Writer's Nook - Lesson 15 --
Mar. 19, 2008
Lesson 15 --
Book Title: Black Beauty
“Nutshell” summary: The horse Black Beauty is born on a farm and is well taken care of at first. He changes hands several times though, each owner being different from the last.
Hook: Black Beauty is telling about his first home and first memories.
Problem (first “down”): Black Beauty sold to a place that though nice, the lady is very much into fashion and will not go anywhere if her horses do not look perfect.
Up: Beauty make friends and does well because he is so gentle
Down: Beauty's looks are ruined by a drunkard
Up: Beauty has plenty of rest and time to heal with his best friend, Ginger
Down: Beauty is sold as a job horse
Up: Beauty is sold to Mr Barry for pleasure, not as a job horse.
Down: Mr Barry knew nothing of horses.
Up: Beauty is sold to Mr Barker, a very nice person
Down: Mr Barker is taken ill and Beauty is sold to a corn dealer and baker
Up: Beauty is helped by a kind lady who shows his driver a way to make Beauty's load easier.
CLIMAX (darkest moment): Beauty is sold to Mr Skinner and nearly dies
Resolution: Beauty is treated and allowed to get better before getting sent to be sold.
Satisfying Ending: Beauty is bought by Joe Green, now a man but once the boy that helped take care of him at favorite home and lives happily ever after.
TITLE OF YOUR STORY: No Idea
Nutshell summary (from page 30): Kit is a policewoman/detective and is put on a case concerning the kidnapping of a girl. When another girl is threatened, she and her co-worker, Jeremy, work side by side to find a rather unexpected explanation of the disappearance.
Hook: Meeting Kit and learning that there has been a kidnapping.
Problem: Bethany is mysteriously kidnapped, Kit needs to figure out what happened and retrieve her.
Up: Kit meets Sadie, and finds her to be very friendly and helpful.
Down: Kit doesn't seem to find any clues that will help them out.
Up: Bethany's horse is found unharmed with a note that tells Annette to go somewhere to get Bethany back.
Down: Nothing happens when they are at the appointed place.
Up: A clue is found at the stables.
Down: It becomes clear that Annette is being stalked.
CLIMAX: An attempt is made to kidnap Annette at her house, her moral is shattered.
Resolution: The kidnappers are caught and their motive revealed.
Satisfying Ending: Everyone goes back to their normal life with no fear.
Leave a Clue
Mar. 20, 2008 - Lesson 15
 Posted by skmarlow
Wow! Very, very well done. You have talent, girl. This is one of the hardest lessons of all, and you have completed it as asked, as well as doing one on your OWN story. That is amazing. Most students haven't figured out their stories enough to do an "ups and downs." Your story should be easy to write now that you've outlined it.
I have a confession to make. I never did peaks and valleys on my first 3 books. I'm kind of a "seat of your pants" writer---I didn't know half this stuff that I'm now teaching you. But once I got published and started figuring this out, I discovered that it really DOES help to have some guidelines. I made a rough outline (peaks and valleys) of my new book, and even though I changed my mind in the middle of the book and went a different direction, making the outline did help me get and idea of what I wanted to do with the story.
So...you are learning this stuff way ahead of the age I was. It should serve you well!
One more lesson!
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Kit Schwester is twenty-two years old and lives in America. She grew up in Germany with a brother, a sister, and her parents. After graduating early from school, Kit went to a college in Germany where they recommended that she go to a bigger college in America. She went, despite the disapproval of her parents. She now works as a police/detective.
