Lying 101

Fiction is a lie.• Fiction isn’t real; it is a lie.• The secret to crafting a believable lie is that it must feel real.• What gives fiction a sense of the real is not so much its being real as

its being reasonable. You should be guided by reality, but you should not be chained to it.

The Structured Lie• A story is an account of a character struggling to reach a goal. • Ask yourself:

• What kind of person is the main character?• What kind of goal is she after?• What kind of struggle does he put up?• Is the tone funny or deadly serious?• What level of language should you use?• What kind of narrator?• What is the story goal?• What are the positive outcomes if the character achieves the goal? What are the

negative consequences if the character fails?• How is it going to turn out?

What does the reader want to know?• More questions to ask yourself!• Who?• What?• Why?• How?• When?• Where?

Charting Out Your Story

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2326630/Notes-diagrams-famous-authors-including-J-K-Rowling-Sylvia-Plath-planned-novels.html

One of Rowling’s charts from Harry Potter

Structuring the Successful Lie• Complete the Structuring the Successful Lie worksheet to plan your

short story of fiction. (30 min)• Share your Structuring the Successful Lie chart with a partner. • Give the following critiques to your partner:• Does it feel like it could be real? (e.g. characters, motivations, etc.)• Does it sound like it’s coming from an honest place? (refer back to the

selected experience)

• Due at the end of class.• HW: Read “Details” Handout and do exercise 2-2.