Writing Tips from Lee Roddy: Situation

Hello Inspire Writers,

Here is the second weekly installment of writing tips from Lee Roddy. Today he teaches us the basics of the opening situation of a story.

WRITING TIP #2:  SITUATION

by LEE RODDY

The main character is the most important element a writer must deal with in writing a story, but   the second vital element is the OPENING SITUATION in which the character finds himself. The purpose of the situation is to set up the STORY PROBLEM which is the third required element to be explained in the next lesson.

The situation must either have changed or be about to change so that it threatens the main character in some important way. That can be life-threatening, but most children’s stories will have the character facing a threat to his plans, happiness, health, etc.
 
An opening situation can be dramatic or seemingly-innocent as long as the story problem grows out of the situation. In my best-selling novel, “Secret of the Shark Pit,” the opening situation has the main boy character is approached by a stranger who shows him a photo, asking if the boy knows where this man lives. The stranger claims the man is an old army buddy he needs to find.  

The boy knows the man is lying because the image is of his father, and he’s never been in the army. This simple situation leads to the boy’s story problem, causing him to end up in a pit filled with sharks and apparently no way out.

Summary: The main character’s OPENING SITUATION MUST LEAD TO THE STORY PROBLEM.

Lee Roddy is the author of more than 40 young readers’ novels and countless short stories.

This lesson may be reprinted by including the author’s website: www.leeroddybooks.com.

Next week, Lee will help us develop a story problem. Until then, keep writing and be sure to visit Lee's website.

Gratefully,

Beth