Write in the Style of Roald Dahl

As writers, we start off writing like the authors we love. Then, as we grow as writers, we start to develop our own style. Who doesn't love stories about giant peaches and little girls who can fend off a bully with the flick of a finger? Roald Dahl wrote many of the most beloved books of childhood. To become a better writer, we're going to dive into the techniques Roald Dahl used to write his many books. By the end of this class, students should have a completed rough draft or at least a great start to their own Roald Dahl style story. We'll not only cover elements found in stories by Roald Dahl, but essential elements to any fictional story.

Week 1:
Who was Roald Dahl?
Setting - We will discuss the importance of setting when writing a story. Students will discuss the settings of different Roald Dahl stories and what they have in common.
Plot - Open discussion about Roald Dahl's various story lines and the elements they have in common.
Brainstorm activity: Draw a picture of part of the setting for your new story OR write a paragraph describing your setting.
Homework: Continue brainstorming about the setting for the story and different events that will happen in the story. Also, think about what magical elements should be in the story.

Week 2:
Characters - Discuss special qualities of Roald Dahl characters.
How to create well-rounded characters - back story, speech, personality, etc...
What happens to "bad" characters in Roald Dahl stories?
What happens to "good" characters in Roald Dahl stories?
Writing activity: Work on creating characters and naming them.
Homework: Work on the character sketches of the characters in the story.

Week 3:
Made-up words - Discuss the different words Roald Dahl created for his stories.
Examine different methods Roald Dahl used to create words.
Writing activity: Create our own words for our stories.
Dialogue - How to use dialogue to enhance a story.
Discuss how to write the first scene in a story.
Homework: Start writing your story.

Week 4:
Creating conflict - Discuss the six types of conflict and how to use them in a story.
Showing, not telling - Learn how to add sensory details to a story.
Writing activity: Work on writing the story.
Share: Students will have the opportunity to share their stories.

Students will be encouraged to submit their stories for detailed feedback. Feedback will include 2-3 things that were done well in the story and 2-3 things that can be revised.