How does your finished narrative compare to your story map? What changed as you moved through the writing process? How did those changes improve or refine your writing?
How can thinking of just the right word help you get your point across as a writer? Include an example from your narrative. How can your choice of words help your reader?
How does your finished story compare to the kinds of stories you like to read? What qualities matter to you in a story—humor, strong characters, unusual settings? What do you learn from reading stories that helps you to write better stories yourself?
In comparing my finished narrative to my story map, I noticed that some details changed as I actually wrote out the story. For example, I had originally planned for the main character to have a pet cat, but as I wrote, I decided to change it to a pet turtle instead, which added a unique element to the story. I also found that the dialogue between characters evolved as I wrote, becoming more engaging and true to each character's voice.
Thinking of just the right word can greatly impact the effectiveness of a piece of writing. For example, in my narrative, instead of saying "the boy was sad," I chose to write "tears welled up in the boy's eyes," which conveys a much stronger sense of emotion. By carefully selecting words that evoke specific imagery or feelings, I can better communicate the mood and tone of the story to the reader.
In terms of the kind of stories I like to read, I am drawn to narratives with strong characters and unique settings. I appreciate a touch of humor in storytelling as well, as it adds depth and relatability to the characters. Reading stories helps me to understand how to develop complex characters, create vivid settings, and build suspenseful plots. By studying the techniques used by other writers, I can improve my own storytelling skills and create more engaging narratives for my readers.