The unexpected wedding ring How does the story start?

Question

Where is the story set?
Who will be your main character(s)?

What problem(s) will the characters face?

How might the problems be resolved?
How will the story end?

Time of Day or Year & Time Period
You may also include the season, the weather, etc. Time period refers to past, present or future.

Environment
For example: the historical or cultural setting; a fantasy world; another planet, etc.

Specific Location & Tone
For example: a cabin in a spooky, mysterious forest; an office on a busy, crowded city street

Point of View & Narrator
Choose ONE point of view: 1st-person, 3rd-person limited, OR 3rd-person omniscient

In 3-4 sentences, describe the setting in your story. Use sensory & figurative language in your description. You may use the Sensory Word List & Figurative Language List if you need help with ideas. After you have written your description, ask AI where you could add more sensory or figurative language. Copy & paste the AI’s description below. Highlight the sensory language in yellow & the figurative language in blue used in the AI’s description. Your description AI’s Description

1. Character vs. ______
Internal or External?

2. Character vs. ______
Internal or External? Conflict Idea

3. Character vs. ______
Internal or External?

Main conflict for your story: Character vs. ?
Internal or External?

Description of Conflict:
How will this affect your characters throughout the story?

Using your favorite AI, explain the main idea and conflict you would like to use in your story. Ask AI to generate at least THREE plot lines for your story. In the chart below, copy & paste the plot line ideas generated by AI. You may choose one of these plot lines to use in your story or you may create a plot line of your own. For help with writing AI prompts, click on the robot picture below. Plot Line Idea #1 Plot Line Idea #2 Plot Line Idea #3

Exposition

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

Ask AI! Using the info you created on the previous slide, ask your favorite AI where you can add more sensory & figurative language to make your characters more interesting or appealing through the use of direct characterization (description). Copy & paste the character descriptions AI creates in the boxes below. Highlight the sensory language in yellow & the figurative language in blue in both descriptions.
Character #1 Character’s Name Physical Description Age/Occupation Personality Background Information Character #2 Character’s Name Physical Description Age/Occupation Personality Background Information

: Ask AI! Using the info you created on the previous slide, ask your favorite AI where you can add more sensory & figurative language to make your characters more interesting or appealing through the use of direct characterization (description). Copy & paste the character descriptions AI creates in the boxes below. Highlight the sensory language in yellow & the figurative language in blue in both descriptions. Character #1 Character #2

In which section of the plot are you adding a scene with dialogue?

What is the purpose of the conversation?

What information do you want to convey to your readers?

Which characters are talking?

What is the characters’ tone?

What action(s) do the characters perform during the conversation?

Using the information you gathered on the previous slide, ask AI to help you write 4-5 exchanges of dialogue between two characters. Be sure to include which characters are talking, the tone of the conversation, what information you want your readers to learn, and what actions the characters perform during the conversation. Copy & paste the dialogue AI creates in the box below. For help with writing AI prompts, click on the robot picture. Ask AI to Write 3-4 Exchanges of Dialogue Between 2 Characters

Before you begin writing the resolution (conclusion) to your story, reflect on where your characters have been, what they have overcome, what they have learned, and what message you want your readers to take away from your story. Think about the plot and if there are any loose ends that need to be tied up. Remember, you want to provide a satisfying ending for your readers. What was the main conflict in my story?
How can this conflict be resolved in a way that is consistent with the rest of my story?
Are there any loose ends in my story that need to be tied up?
What have my main characters learned as a result of their experiences or what do they now understand?
Do my characters’ reflections on what they learned over the course of the story communicate the message I want my readers to understand?

In 4-5 sentences, briefly summarize the plot of your story up to the resolution (conclusion). Copy and paste your summary into your favorite AI and ask it to provide 3 possible resolutions for your story that will resolve the main conflict and wrap up the plot line. For help with writing AI prompts, click on the robot picture below. Your 4-5 Sentence Summary

Ask AI for 3 Conclusions

Choose ONE of the resolutions recommended by AI from the previous slide or you may develop a resolution of your own. Once you have decided on a resolution, ask AI for 3 possible themes that would fit in with the plot and content in your story. (You may need to include your plot summary with the resolution for the AI to get a complete picture of your story.) For help with writing AI prompts, click on the robot picture below.

Which resolution did you choose?

Ask AI- 3 Possible Themes

Choose ONE of the themes recommended by AI on the previous slide or you may develop a theme of your own. In the chart below, explain the theme you chose to use and WHY you chose it. Then explain the message your theme will convey to your readers. Which theme did you choose?
Why did you choose this theme? What message does this theme convey to your readers?

Answer 1

Story Overview: "The Unexpected Wedding Ring"

How does the story start?
The story begins with Mara discovering an old wedding ring in the attic while sorting through her late grandmother's belongings. The ring is intricately designed and seems oddly out of place among the other family heirlooms, sparking her curiosity.

Where is the story set?
The story is set in a quaint, rural village surrounded by rolling hills and dense woods, emphasizing a close-knit community with rich traditions.

Who will be your main character(s)?
The main character is Mara, a 28-year-old woman grappling with her identity after her grandmother’s passing. Other significant characters include her best friend, Leo, who helps her with the search for answers, and an enigmatic old woman, Elara, who has connections to Mara's family history.

What problem(s) will the characters face?
Mara wrestles with her doubt concerning her place in the family legacy and the significance of the ring. The discovery leads her to uncover family secrets that challenge her understanding of love and commitment.

