Tasks and Duties
Objective: Develop a comprehensive content concept for a short story. This week, you will focus on brainstorming, researching, and organizing creative ideas that form the foundation of a compelling story. The goal is to generate a concept that not only shows originality but also considers the target audience and potential market appeal.
Expected Deliverables: A single file (PDF or DOCX) containing a detailed concept document. The document should include sections for idea brainstorming, detailed background research, character sketches, plot ideas, and potential themes. Include bullet-point lists, mind maps, or any visual aids that helped you to conceptualize your story.
Key Steps to Complete the Task:
- Devote the initial hours to brainstorming multiple story concepts using free writing, mind mapping, or other creative techniques.
- Research similar works and public domain literature to understand trends and audience preferences.
- Outline at least three potential characters with their backgrounds and motivations.
- Develop a narrative framework that includes a clear beginning, middle, and end.
- Consolidate your notes and findings into a well-structured document that details the chosen concept and rationale behind its selection.
- Review and refine your document to ensure clarity, depth, and creativity.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Creativity and originality of ideas.
- Depth of research, including relevant references to publicly available sources.
- Organization and clarity of the concept document.
- Quality of narrative framework and character outlines.
- Overall coherence and potential for further story development.
Objective: Deepen your narrative by focusing on developing rich, multidimensional characters. This exercise requires you to create detailed character profiles that will form the backbone of your storytelling. Your profiles should capture physical descriptions, personality traits, motivations, background stories, and potential character arcs.
Expected Deliverables: A file (PDF or DOCX) containing fully developed character profiles for at least three central characters. Each profile should include descriptive sections and visual aids if necessary (sketches, mood boards, etc.), and an explanation of how these characters integrate into the overall narrative concept you are working on.
Key Steps to Complete the Task:
- List your primary characters based on previous concept work or a new idea if preferred.
- Write detailed descriptions for each character including personality, appearance, background, and motivations.
- Discuss potential conflicts and relationships between the characters.
- Create a timeline or storyboard that shows key moments in each character’s evolution within the story.
- Use visual aids or mood boards to inspire and complement your written descriptions.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Depth and originality in character profiles.
- Successful demonstration of character development and integration into a narrative framework.
- Clarity and organization of the document.
- Creativity in visual aids and overall presentation of profiles.
- Attention to detail and thorough research of personality traits and narrative functions.
Objective: Develop a structured plot narrative using a storyboard to outline the key turning points of your short story. This task is designed to challenge your ability to organize narrative ideas into a cohesive structure while addressing pacing, conflict, and resolution.
Expected Deliverables: A file (PDF, DOCX, or a combination of file types) that contains both a detailed plot outline and a storyboard. The storyboard should visually represent at least 8-10 key scenes of your story, including the introduction, rising action, climax, and resolution.
Key Steps to Complete the Task:
- Outline your story's major narrative moments in a structured format (introduction, conflict, climax, etc.).
- Create a detailed plot diagram that shows the progression and connection between different story events.
- Develop a storyboard using sketches, images, or digital tools to visually represent the narrative journey. Each panel should include a brief description of the scene and its significance.
- Explain how each scene contributes to character development and overall story advancement.
- Refine your storyboard and outline to ensure they work in tandem and tell a logical, engaging story.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Clarity and coherence of the plot structure.
- Creativity and visual appeal of the storyboard.
- Integration of narrative elements such as conflict, climax, and resolution.
- Detailed explanation connecting storyboard panels to the overall plot.
- Quality and depth of planning demonstrated in both outline and storyboard.
Objective: Produce a first draft of your short story based on your previously developed concept, characters, and plot outline. This week, focus on translating your structured ideas into a complete narrative. Emphasis should be placed on expressive language, cohesive storytelling, and maintaining originality.
Expected Deliverables: A file (DOCX, PDF, or TXT) containing the complete first draft of your short story. The manuscript should be at least 1,500 words and include a title page, headers, and clear section breaks that indicate different parts of the narrative, if applicable.
Key Steps to Complete the Task:
- Review your concept, character profiles, and storyboard to refresh the narrative details.
- Develop an outline to guide your writing, focusing on narrative flow and pacing.
- Write the first draft of your story, ensuring that the narrative is engaging, well-paced, and reflective of your creative vision.
- Incorporate descriptive language that paints vivid images and emotions.
- Perform a self-review after completing the draft to identify areas where the narrative can be strengthened, while saving major revisions for next week.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Extent to which the story draft reflects the initial narrative plan.
- Quality and creativity of language used in the narrative.
- Cohesiveness of the storyline, including effective pacing and structured transitions.
- Overall originality in prose and plot execution.
- Adherence to task requirements such as manuscript length and file submission format.
Objective: Focus on refining your first draft by editing for style, consistency, grammar, and deeper narrative engagement. This task is critical for polishing your work into a product that is publication-ready and effectively communicates your story.
Expected Deliverables: A revised draft file (PDF or DOCX) of your short story submitted alongside a brief reflection document (approximately 300-400 words, also in PDF or DOCX) detailing your editing process, challenges, and key changes made.
Key Steps to Complete the Task:
- Carefully review your first draft and make corrections for grammatical errors and stylistic inconsistencies.
- Focus on flow and pacing, ensuring that transitions between scenes are smooth and effective.
- Refine dialogues, descriptions, and narrative structure where necessary.
- Create a reflection document describing specific areas that were improved, as well as the reasons behind your revision strategies.
- Seek to enhance the emotional impact and clarity of your story without introducing new narrative segments.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Quality and thoroughness of the editing process evidenced in the revised draft.
- Clarity, structure, and length of the reflection document.
- Improvement in narrative coherence, flow, and language after revisions.
- Adherence to standard conventions of grammar and style.
- Ability to self-assess and articulate changes in the reflection document.
Objective: Prepare a creative pitch presentation and a reflective analysis document that showcases your storytelling journey. The goal is to convincingly present your story idea as a project pitch while reflecting on your growth and learning experiences throughout the internship. This exercise tests your ability to articulate creative ideas and critically analyze your work.
Expected Deliverables: A pitch file (PDF, DOCX, or presentation format) summarizing your story, target audience, unique selling points, and potential future developments. Additionally, include a reflective analysis (approximately 500 words) discussing challenges faced, lessons learned, and strategies for further improvement.
Key Steps to Complete the Task:
- Draft a pitch that succinctly summarizes your story, emphasizing its originality and market appeal.
- Create a structure that includes an introduction, a brief synopsis of the story, major character highlights, conflicts, and resolution prospects.
- Define the target audience and discuss how your narrative engages this audience.
- Write a reflective analysis that details your creative process, areas of growth, challenges encountered, and how you overcame them.
- Make sure both deliverables are professionally formatted and free of errors.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Clarity and persuasiveness of the creative pitch.
- Depth and honesty reflected in the analysis document.
- Demonstration of critical thinking regarding your creative process and final product.
- Professional presentation and adherence to file submission guidelines.
- The ability to connect creative vision with strategic considerations for audience engagement.