ESL Podcast 743 - Writing a Story

novel - a book-length story; a long story created by a writer and not based on real people or events

Joan likes to read novels in her free time, while her sister prefers reading newspapers and newsmagazines.

to abandon - to give up completely; to not continue doing something before it is completed

After working several weeks on repairing his old car, Jamil decided to abandon it and to buy another car.

to bite off more than (one) can chew - to try to do something that one is not capable of doing; to try to do too much

Candace felt that she had bit off more than she can chew when she volunteered to organize a dinner for 50 people.

character - a person in a novel, play, or movie

My favorite character in the movie Star Wars is Hans Solo.

character development - the way that a person in a novel, play, or movie changes over time or throughout the course of a story

The character development of the hero in this series of films shows that he is a complex person.

plot - the main events in a novel, play, or movie; the main storyline in a novel, play, or movie

Are you able to follow the plot of this novel? I find it very confusing.

adventure - a novel or movie with exciting and dangerous activities or experiences

Kalih's favorite childhood adventure stories are about a ship captain who travels around the world.

romance - a novel or a movie dealing with themes related to love

In romance stories, the hero always gets the girl in the end.

horror - a novel or movie with frightening events or stories

Some of the scariest horror films don't show too much blood and killing, but relies on the audience's imagination.

setting - the time period or environment in which a situation occurs; the location and/or time period that a story takes place

The setting for this story is present-day Chicago.

up in the air - undecided; not yet determined; with the ending, conclusion, or decision not yet clear

Whether the childcare program will continue next year is up in the air because of a lack of money.

period - belonging to a past time period; being from a historical time period

Why do so many period films set in England win major film awards?

point of view - the view or perspective from which a story is told or events are explained

From the customer's point of view, this website is very difficult to use.

first person - for a story to be told from one of the people in the story

The police wanted a first person account of what happened in the accident.

third person - for a story to be told from the storyteller's perspective

A complicated story can more easily be told in the third person.

to have (one's) work cut out for (one) - to be required to complete a task that is difficult; to be faced with a task that is at or above one's level of ability

Daisuke has his work cut out of him, raising three young children by himself.

inspiration - something that stimulates one's mind to do or to feel something; something that gives one ideas for a creative task

The recent snowstorm was the inspiration for Lyle's new painting.