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Creative Writing: Elementary

The craft vocabulary school is already half-teaching by this age, made explicit and usable: the elements of a story, show-don't-tell, dialogue that does real work, setting a scene on purpose, and putting it all together into your first complete short story. Built for writers around 8-10, pairing with English Foundations: Elementary.

0 of 11 lessons0 XP earned here

Module 1

The Elements of a Story

0/3 done
  1. Up nextCharacter, Setting, and PlotThree things every story needs, and names for moves you're probably already making without knowing it.7 min+30 XP
  2. 2What Your Character WantsPlot isn't just things happening one after another. It's what a character wants, and what gets in the way.6 min+30 XP
  3. 3Finding the Elements in a Story You KnowA quick check: can you spot character, setting, plot, want, and obstacle in a story you didn't write?6 min+30 XP

Module 2

Show, Don't Tell

0/2 done
  1. 1Showing a Feeling Instead of Naming It“She was scared” tells a reader a fact. Showing what scared actually looks like lets them feel it too.7 min+30 XP
  2. 2Let Actions Do the TalkingWhat a character does, especially the small, specific things, tells a reader who they are without a single label.6 min+30 XP

Module 3

Writing Real Dialogue

0/2 done
  1. 1Dialogue Should Do More Than One JobReal conversation is boring on the page. Good story dialogue is doing at least two things at once.7 min+30 XP
  2. 2Giving Each Character Their Own VoiceIf you covered up the names, could you still tell your characters apart just by how they talk?6 min+30 XP

Module 4

Setting the Scene

0/2 done
  1. 1Description That Sets a MoodThe same room can feel cozy or creepy depending on which details you choose to mention.6 min+30 XP
  2. 2A Little Goes a Long WayYou don't have to describe everything. A few well-chosen details do more than an exhaustive list.6 min+30 XP

Module 5

Your First Complete Short Story

0/2 done
  1. 1Planning Your Story in Five StepsCharacter, setting, want, obstacle, ending. Five answers, and you already have a story worth writing.7 min+30 XP
  2. 2Writing It Start to FinishEverything from this course, put together into one complete short story, beginning to end.8 min+30 XP