2.3 Writer's Workshop: Short Stories

Now you have written or typed out your first draft for your story. Nice work! 

Copy your draft and paste it under "Step Three: Revising" in your template. Then, using a different colour text, make the changes suggested below. By using a different colour, your teacher can see your revisions. 

The next steps are revising and editing. Read over the following instructions and then carefully go through your writing. Imagine your first draft is like a gem you found in a rock. Now you have to polish it up and make it pretty.

To make your story clear and complete, you might need to revise it several times. Remember, no one ever writes a perfect draft! Don’t worry about “small stuff” like spelling and punctuation though. Those things will be checked and corrected in the editing stage.

Revision Part One: Check the overall content:

• Is it in the best order?
• Did I say everything you wanted to say?
• Is it all relevant?
• Should I add, subtract, move, or change anything?

Revision Part Two: Look at word choice.

• Check: Do I have literary devices? Your teacher would like to see a simile, a metaphor, and an alliteration - at least one of each. 
  • If you said no to any of the above, take the time to enhance your word choices. 
• Check: Have I used sensory language? Your teacher would like to see three senses addressed (sight, sound, touch/feel, taste, smell)
  • If you do not have three senses included, take the time to enhance your word choices.Include stronger action verbs. Can you substitute, add, or remove any words? (looms, winding, pedaled, sought, absorbed, lapping, hummed)
• Check: Have I used vivid verbs and creatively applied adverbs? 
  • Where can I substitute, add, or improve any verbs and adverbs? (menacingly, casually, reluctantly, seemingly )
• Check: Have I enhanced some nouns with tantalizing adjectives? (majestic, grass-filled, endless, gentle, peaceful, threatening) 
  • Where can I substitute, add, or improve any adjectives?