Stories in a Sentence
A great way to stay focused on a writing idea is to condense it into a story in a sentence. Plus, creating a story in a sentence helps prepare you to tell people about your work.
Here are some ideas:
Let’s say, you are at a luncheon and someone at your table asks what are you working on? Which one of these answers might grab their attention?
1) I am writing about a concert pianist whose music impressed me when I was learning to play to piano.
2) I am writing a biography of Van Cliburn, a concert pianist, who helped end the cold war with Russia.
Now, let’s say you are at a conference and the person next to you asks what you are working on (later you find out he’s an editor). Which one of these answers might grab his attention?
1) I am writing about a Civil War photographer.
2) I am writing about Alexander Gardner the Civil War photographer who took more photographs of Abraham Lincoln than any other photographer.
Getting Started
Before writing your story in a sentence determine what genre (fiction, nonfiction, picture book etc.) suits your idea, what age group you are writing for, and give your idea a working title. The most important decision you have to make is the genre. Your story structure depends on it. Then while writing your story in a sentence think about who, what, when, where, and how? Start with who and what.
Happy Writing!
What are your stories in a sentence? Please share!
March 24th, 2016 at 2:49 pm
I use this technique to keep myself focused on the main thrust of my tale, especially when diving into a picture book. But I use it with nonfiction as well to keep the narrative flowing toward the end-goal I wish to reach.
March 24th, 2016 at 8:40 pm
Thank for your comment Larry!
March 24th, 2016 at 8:53 pm
I am writing about a teenager who volunteers at an old homestead and accidentally,finds she can go back to the time a great great aunt was a maid there in 1840’s.
March 24th, 2016 at 10:39 pm
Thank you for sharing. Where is the homestead?
April 2nd, 2016 at 12:37 am
And the frog lives happily ever after.
April 2nd, 2016 at 6:26 am
I’ve been busy. The old homestead is about 12km from my home on Lake erie near Harrow Ontario.It was first built around 1842 by John R Park a merchant who had family living in nearby Amherstburg.All of these places are not that far from Detroit as Americans have cottages around the lake.
April 2nd, 2016 at 6:23 pm
Hi, Pam!
This sentence sounds more like a theme. Can you give me more information? How does he live happily ever after? What is his name. Where he is? This establish the setting. Would love to see more!!!!
April 2nd, 2016 at 6:25 pm
Hi, Jane!
Your story sounds very interesting. Is it a memoir? Would love to know more.
Lynda
April 2nd, 2016 at 6:30 pm
Hi, again!
What is the teenagers name? Where is the homestead? How does she discover she can go back in time? Why does she want to go back in time? This sounds like a mystery, is it? Love to hear more!
Lynda
April 3rd, 2016 at 2:05 am
Lynda The homestead is near me and it is one open to visitors. it is right on lake Erie. The John Park family lived there for about 30 years then he moved to Amherstburg ( nearer Windsor and across from Detroit). It will be a bit of a mystery as the girl knows a great great aunt once worked there and then disappeared.
She doesn’t expect to go back in time- it just happens. She discovers adifferent world No cell phones- no phones in fact in 1845 and no transportation by car. I thought it would open a teenager’s mind.
May 18th, 2016 at 4:02 am
Pog is a frog that is in love with a princess. He goes to a witch, a fairy queen and a wizard to try and get them to turn him into a prince. With each visit it gets worse and worse, he doesn’t think he will ever be with the princess he loves. The princess see him crying next to the pond and she has the magic needed to transform both of them.
May 27th, 2016 at 9:41 pm
Hi, Pam! I just returned from a long trip and found your message. You might try making your story a little less traditional and make Pog a different animal than a fog. Kids love variations of traditional stories. Maybe he could be cat, bear or even a lion. Also, try combining your first three sentences into one sentence. Maybe something like – Pog loved the princess and asked a witch and then a fairy queen to change him into a prince to no avail. But when the princess say him crying her magic transformed them both. I like the idea the idea the princess didn’t just change Pog but she also changed herself. Happy Writing!
May 29th, 2016 at 2:46 pm
Lynda, thank you so much for the suggestions. The reason I went with a frog was a wild idea I had that started the whole idea. The princess would give him a kiss and be so excited she turns into a frog and hops over the moon.
Do you think that would work if I use a different animal?
He goes from being a frog to a half frog/ half cat. Because the witch only knows how to make people into cats.
The Fairy Queen trys, but turns him into a dragonfly with frog legs.
The wizard trys but turns him into a half dragon/half frog.
When the princess finds him by the pond he tells her the whole story she kisses him turns into a frog and jumps over the moon.
I thought out using the following line to start the story.
There once was a cow who jumped over the moon but no one (until now) knows why.
I know why and soon so will you!
May 29th, 2016 at 5:59 pm
Pam, I like the way you are thinking about starting your story. But, be sure you can clearly (for a child) tie the cow jumping over the moon to Pog doing the same. Yes, I think using another animal would work. Play with it awhile until you come up with a animal that works for you. As I mentioned before restructuring a traditional tale can be very entertaining for a child. [Some people call them fractured fairy tales.] Remember the rule of three – Pog needs three obstacles to overcome before he meets the princess at the pond. Also, when writing your story think about what fun an artist could have representing what happens to pog when he goes to the witch and Fairy Queen. Have fun!
June 16th, 2016 at 1:38 pm
Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it. Remember the rule of 3, do you mean the 3 obstacles the protagonist faces? 1.Witch 2.Fairy Queen 3 . Wizard makes three. Right?
After reading this I think trying to tie it to the cow jumping over the moon wouldn’t be a necessary element, it would probably add confusion for no reason. I know it need a lot of work, and I still don’t know how to condense it down to one sentence. I love the one sentence concept and really need to apply it to all the stories I’ve ever tried and see if I can get it to work for any of them. I think the clarity would would help me a lot.
Thanks again for the help.