A Writers Tool Box

Writing Rules
Writers plan (can draw or Plan your setting(s) through drawing on a
write your plan): setting map
Plan your story with a story map

Plan/rehearse your characters with puppets,

drama or drawing
Orally/mentally rehearse before writing,
record any good ideas in your authors
notebook as you think of them
Double space, dont erase - allows for easier revising and reorganizing
- writers recycle words, so dont delete
Write/print only on 1 side - in case you need to physically cut the paper apart
of the paper to insert/delete
Balance your story Stories need a balance of action, description and
conversation
2 + 2 rule: only 2 characters in a conversation, each can only
say 2 things, then must switch to either description
or action
Violence rule: - no getting out of a problem by killing off an
annoying character
Breakfast to bed rule: - stories that are just a list of events ( and then he
went to the store and then he went to the beach
and then) are boring
Telephone stories rule: Too much conversation is boring
Video game rule: Too much action is confusing
Good beginnings rule: Start your story with action, description,
conversation, sound effects, something weird, a
question
Stories have a main Main character must want or need something s/he
problem cant get right away
3 Tries rule: Give your main character 3 tries before you solve
the problem
Darkest before the Dawn Make things seem hopeless before you solve the
rule: problem
Good ending rule: Good endings are satisfying, funny, surprise or
circle.
Good writers practice: - practise writing poems, descriptions,
conversation, lists, rules, explanations, letters,
notes etc. etc. Writers write all the time.