Tuesday, November 27, 2012

What Makes a Good Story?




Hmmmm, what makes a good story?  Check out the interview below with Gordan Korman, the author of our class read-aloud, "Schooled". 

www.nbclearn.com/writersspeak

Discussion Points:

1.  What did you think about the interview?  Did you agree with Mr. Korman?
2.  What ideas did you get from the interview that you could use in your own fiction story you are working on in writing?
3.  What other books have you read by Gordan Korman?  If you have not, what ones look interesting to you?  You can see more about the author at http://www.gordonkorman.com/

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't, I think Gordon Korman's planning to know most of the story isn't a good approach. When you write a story or something like that, it is better to think of it as you go.

Thinking about how a character is, that is important to know if you want your story to be funny or other.

I might have, but I generally don't remember the author's name. I wasn't really interested in the Mt. Everest books he wrote, or the ones about islands.

Paul

Anonymous said...

Dear Mrs.Simonds,
1. I thought that the interview with Gordan Korman was really cool!!! I totally agree with him!

2. An idea that I got from the interview was to start my story with dialoge.

3. I have read framed by Gordan Korman. That is the only one that I have ever read.

From,Biz<3<3

Anonymous said...

Dear Mrs. Simonds,
I think that video might help me develope great charactors.
The dialog part did not really make sense to me he just said hi in different voices. But the starting part really made sense so you can hook your readers so they want to keep reading.
I think it will be sort of easy to start my story now.
The end part also made a lot of sense. I think you should probably end by having the problem resolved, or reflect back to your story.

That is what I learned.
Lucy

Anonymous said...


1. When I heard the interview I heard that he was speaking loud and clearly and it was easy to her what he was saying. I agree with Mr. Korman because like he said the most important part in a book is the characters because they are the ones telling the story.

2. I found out should plan out my stories before I write it because sometimes I would plan it as I go but sometimes it would be hard because I would not know what to write next.

3. I want to read the Titanic, Island, and Everest ones. I started some of the Titanic ones but I never finished it because I started a new good book.

From,
Emma

Anonymous said...

Dear Mrs.S,

1. I really liked the interview with Gordon Korman. I noticed that he said every word loud and clearly. That is the perfect book talk! I agree with him that what makes a good story is the characters. I feel that the characters are always the most interesting parts of the book. I also agree with him that you should try and make a story as interesting as possible. For example doing interesting questions on the back of the book, like Evan's parents disappearing out of nowhere! What can Evan do to get them back? Will Evan ever find his parents? Questions like that will make a book really good and that book a really good seller.
Gordon said that he knows the ending of the story from 2 to 3 accidents that happen in the middle of the story. Gordon says that he knows the way he wants the book to end not how it will end. Gordon also said that you want the twists that readers will not expect. So that the readers who read it will tell other people how good the twist is at the end of the book.
I also agree with Gordon that the characters should talk like real people so the dialog will make sense. Gordon also said something really important. He said "Think how much you can get out of dialog".

2. I think that maybe I could use dialog that real people could speak. I also think that I should make the story as interesting as possible. Maybe I could make the characters more interesting because the characters are a very big part of the story. Also I could try with my writing that whenever someone reads my fiction story they will get a clear picture in their head.

3. I have not read any other books by Gordon Korman. The book that looks most interesting to me is the book called "Ungifted".

Mara!

Anonymous said...

Aloha Mrs.Simonds,
I think that he really meant what he said. He said some really good information that I will use when I am writing next writing class. I agree with Mr.Korman that it is easier to write a story when you really can fell the character. I also think it is easier to write a story when the character has some of the same characteristics that you do and is not the complete opposite. To not just make up the character to really feel the character. I have read "Schooled" 2 or 3 times I think that I have read about 2 other books by Gorden Korman but I can not remember what they were called. One book I really want to read by him is "Swindle" it sounds really good and also looks it!!
~sophia 3> :)

Anonymous said...

Oh and Mrs.Simonds I remember what they were called but I read the Everest series by him.
~sophia <3 :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Mrs.S
I thought the interview was good and very helpful. It was helpful because Nom I know that I can write down the last page somewhere else so I know what has to happen in the story. I read Swindle in third grade and that's all the books I can think of right now. I might want to read the reast of the books in that series because they look like Swindle witch was the favorite book we read that year as a class. Paul I disagree with you on the first one. I think thinking of the ending first can be very helpful but it can also be confusing so I can tell where you are coming from.

Fr0m:
Ri£€¥

Anonymous said...

Hi Mrs.Simonds,
1. I think it was a good interview. I agree with what he said.
2. Some ideas I got from the interview are, you have to really really care about the characters. And make the beginning of the story interesting as possible.
3. I've never read a Gordon korman book. But the books I think look interesting are,: 39 Clues, Swindle, and Son Of The Mob.
Gordon Korman is a good authar.
See you tomorrow!! ~GRACE

Anonymous said...

Dear Mrs.Simonds,

I would like to comment on some other students comments. I agree with Sophia that Gordon Korman really meant what he said because he said it in confidence. I agree with Grace's too because I also think that it was a very good interview. I liked what Lucy said, because I also think that video might help me with my characters.

I agree with Paul because the Mt. Everest books do not really sound that good. The books about the islands do not sound that interesting either, but you can not judge a book by its cover! I wanted to let you know Emma I have some Titanic books at my house. You can borrow them after you are done with the book that you are reading right now.

