Writing a short story

Vocabulário

• 情节plot
• 人物character (person in a story)
• 场景scene / setting
• 叙述narration / narrative
• 悬念suspense
• 高潮climax
• 转折plot twist / turning point
• 象征symbol / to symbolize
• 比喻metaphor / simile
• 第一人称叙事first-person narration

Expressões

• 就在这时门突然开了走进来一个陌生人Creating a dramatic plot twist using the 就在这时 time marker to introduce a sudden event
• 她把那段记忆比作一场永远醒不来的梦Using the 把…比作 structure to create a vivid literary metaphor
• 周围一片寂静仿佛整个世界都屏住了呼吸Using 仿佛 to create an atmospheric simile describing tension and silence
• 他连自己的名字都忘了却记得她的每一个微笑Using 连…都 to emphasize the contrast between forgetting one thing and remembering another
• 结局出乎所有人的意料让读者久久不能平静Describing a surprising story ending using 出乎意料 and its emotional impact on readers
• 他曾经是个无所畏惧的人如今却对一切充满恐惧Using 曾经 to contrast a character past and present state in a narrative opening

Erros frequentes

• ✗她的眼睛像有水，很悲伤。
  ✓她的眼睛充满了泪水，仿佛整个世界都在哭泣。

  像有水 is vague and unpoetic; 充满了泪水 is the vivid literary expression for eyes full of tears; 仿佛 extends the image with a simile making it more literary

• ✗突然来了一个人，故事变化了。
  ✓就在这时，一个陌生人突然出现，整个故事由此发生了转折。

  突然来了一个人 is clumsy — use 就在这时 to create the dramatic moment; 故事变化了 is vague — 故事发生了转折 (the plot turned) is the precise literary expression

• ✗他以前很勇敢，但是现在不勇敢了。
  ✓他曾经是个无所畏惧的人，如今却对一切充满了恐惧。

  以前 is conversational — 曾经 gives a more literary past tense feel; 不勇敢了 is plain — 对一切充满了恐惧 (filled with fear of everything) is a vivid and evocative literary contrast

Quiz rápido