or identify location activity that suggests the person committed a crime?
Hopefully by now your creative juices are flowing. Great! Grab a pen and write down the ideas that are coming to mind. Write a few paragraphs about what could happen with the plot idea you're exploring. This is your brainstorming phase. You'll want to consider the required length of your story. If it needs to be 5 pages long, for instance, you should write an outline for what needs to happen on each page. Just write a sentence or two at the top of each page. Then take it one page at a time and flesh out your ideas in paragraphs. Remember not to self-edit too much while writing your first draft--the purpose with a first draft is to simply get your ideas down. You'll revise it later.
Once you have a first draft finished, go back and revise it. I recommend doing this by element (and don't touch any grammar or punctuation mistakes yet!): Look at the characters first. Are the actions of the characters consistent with who they are as people? You may want to pull out another piece of paper and write a bio for each character, just as if they were real people. What are their motivations? Desires? Fears? Do they remain the same throughout the story, or do they evolve? Are they static or dynamic? A good story is rooted in the characters.
Next, look at the plot. Consider the events that happen in the story. Does the order they happen in make sense? Be sure to include as many sensory details as you can (details related to smells, sights, sounds, textures) to help readers be more present in the story.
Then look at the setting. Examine the time and place where your story happens. Is the story set in today's world? A future time? Is it in your hometown, or your favorite vacation location? Make sure you're providing a lot of details about the location so your readers can accurately visualize your story.
Next, consider the point of view. Do you currently have it written in third person or first person? Who is telling the story? Why are you using that perspective? What would happen if you changed the perspective?
After examining these crucial elements and making changes, you'll want to correct any mistakes in spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Don't do this this until the very end. There's little point in making corrections like these to a paragraph only to delete the paragraph later because it doesn't work in your story. Be sure to have someone read through your story when you're finished. They may help you improve it in ways you wouldn't have noticed on your own.
I hope this helps, and good luck with your writing!
