This document contains instructions and discussion prompts for workshop participants to provide feedback on several short stories. Participants are asked to summarize each story in a few sentences and address the characterization, point of view, plot, theme, and other elements of the stories. The document also contains brief explanations of point of view and to whom a story may be told. Workshops will be held on April 22 for several of the authors.

1. Heading to the finish line
But we’re not there yet. Steady as we go.
If you’re absent: It’s your responsibility to get the manuscripts and to get me
and the authors your critiques.

2. “Twenty-Three”
by FerasGhweir
 In a few sentences, what happens in this story?
 Characterization: What is an example of strong
characterization? What are places in which more types
of direct and indirect characterization would benefit
the story?
 Point of View: What is the POV and does it serve the
story?
 Plot: Is there a rising action, crisis action and
resolution?
 Theme: What is this story about beyond what happens?
 Other comments and questions related to sense of
place, language.

3. “Fireand
Stone”byJay
Mitchell
 In a few sentences, what happens in this story?
 Characterization: What is an example of strong
characterization? What are places in which more types
of direct and indirect characterization would benefit
the story?
 Point of View: What is the POV and does it serve the
story?
 Plot: Is there a rising action, crisis action and
resolution?
 Theme: What is this story about beyond what happens?
 Other comments and questions related to sense of
place, language.

4. POV
 Point of view, in many ways, is the most complicated
aspect of fiction. It involves the relationship between
the writer, characters, and reader.
 First Person = I
 Second Person = You
 Third Person = he/she/they
 From the reader’s point of view, a story told in first
person is being told by a character; a story told in
third-person point of view is being told by the author.

5. POV
 Third person can be divided by the degree of knowledge
the author assumes in the story
 Omniscience: the author knows everything and the
reader takes what is relayed as fact. That includes
everything the characters know.
 Limited Omniscience: the author has full knowledge of
one of the character’s minds, and some events, but not
the full spread of complete omniscience (which makes
sense for a short story).
 Objective: The external events, rather than internal
thoughts, are narrated.

6. To whomisthe
storytold
 To the reader
 To another character
 To the self

7. “GradeTen
Fifty-Nine”by
DanteMoon
 In a few sentences, what happens in this story?
 Characterization: What is an example of strong
characterization? What are places in which more types
of direct and indirect characterization would benefit
the story?
 Point of View: What is the POV and does it serve the
story?
 Plot: Is there a rising action, crisis action and
resolution?
 Theme: What is this story about beyond what happens?
 Other comments and questions related to sense of
place, language.

8. ”LesCrows”by
SavannahRivas
 In a few sentences, what happens in this story?
 Characterization: What is an example of strong
characterization? What are places in which more types
of direct and indirect characterization would benefit
the story?
 Point of View: What is the POV and does it serve the
story?
 Plot: Is there a rising action, crisis action and
resolution?
 Theme: What is this story about beyond what happens?
 Other comments and questions related to sense of
place, language.

9. Workshops for
April 22
 Savannah Rivas, Savanna Leyba, Geoffrey,
Ruby,
 Ashlinn turn in manuscript on Monday