How might the problems be resolved?
The problems may be resolved through Mara's journey of self-discovery, wherein she learns to embrace her family's past while forging her own path. The truth about the ring and its original owner could lead her to understand her grandmother’s complicated love story.

How will the story end?
The story concludes with Mara deciding to wear the ring as a symbol of her newfound acceptance of her family’s history and her commitment to living authentically, emboldened by the lessons learned.

Time of Day or Year & Time Period

• Time of Year: Spring, symbolizing renewal and new beginnings.
• Time Period: Present.

Environment

• Setting: The story unfolds in a nostalgic, rural village with cobblestone streets where each season brings the charm of blooming flowers and warming sun, perfect blend of history and those quaint, everyday moments.

Specific Location & Tone

• Location: Mara's grandmother’s old, ivy-covered house filled with memories and artifacts of the past.
• Tone: Reflective and heartwarming with moments of tension and discovery.

Point of View & Narrator

• Point of View: 3rd-person limited, focusing solely on Mara’s internal journey and experiences.

Description of Setting

The village awakens as spring sunlight dances through budding leaves, enveloping the landscape in a warm, golden hue. Birds chirp merrily, filling the air with the fresh scent of blossoms mingling with the rich, earthy aroma of wet soil after a gentle rain. The ivy-covered house stands serenely at the edge of the village, a reminder of ancient tales woven into the fabric of its walls.

Conflict

1. Character vs. Self (Internal)
2. Character vs. Family Legacy (External)
3. Character vs. Truth (External)

Main conflict for your story: Character vs. Self
Internal conflict: Mara’s struggle with her own identity and the weight of her family history.

Description of Conflict

This conflict will affect Mara as she navigates her relationships, explores her family’s history, and determines her own identity. It leads her to question her beliefs about love and commitment.

Plot Line Ideas

1. Plot Line Idea #1: Mara explores the history of the ring, uncovering love letters and familial conflicts that change her perception of marriage.
2. Plot Line Idea #2: With Leo's help, Mara confronts Elara, the old woman harboring family secrets, leading to revelations that redefine family bonds.
3. Plot Line Idea #3: The journey to claim the ring as a family heirloom unveils a deeper theme of reconciling the past with personal aspirations.

Structure of the Story

• Exposition: Introduction of Mara and the discovery of the ring.
• Rising Action: Mara seeks to uncover the ring's origins and explores its emotional weight.
• Climax: A confrontation with Elara reveals family secrets, testing Mara’s resolve.
• Falling Action: Mara reconciles with her family history and her own feelings.
• Resolution: Mara embraces the past, wearing the ring as a symbol of acceptance and personal growth.

Character Descriptions

Character #1

• Name: Mara
• Physical Description: Long chestnut hair, deep green eyes, often wearing floral dresses that reflect her gentle spirit.
• Age/Occupation: 28, freelance artist.
• Personality: Curious, introspective, and compassionate, yet uncertain about her future.
• Background Information: Grew up in the village, surrounded by tales of her grandmother’s life, grappling with the pressures of tradition.

Character #2

• Name: Leo
• Physical Description: Short curly hair, a warm smile, dressed casually with a penchant for vibrant clothing.
• Age/Occupation: 30, local history teacher.
• Personality: Supportive, adventurous, with a knack for uncovering the truth, often serves as Mara's anchor.
• Background Information: Their friendship developed over the years, as they share a bond strengthened by their childhood adventures.

Scene with Dialogue

Section of the Plot: Rising Action
Purpose of the Conversation: To explore the ring's history and Mara’s doubts.
Characters Talking: Mara and Leo.
Characters’ Tone: Concerned and supportive.
Actions During Conversation: Mara gestures with the ring while Leo listens intently, leaning against a well-worn wooden table.

Sample Dialogue

Mara: "Do you think the ring means something more than just a family heirloom?"
Leo: "It has to. Your grandmother wouldn’t have kept it hidden otherwise. What do you feel when you look at it?"
Mara: (Twisting the ring in her fingers) "It’s like a piece of her story is alive in my hands, but I don’t know if I want that weight."
Leo: (Nods) "Then let’s uncover what it is together. You might be surprised."

Summary of the Plot

Mara discovers an old wedding ring in her grandmother’s attic that leads her on a journey to uncover family secrets, sparking a conflict between her understanding of love and commitment. With the help of her best friend Leo, she confronts an old woman who holds keys to her family's past. Ultimately, the journey helps her find clarity about her identity and how she wants to shape her future.

Possible Resolutions

1. Mara decides to embrace the complexities of her family history, choosing to honor her grandparents' love while allowing herself the freedom to create her own path.
2. Mara returns the ring to the old woman, symbolizing a break from the past, and chooses to live life on her own terms.
3. Mara learns the true meaning of love through her grandmother's story and vows to carry that legacy into her life with or without a partner.

Chosen Resolution

I choose resolution #1, where Mara embraces her family history while shaping her own future.

Possible Themes

1. The importance of understanding one's history to forge a future.
2. Love's complexity and its many forms.
3. Embracing change while honoring tradition.

Chosen Theme

Theme: The importance of understanding one's history to forge a future.
Reason for Choosing: It resonates with Mara's journey of self-discovery and the universal quest for identity amid legacy.
Message Conveyed: Understanding where we come from helps us define who we are and empowers us to shape our destinies.