Class one Lesson two · 12:31am Nov 28th, 2013
-Writer’s Workshop Class one Lesson two-
I.O.P: Into, Opener, Premise
Hello class, Ms. Shadow? I’m assuming that you have my assignment? Thank you. Now for today's lesson, we are going t look deeper into the workings of an introduction. Most of you must think that its the main events of a story that makes or break it. And you're right, however, you can’t just go off with the main events first without knowing how to set it up. As important those events are, its how the character gets to those events, that makes a good story.
I want you all to think of the most climactic TV show, and/or movie that you’ve not seen in a while. Now what’s the most that you can remember about it? That’s right all you remember is the most dramatic moments of it. Don’t worry though, that’s to be expected. With watching something your brain is doing a whole lot less work, then it would be if you were reading something, that’s cause when your brain is hard at work you tend to remember stuff.
That’s also why all English teachers have you do book reports and essays. So if you actually read the story that you were assigned then you should be able to remember the main points at least. But here’s an opened ended question:
“What’s the thing that get you hooked into any story?”
The answer can be found within the first few paragraphs. Yes, the introduction, or better known as the opening.
Alright you two in the back, stop your laughing. It’s not like you’ll see the real thing anyway.
Now as I was saying, the into, or opener whatever you want to call it, is how a reader gets into a story. And its how you, as the writer, set the story up. Hopefully by the point you start to write, you have a good rough idea on what to write. That too is a very important thing to know, the premise of the story.
The premise of a story is like...a guide if you will. Its the thing that kept us writers on track with the overall goal of a story. And its a good way to help you come up with the description for the story. Now don’t go on and think that just because you are supposed to know the premise ahead of time, means that it’s set in stone. As any other writer will tell you, that as a story grows you’ll find yourself changing it many times. Lucky the premise comes in and tell you when you're going to far off track and how to get back on it.
I hope that some of you are able to understand a double standard, cause when when I said that the intro and opener are the same thing, I lied.
In reality the two are about as separate as a divorced couple, yet on the other side of the same coin, they are as close as identical twins, that are joined at the hip. The into is the wider look at the beginning of a story, while the opener is the more specific one. In just about everything that you see and do there’s an opener (new scene, character, or change of plot line). For every story, the inot is the very beginning of it and its archs.
With openers other elements can be at play, such as foreshadowing, but let’s save that foreshadowing lesson. Right now, let’s get back on the topic of openers. Believe it or not, most openers don’t have to be long, or even that well written. They just have to serve the purpose of setting a story. However like most works of literature, the opening can, and does, be quite long. These are called “prologue,” not most use them, and not most should. So you wont have to worry about them that much.
Though a prologue can be used a a major theme setter and element of a story. As I said before, the premise is a great tool to keep you on track with the story. And a better way of doing this is writing the premise as a part of the story. Yes Ms. Shadow, that does make it a thesis statement. I see those “extra credit assignments” are helping. Now as, Ms. Shadow have already pointed out, you can not only use the premise of the story as the description, but also
as the thesis statement.
Now I think its time for an example, don’t you? No? Well I don’t care. Fail this class, I’m here to teach those that want to learn.
EX:
Premise: All’s fair in love and war.
Thesis: Love, its a battlefield that pushes you to do anything to win the one that’s has your heart.
Overall story description: In war two sides battle it out for a prize. In love one must overcome the hardships that comes from giving your heart to another. But is it really all’s fair in love and war?
She what I did there? I took a simple saying that you hear all the time, and with a little play with words changed it into a rough story idea. You can use this technique in just about anything in your life. Be it for school, work, writing, and your everyday life.
Now hopefully, you should have an understanding of the difference between, the into, opener, premise, thesis, and the description. That’s all for this week’s lesson. Next week we’ll go over the body and major events of a story.
-Have a good and happy Thanksgiving break-
-Class Dismissed-
Okay, so the opening is basically like an overall guide for the story. But how does it hook the reader into the story? Sure, it sets the theme and the direction of the story, but anyone can throw in some characters, a conflict, and a theme in the opening. My question is: how does one effectively execute an opening?
1550593
Humm...you do have a point, whelp guess I going to have an extra class about it. I'll see me in a day or two and I'll have you answer.
1550593>>1550603
*eats leftover pink pie from turkey day*
Yeah nice lesson and all. I can see in the comments you have yet to take the time to educate those concerned partys on The Hook.
The first line that you ever Write at the start of your story that keeps the reader interested.
It MUST be somethong that inspires deep thought, feeling, or Action!
How boring would it be to crack open a intresting looking Story... and then be let down with a Boring start.
Ex.
Don't -- It was the end of the day Fluttershy laid down to rest.
....Yawn....
Do--- Fulttershy Frantically zipped thru the forests as a tall lean figure, Smashed straight thru after her.
Action.
Pipsqueak put down his game as his fighter danced in place, but he did not notice the shadow creeping on to the screen.
Mystery. Makes u think.
And many other starts that inspire ponys to Keep turning that page.
1551978
Correct! That is exactly right, I'll have it exampled in the next lesson that I'll post soon.
1551999
Here im turning in my assiment.
1552560
You...Oh well it's good enough for now. Just don't let it happen again.