Some people find fictional (made up) stories the easiest to write. Others (like me!) find it much easier to write about something that really happened. Whether you're a natural "fictioneer" or someone who struggles to come up with imaginary plots, there are several things you can do to create a strong story.

First, decide what your main topic will be. For this assignment it needs to be something YOU consider "adventurous." It doesn't matter if anyone else thinks it's adventurous as long as you do. If nothing comes to mind right away, go talk to some people--a friend, a parent, a favorite aunt or uncle or grandparent or teacher. Ask them to tell you the most exciting, adventurous thing they ever did. When you're writing fiction, it's not "cheating" to start out with a true story and then change it around until it's just the way you want it.

One word of caution here: although it's not cheating to adapt a true story and turn it into fiction, in real life writers often have to get signed releases -- permission forms -- from real people if they plan to write anything that comes too close to the truth. If you're adapting a true story but changing it around a lot, you should certainly change the real people's names.

Here are some other tips to help you include the elements which are part of this assignment:

• Multiple Points Of View (POV). In previous contests we've practiced writing from first-person ("I") and third-person (outside observer) points of view. (You might want to go back and review the POV tips from the Write Your Own Adventure Contest.) Now we're taking it a step farther. This time, you'll need to switch back and forth at least a couple times between two or more characters' points of view. This isn't easy! If you jump back and forth too much you'll confuse your reader... and if you ignore a character for too long your reader is likely to forget him or her. The trick is deciding when you need to get inside each character's head to show what he's thinking, feeling, seeing, hearing, tasting, or smelling. Ask your teacher or librarian to suggest a couple books where the author uses multiple POVs.

• Realistic Characters. You know the two or more characters whose points of view you'll be visiting? They need to be believable. Nobody wants to get inside the head of a phony character. I'd suggest that you review the characterization tips we went over in the Fall '96 Short Story Contest.

• An Organized Plot. Good stories don't just "happen", believe it or not. Sometimes putting a story together is a lot like assembling a model--you open the box, dump out all the pieces, then spend hours, days, or even weeks figuring out exactly where each little piece should go. If you do it right you end up with a great looking ship or plane or whatever... but if you just slap it together any which way you're more likely to end up with a mutant lump that smells like glue. Ugly. You can review the plotting tips from the Adventure in Your Own Back Yard Contest.

Review writing tips, winning submissions from previous contests:
• "A Real Kid Is..." Essay Contest
• Adventure in Your Own Back Yard Contest
• Write Your Own Adventure Contest
• Win Your Own Adventure Contest
• Short Story '97 Contest
• Fall '96 Writing Contest
• Summer '96 Writing Contest

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