Mara

Anonymous said...

Hello Mrs. Simonds,
I thought that the interview was very good. To me it almost sounded like he wrote it. I agree with him in some ways, but I never have my stry ending planed before I actually write it.
For me it helpful when he talked about how he revised dialouge.
I have read some of swindle last year, but I think the Mt. Everest book looked good.
~Sydney

Anonymous said...

Emma~

I totally agree with you about how the charecters are the most important thing in a story because they talk the most. I also agree with you about how he spoke loud and clearly.
I also always forget to plan my story before I write it.
I want to read titanic to. I always start books and forget about them.

From,
Biz<3<3


Anonymous said...

Hi Mrs. Simonds
1. Yes I did agree on almost everything. The thing I didn't agree on was was rethinking the dioluge part. But I did agree on how all characters say things differently.
2. Think about the beginning and ending first.
3. I have read Swindle, Zoobreak and Framed they are all very good.
From,
Wil Master!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyo

Anonymous said...

Hi Paul
I disagree with you on number 1. Because I like to think of ideas BEFORE I write the story.
But I do agree with you on number 2.
Peace!!
From,
Wil Master!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

To Mrs. Simonds,
1. I liked and did not like the interview. What I liked about was that he said ever things clearly and slow. I did not like what he said, I thought he could have said more things about the questions. I did not agree with what he said.
2. I think I could plan my story better. I could also use better dialog.
3. I do not think I have read any other Gordan Korman books. We are reading one in class to. I think I might read more books by him.
From,
Will MacDonald

Anonymous said...

Dear Biz,
I also thought he was right. I think it will really help me build stories. That is a great idea to start with dialoge.
sorry I spelled dialoge wrong. I have not read any other
books by Gordan Korman. But I really want to read one.
GREAT blog!!!
~LUCY!

Anonymous said...

Lucy~
I totally agree with you about when you said that the end part made a lot of sense. The dialouge part didn't really make any sense to me either. The video helped me develope great characters too. After I watched the interview it was a lot easier to write my story. I agree with you about you should probably end the story by having the problem get solved.

From, Biz<3<3

Anonymous said...

Dear Mrs.Simonds,
I very much agree with Mr.Korman. I think the interview will help me with my writeing. I think diologe, I think that is what I need to complete my story. I have read part of "Swindle" and really liked it, I also want to read the "Titanic" series by him.
From
Josh :{)

Anonymous said...

Hola Mrs. Simonds,
I thought the interview was really interesting. Gordan Korman also gave alot of good advice, such as thinking of how your maincharacter says hello. In otherwards I totally agreeed with Mr. Korman.
Mr. Korman started making me think to myself these two things-
1.You alway want to get to the most interesting part as guickly as possible so that the reader doesn't get tired of reading your book. Also you want to keep in mind that is you don't want to rush your story.
2.The dialoge you put in your story you should always be thinking about it and revising it to make it the best it can be.
I haven't read any other books by Gordan Korman. I guess he is just not an author that ever crossed my mind. Although I love 'Schooled' even though I am very behind in reading. HAPPY READING!!!
-BRIANNA

Anonymous said...

Biz,
When you writting a story don't forget you can also start your stories with the setting or an action!!! I always like to try starting my story with all of them it's a fun way to decide between the three!!!
Although I must confess that most of my stories start with dialogue! It's an easy way to start your story and to get the ball moving!
I also started 'Framed' in 3rd grade but I didn't like it so stopped a quarter way through. I never made the conection it was by him.
-BRIANNA

Anonymous said...

Emma,
I totally agree about the loud and clear part. It's so much easier to reflect back on something when you understood it in the moment.
I have often run into the same problem. Not knowing what to write next. So I know where your coming from, but it can be hard to think of your entire story and then have to remember it all.
Last but not least I think the 'Titanic' series looks really good!HAPPY READING!!!
-BRIANNA

Anonymous said...

HI Mrs Simonds
1)I thought that the interview was really cool. Gordon Korman did a really good job speaking loudly and clearly. I agree with him what makes a good story is the characters thats why in writing we are really focussing on are character's
2)I should start my story with dialog. I should really think about my story before I write it.
3) I havent read any Gordon Korman books. The book 'Ungifted" looks good.
~CASSIE

Anonymous said...

To:Emma
I agree with you when you said, "he was speaking loud, and cleary and it was easy to hear what he was saying. In my opinion I would not plan my story before I wrote it, but that is just me. I would rather make the story as go along because it gives you more of a chance to be creative. Nice job!
~Sydney

Anonymous said...

Hi Mrs.S

I did not get to watch the video so I can not blog on this topic, sorry.



Connor

Anonymous said...

Hi Sophia
I agree with you Gordon Korman's video does have a lot of good information. I also agree it is also essayer to write the story when the character is sort of like you. I have never read any book by Gordon Korman. You have read 3 books by him and one of the books 2 or 3 times. The Everest series good.
~CASSIE

Anonymous said...

Sydney,
I also don't plan my end. I just look at the problem and solve it when the ending needs to be done. And Swindle looks like a good book. o you like it?I also liked the interview. See you tomorrow!! ~GRACE~

Anonymous said...

Hi Sydney
I agree with you that the interview was vary good. I also agree that it sounds like he wrote it. Sometimes I just write my story and I don't plan it. I have heard of Swindle but never read it. I agree that it helpful when he talked about how he revised dialouge. I also want to read the Mt. Everest.

~ Emma