Narrative Writing
“The Elevator” Narrative Assignment
Assignment: Finish the story of “The Elevator”
What’s missing from the story? Think about the plot diagram.
Story ends at climax
Missing: Falling action and resolution
What happens during falling action?
Ties up loose ends
What happens during the resolution?
The story comes to a reasonable end
Things to include:
Dialogue
Sensory details, images
Show don’t tell
Think about the mood of the story
Characters: Martin, fat lady, Martin’s dad
All missing parts of the plot diagram (i.e. falling action, resolution)
How/Where to Start:
Brainstorm: How do you want the story to end? In your mind, what do you think will happen next? What will happen to the characters? Think about what you already know about the characters? Who is the fat lady? Is she real? What does she want from Martin?
Then what?
Start writing! It’s okay if your first draft isn’t perfect. It more than likely won’t be. You can always go back and rewrite/revise.
down the steps that led to your character’s behavior. Then, consider what other
decisions that character might have made. Once you have completed the chart below,
start writing.
Character is chosen
Picked logical events from the story
Showed a new/distinct decision the character would make
New ending to the story
1 2 3 4 5
Logical events from the story are used in
correct order
1 2 3 4 5
Character makes a new decision
New ending to the story
July 5, 1931 Hollywood Hospital 100.00 Lawrence Exeter, Sr.
July 15, 1931 Dr. David McCoy 175.00 Lawrence Exeter, Sr.
July 16, 1931 Hollywood Mortuary 1,280.00 Lawrence Exeter
Wuther Crue and others
“We did you the favor!” Peter Ventizzi yelled, as Tony Spagoni held the gun to Lawrence’s head.
“Okay, okay,” Lawrence said wearily.
“Pay up,” Tony sneered, putting away the gun.
Lawrence took out his checkbook and scribbled the information out on the lines, paying the amount of
twenty-five dollars. Ripping the check out of the book, he threw it at Tony and made a run for it.
“Cash! Where’s the cash?!” Peter Ventizzi screamed at the escaping Lawrence.
Peter and Tony slowly made a wobbling run after Lawrence, but their lack of physical fitness (which was
visible, to say the least) gave Lawrence an advantage.
“The check-” Lawrence screamed, “-all I’ve got! Take it or leave it!”
“Who-are-you-” Tony yelled between heavy breaths, “kidding?!”
Tony pulled out his pistol and aimed towards Lawrence. A gunshot echoed in the alley and Lawrence fell
to the ground.
--------------------
Lawrence knew he wasn’t dead. But if he wanted to stay alive, he’d have to pretend. He felt his leg
throbbing, knowing he had been hit; faint laughter came from the other end of the alley.
“Come on, let’s leave,” a mocking voice said from afar.
Who is that? Peter? Tony? They must think I’m dead. Good. Lawrence thought. The sound of tires
screeching against the hot pavement hurt Lawrence’s ears, and everything went black.
“The Elevator”
“Hello, Martin,” she said, and laughed and pushed the stop button. Suddenly the elevator came to a stop. The dull, lifeless buttons stopped blinking. The bright, fluorescent lights flickered.
Martin scrambled backward against the far wall of the elevator, trying to get as far away as possible from the fat lady. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to make her disappear. But every time he would open his eyes, there she was. Staring at him.
“She’s not real, she’s not real, she’s not real,” Martin whispered to himself. The fat lady began to laugh. A deep throaty laugh that echoed throughout the elevator.
“Oh, Martin. There’s no reason to be afraid,” the fat lady said with a sparkle in her eyes. “We’re going to have so much fun riding the elevator together.”
“This isn’t real,” Martin thought, “this is just my fear of elevators. To make her go away I just have to face my fears.”
The fat lady kept laughing her dark, ominous laugh but instead of cowering in the corner Martin stood up.
“I’m not scared of you and I’m not scared of elevators. This isn’t real so there is nothing for me to be afraid of!”
As he said this, the fat lady’s laughter began to die away. Then there was a bright light that caused Martin to cover his eyes.
Ding. The elevator doors swooshed open to reveal the bright corridor of floor 17, Martin’s floor. He had made it.