Story Approaches

This is an exercise we did that involved coming up with the chronology of a short story and then writing the first paragraph at varying starting points. Enjoy!

Chronology:

-Tree sprouts from acorn

-Grows over the years

-Branch makes friends with the birds living in the tree

-Strong storm blows that branch and snaps it off

-Branch lies on ground

-Picked up by a stranger

-Tossed in pile with other sticks

-Heat

-Slowly burns to ash

Midway start:

Deep in the forest, a branch lies on the ground. Alone in silence, it remains in place… untouched. Beside it lie the remains of a nest, devoid of birds. The former occupants used to keep the branch company before that wretched storm that changed everything.

End start:

The flickering of a flame died into an ember as the last of the pile of branches fell to ashes. Each branch has a story from sprout, to towering tree, to death, and then to ash. A stranger sits next to the wilting flames, gazing upon the glowing and charred remains of the sticks and branches they collected. The warm light brings a comfort that is difficult to describe with words.

Right start:

Dark skies consumed the forest. Roaring thunder, pouring rain, raging winds. All of these things attacked nature down to its very core. Near the center of the forest, a towering tree swayed with the gust, bending unnaturally at the mercy of the storm. Leaves and dust flowed with the wind, barraging the branches and trunk. Suddenly, a deafening crack sounded off as a singular branch snapped, separating from the rest of the tree. Almost as if the world around it stopped, the wind let up and silence prevailed as it fell, slowly towards the ground. As it smashed into the wet bed of the forest below, it splashed. Mud and leaves shot into the air as if a bomb went off. The branch now lies, alone, as the rain washes over it.