Y08W20WR Pulled in Two Directions

Part 1

How to Write

Narrative – Short story

A short story draws a reader into a character’s world and carries them through an experience that changes something. It is written for an audience who wants to be engaged and moved — not just informed. The tone is vivid and personal, making the reader feel present in the moment and curious about what comes next.

  • Ideas & content: Give your character a clear situation and a problem or tension that matters. Include specific details rather than general descriptions, and make sure something genuinely changes by the end.
  • Structure & cohesion: Move from orientation to complication to resolution. Use paragraph breaks to shift scenes or time, and connect moments with time words and action to keep the story moving forward.
  • Voice & audience: Find a consistent narrative voice that brings the reader close to the character’s experience. Show feelings through actions and reactions — not just by stating them.
  • Language choices: Choose strong verbs and sensory detail. Use dialogue to reveal character. Vary sentence length — shorter sentences create tension, longer ones build atmosphere.
  • Conventions: New speaker, new line — every time. Use speech marks correctly. Keep your tense consistent throughout.

Common pitfalls: Starting too slowly with too much backstory — get into the situation quickly and let detail emerge naturally. Telling the reader how a character feels instead of showing it through what the character does.

Part 2

Your Task Plan for Today

The brief

Question: Write a story about a character who is caught between two people who want opposite things from them. The character must choose, but the choice has consequences for either way they decide.

Stimulus: A character finds themselves in the middle — two people each pulling in a different direction, each asking for loyalty or support. The character cares about both. The character cannot satisfy both without sacrificing something.

Task Analysis: This narrative task asks you to show a character caught between two people wanting opposite things. The conflict is external — the character must choose — but the story is internal — how does the character feel, what do they value, how do they decide? A strong response shows this internal struggle vividly.

Quick Plan

Before you write, plan:

  • Your character — who are they, what do they want?
  • The two people — what does each want from the character?
  • Why the character cares about both
  • Key moments where the tension comes to a head
  • The choice — what does the character do?
  • The consequence — what happens as a result?

Characters & want

Make all three characters’ positions clear. The character in the middle should have genuine connection to both other people.

Problem / complication

Show clearly why the choice is difficult. What would the character lose by choosing either side?

Internal conflict

The real story is internal — what is happening inside the character as they face this choice? What values conflict?

Turning point

Identify the moment where the character finally decides. What tips the balance?

Resolution & change

Show how the character is changed by the choice and its consequences.