“These are the primary elements of the structure of fiction. Seemingly unaffiliated experiences that come together under a single point of view. Story doesn’t start out as structure but slowly assembles itself into a tale filled with surprises, comparisons, and resolution.” (Walter Mosley, Elements of Fiction)
Writing Exercise: Assembling the Unaffiliated into a Cohesive Tale
Key Techniques Illustrated
1. Fragmented Experiences Coalescing into Narrative – Strong fiction often begins with scattered events, details, or moments that may not initially seem connected. Writers must find the thread that binds them into a coherent and meaningful story.
2. Surprise through Organic Discovery – Rather than forcing a rigid structure from the outset, the story should develop organically, allowing unexpected connections to emerge.
3. Unified Perspective as the Anchor – The protagonist’s point of view must act as the lens through which seemingly disparate elements gain significance.
Writing Prompt (500 words)
Write a story in which the protagonist experiences three seemingly unrelated events within a single day. These moments should at first feel random or disconnected but, by the end, must reveal an underlying link—whether emotional, thematic, or situational. Do not outline the connections beforehand. Let them emerge through the act of writing.
Constraints:
• Use first or close third-person POV to maintain a unified perspective.
• At least one of the three moments must involve an interaction with a stranger.
• By the final paragraph, a realization should bring these experiences into focus—not through exposition, but through action, dialogue, or an internal shift.
Evaluation Criteria
Successful Response:
• The story feels spontaneous yet ultimately cohesive, with the connections between events emerging naturally rather than feeling imposed.
• The protagonist’s perspective serves as the throughline, providing meaning and emotional resonance.
• Surprises exist—not in plot twists, but in the way seemingly unaffiliated moments coalesce.
• The ending doesn’t over-explain but subtly reveals the story’s unity.
Weak Response:
• The events remain isolated, with no sense of deeper connection.
• The story relies on an artificial or forced structural device rather than allowing meaning to emerge organically.
• The protagonist’s perspective lacks depth, making the events feel arbitrary rather than meaningful.
• The ending explicitly spells out connections rather than allowing them to be felt.
Follow-Up Questions for Workshopping
• Did the events feel naturally interconnected by the end, or did the links feel contrived?
• How did the protagonist’s perspective shape the meaning of the story?
• What moments of surprise or discovery emerged during the writing process?
• How did the final realization or shift resonate? Was it too overt, too subtle, or just right?
Recommended Reading
“Bullet in the Brain” by Tobias Wolff – A masterclass in how seemingly disconnected moments fuse into a profound narrative revelation.
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