How to Write a Story in Prose

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Write a story in prose.

Prose is derivative of the Latin word "prosa" which translates to "straightforward." It is the most common form of speech and writing in literature, media and film. Though people communicate in prose every day in conversation or letters, successfully writing a full story in prose is a little harder. You have to tell a story that people will be interested in and write it in an interesting manner, which generally means using the active voice and avoiding cliches and redundancy.

Instructions

    • 1

      Brainstorm ideas or outline the sections of your story if you already have your subject matter. Outlines are not always necessary to write a story, but some writers find it useful to have one to refer to when writing. Your story outline should include a plot, setting and characters as well as an introduction or opening scene, climax and resolution or conclusion.

    • 2

      Write in active voice using action words as much as possible. One way to ensure this is to imagine you are narrating this story to a friend or relative and read each completed section out loud. Be direct in every expression. For example, instead of "Our understanding was" use "We understood". Avoid redundancy in your sentences. For example, instead of "He held out a red and blue pill. I had to made a choice between the two." use, "He held out a red and blue pill. I had to make a choice." Stay away from cliches when writing in a prose. Finish the draft of your story with these thoughts in mind.

    • 3

      Reread your story several times paying close attention to the structure of every sentence. Make edits where needed. Commas should be used before coordinating conjunctions, after introductory elements and to set parenthetical elements or interrupters in sentences. For independent clauses requiring more than three or four commas in one sentence, make use of the semicolon to add structure to the sentence.

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References

  • Photo Credit Gentleman writing on desk image by patrimonio designs from Fotolia.com

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