Writing Unit 2: Realistic Fiction

We just finished our Personal Narrative writing unit which was a great success! Our next unit will encourage students to draw on all of the narrative skills they have been using in reading and writing and extend them into realistic fiction. 

During our second unit, students will: 

- Learn that writers use true moments in their lives and adapt them to become realistic fiction

- Develop believable characters with struggles and motivations

- Use mentor texts as inspiration

- Build on their work from personal narrative

Strategies For Generating Realistic Fiction Ideas

Remember, writers don't just make up realistic fiction story ideas out of the blue! Instead, they use real experiences they have had in their lives and change them to become realistic fiction story ideas. Here are some strategies you can use to collect story ideas:

 

*Thinking about big issues or powerful moments in your life

*Thinking of stories you wish existed in the world for people like you

*Rereading small moment entries already written and asking, “How do I wish that had gone?”

*Observing the people around you and writing stories for/about characters like them

*Thinking about social issues that bother you and writing a story about with characters who face those issues

Remember, realistic fiction is NOT a true story. Use those true moments and CHANGE them to become realistic fiction