ENC 1101-B3 & B4: Writing for Discovery
Process Memo, Exploratory D
Written by johnmac on November 13, 2003 - 16:06
I had a hard time thinking about what I should base my short story on. Even though it was fiction, I thought I’d have a hard time coming up with a story out of the blue. So, as I’ve heard many fiction writers do, I loosely based this draft on a real-life event in one of my friend’s lives. It sounded like a good story and I thought it would be intriguing to narrate the character’s story.

Because it was based on a true story, there wasn’t too much action involved in the story. The dog biting part was true but besides that there wasn’t much conflict that I think would keep a reader interested. What I believe I’ve done with this draft is that I have created an introduction to what is going to become a detailed short story. Since it was what seems to be an introduction, there probably wasn’t too much excitement going on. I was just introducing the character and his background story.

Perhaps in the next draft I will be able to expand on what happens later on. I could also introduce new characters to help make the plot more exciting. I hope this 2nd draft doesn’t involve writing on something totally different than the original topic. I really didn’t enjoy that, so hopefully this 2nd draft will be easier.
Process Memos
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Re: The Drive
Posted by cel4145 on November 16, 2003 - 10:10.
"So, as I’ve heard many fiction writers do, I loosely based this draft on a real-life event in one of my friend’s lives." That's great. But be careful. Don't let the original experince that this is based on limit your exploration of how the story develops.

"Because it was based on a true story, there wasn’t too much action involved in the story. The dog biting part was true but besides that there wasn’t much conflict that I think would keep a reader interested." To create tension in the reader, you don't necessarily have to have more action. Instead, what we learn about Jim--developing his character--could be done instead.

"What I believe I’ve done with this draft is that I have created an introduction to what is going to become a detailed short story." If this is the case, then I think we need to see most of the story for the next draft.
I did the exact same!
Posted by cci03 on November 13, 2003 - 17:50.
Well... I did the exact same thing but instead of basing my story on a friend's life it's based on my own, loosely but based on me nonetheless. It's funny because we even used the same example from the class exercise with the picture of the road.

I think you could improve in the first paragraph. When reading it I felt as if you used the word "road" in the end of every single sentence.

Everything else was interesting. I don't think this story needs more conflict. The two that exist suit the story well. The internal one, which Jim questions his decision of leaving home and the external one between Jim and his parents. I think if you work on elaborating either one of the two for you next drafts the narrative should sound more active to you.