The short story
Dahlia Bartley, Contributor

This week, we will continue to review story writing by looking at some of the possible ways with which you may begin your short stories. An appropriate start is absolutely vital for you need to grab your reader's interest from the beginning of the story.

Use of the flashback technique

This is an interesting way to begin. With this technique, you start, not at the beginning of the action, but at an exciting part in your story. In other words, the technique takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. You must mention in the incident, a major character and something exciting, interesting or frightening that may be happening.

If you feel you may be limited in this regard, there is no real harm in starting at the beginning of the action.

Using description

This can be effectively used to set mood, create setting and reveal character. Diction is important. Think of a mood you would like to create and use appropriate words to describe it. Let's say you want to create a scene which depicts happiness. You may include such words as jubilant, ecstatic, exhilarating, euphoric, blissful, radiant and exuberant. To create a sombre mood, you may use such words as droopy, dreary, drab and dismal. It is not coincidental that I have used a figure of speech which you can recognise - alliteration. Review the lesson that was done on figures of speech and then consider the effect of the repetition of the 'd' sound. Other words we could use to describe the sombre mood are depressing, sober and solemn.

What other words can you find to describe these moods? Let me tell you, there are several others.

Using dialogue

If you are writing an action-packed story, you may choose to begin with dialogue or the action itself. See if you can think of ways of successfully merging this with the flashback technique.

The dialogue you use must move your story forward, for example, avoid the following:

Mary went into the room. She said, "Good morning, mom."

Her mother replied, "Good morning, Mary."

Her mother continued, "Are you hungry and ready for breakfast?"

"No, mother," Mary responded. Mary soon got dressed and left for school. "Goodbye, mom," she said as she went through the door.

You will agree with me that not much happened in the exchange when Mary and her mother met that morning.

Let's try to write of the meeting in another way:

Breezing into the dining room, Mary grabbed a box of juice from the fridge and two bananas from the table. Mrs Andrews, her mother, angrily demanded, "Are you leaving without having breakfast again? And where is your skirt?"

"Oh, don't worry Mom, I'm covered."

"Covered! Covered! Girl, don't try my patience ... !"

From this, you are able to establish the character of both Mary and her mother. Can't you also picture what Mary is (or is not) wearing?

Remember, too, that you may use dialect in conversation. But be careful, here - do not overdo it.

Using a quotation

Included here are proverbs, Bible verses or words of a song or poem.

But take special care - the statement must have a direct bearing on the plot. Let me illustrate. If you are asked to write a story which is titled 'Friends', a quotation such as, 'A friend is someone who walks in when other people walk out', could stimulate some thought. Or what of the lines from a popular song, Friends, "We started out as friends ... "; I like this one, for it could work well with a twist. ('Twist' was discussed in a previous lesson. The words, at a glance, suggest a broken relationship. But I can see you writing a beautiful story where faith is restored in a relationship between friends.)

Note, as well, that a philosophical statement may be used to start a story.

Now that we have examined some apt ways to begin our stories, I am going to leave you with some titles for stories. Consider, please, an appropriate method you may use to begin each, bearing in mind that different titles demand different approaches and development.

• Write a story titled, 'The girl we thought we knew'.
• Write a story which ends with the following words:
• "She walked away from the house, turning to look back once, hoping that she would never ever come that way again."
• Write a story with the title, 'The Request'.
• Write a story entitled 'Honesty'.

We will meet again, next week.

These Wolmer's girls pose for the Youthlink camera during the Boys' and Girls' Athletic Championships held recently. -Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer

Dahlia Bartley teaches at Glenmuir High School.