Module

Revising a Draft of a Short Piece using

6 Literary Conventions

The secret of doing well in writing creative nonfiction is to know which

conventions to incorporate in your output. Each creative nonfiction genre
has its unique features and elements.

In your Module 5, you have learned how to evaluate other’s draft based
on different criteria. In this module, you will learn more about the different
literary conventions of genres such as fiction, drama and poetry and how to
revise one’s draft using these conventions.

Jumpstart

For you to understand the lesson well, do the following activities.

Activity 1: Rousing Start

Directions: Recall the following genres of creative nonfiction and their

conventions or features through the following figures below. Understand
what you are reading.

Literary Genres refer to a category of literary composition determined by

literary technique, tone, content, or even (as in the case of fiction) length.
The distinctions among genres and categories are flexible and loosely
defined, often with subgroups. The most general genres in literature are (in
loose chronological order) epic, tragedy, comedy, and creative nonfiction.
They can all be in the form of prose or poetry. Additionally, a genre such as
satire, allegory or pastoral might appear in any of the above, not only as a
sub-genre, but as mixture of genres. Finally, they are defined by the general
cultural movement of the historical period in which they were composed.

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Literary Conventions refer to the defining features of a particular genre such
as a novel, a short story or a play. Also, conventions refer to the elements and
techniques employed by the writer to make meaning in a story.

1. Narrative Writing/Prose is best described as an account of a sequence of

fictional or nonfictional events, usually in chronological order. It is a
story created in constructive format. Figure 1 shows the conventions of
narrative writing or prose.

Images
Characters
These are principally the
This mainly involves the voices
features and qualities that are
of those who are primarily concerned
concrete rather than abstract
or involved in the story. Thus,
which appeal to human senses of
characters are those who give life to
touch, sight, sound, taste, and
the story’s actions and scenes.
smell.

Plot
Symbols
The plot
lays out the The writer may
structure of the include images
NARRATIVE
story considering that bear certain
PIECE
the flow of events meanings that go
and actions. beyond the
literal.

Theme
Setting Point-of-view
Typically, theme
can be a statement of The situations, actions, This
generalization about life. and circumstances of a convention mainly
story transpire in a considers how the
The highlights certain time and actions and
noteworthy realizations location. This provides scenes of the story
concerning the nature total environment and are told and
and complexities of atmosphere of the reported to the
human life cultivated story. readers.
from the experiences,
actions, and decisions of
the characters.

Figure1. Conventions of Narrative Writing

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 2. Poetry is one of the traditional genres of literature and has captivated
the human attention because of its peculiarity in the way how human
aspirations and emotions are expressed and communicated. It
manifests external and internal beauty which may bring impacts to its
readers.

Conventions of Poetry

A. Structure

Stanzas

These are series of lines grouped together and separated by an empty

line from other stanzas.

Form

A poem may or may not have a specific number of lines, rhyme

scheme and or metrical pattern, but it can still be labeled according to its
form or style.

B. Sound Pattern

Rhyme

It is the repetition of similar sounds. In poetry, the most common kind

of rhyme is the end rhyme, which occurs at the end of two or more lines.

Rhythm and Meter

Rhythm is the pattern of stresses in a line of verse while meter is the

basic rhythmic structure of a line within a poem (e.g. the number of syllables
and the pattern of emphasis on those syllables).

C. Meaning

Concreteness and Particularity

In general, poetry deals with particular things in concrete language,

since our emotions most readily respond to these things. In other words, a
poem is most often concrete and particular; the “message”, if there is any, is
general and abstract; it is implied by the images. Images suggest meanings.

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Denotation and connotation

Word meanings are not only restricted to dictionary meanings

(denotation). The full meaning of a word includes both the dictionary
meaning and the special meanings and associations a word takes in a given
expression (connotation).

3. Drama is a specific mode of creative nonfiction represented in

performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc. performed in a theater,
or on a radio or television.

Conventions of Drama

a. Setting

The physical and psychological environment or the milieu where and

when the characters transpire and are situated.

b. Dramatic personae

They are the individuals involved in the context of the story. They are
revealed as the conflict of the story develops.

c. Dialogue

The lines and the discourse delivered and expressed by the characters
that are also necessary to develop the whole story.

d. Plot

This pertains to the sequence of related scenes. There are also various
techniques that playwrights may take into account to develop the frame of
events such as flashbacks, flash-forward and foreshadowing.

e. Theme

This is the central message or insight that the play attempts to reveal
and to communicate.

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 Discover

Revising

Revising is indeed a complex and complicated process of writing.

Thus, the familiarity of various approaches in facilitating such a skill guides a
writer to be totally conscious on how to ensure quality and noteworthy
writing products.

You revise your creative work after you have selected an idea to write
about, completed necessary research, organized your information, decided
on what to write about, and then written a first draft.

The purpose of the first draft is not to write something completely

perfect--but to get your ideas on paper. Whether you write poetry, fiction, or
personal essays, you should revise your work.

Revision can transform an ordinary piece of poetry, short fiction,

personal essay or any form of writing into something memorable. It allows
you to improve on an initial attempt. It gives you the opportunity to write
the best possible poem, fiction, personal essay and so forth.

In addition, revision is often the most creative aspect of writing. Your

first draft is just a blueprint. A first draft is never your best work. Your goal
of revising your work is not to make your writing perfect, because you can
always revise your work. Your goal then is to create something that is your
best work. If you write little prose, you might have to add content. If you
over write, you have to delete the excess. Both the sparse writer and
verbose writer will have to trim, alter and rearrange their content.

This module will help you discuss how to revise your creative nonfiction
using the different literary conventions of a genre.

A. Why revise?

1. Revision allows you the opportunity to improve.

This means that by revising your work after writing the initial
draft, you can improve your writing. Revising your work also gives you
the opportunity to improve the structure, plot, characterization, point of view,
conflict, climax, resolution, and theme of your story.

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 Revising your work allows you to add, delete, rearrange, and
expand the details of your poem, story, articles or essay.

2. Revising enables you to see your writing from a new perspective.

If you take a break from writing gives you the chance to add simile,
metaphor, fresh language, new details, to tap into your imagination.

3. Revision is closely tied to critical reading.

To revise a piece conceptually, you must be able to reflect on

whether your message matches your writing goal.

B. How to revise?

Many writers revise as they write. They will write a sentence or

paragraph or section, then reread it then revise. The following points will
surely help you refine your draft.

1. A better way to revise is to write the entire draft.

2. Read it aloud and make notes of things you don’t like.
3. Revise your creative writing several times before submitting.
4. Work on getting your poem, story or essay or article right-making it
the best you can.

C. What to revise?

After writing the complete draft, take a break for a day or more. The
break from writing will enable you to see your work from new perspective.
When you revise consider the following. All types of creative nonfiction
writing require the following considerations, whether you write a short story,
novel, personal essay, literary journalistic article, or poetry. There are two
ways on how to revise creative nonfictions.

A. Macro Revision

For a macro revision of a personal narrative essay or fictional story,

these are some of the things you need to consider when revising creative
nonfiction (e.g. narrative piece) using literary conventions.

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 Setting and Time

 Ensure that the beginning tells the reader what the story is all about
and why they should read it. Ensure also that the beginning grabs
the reader’s attention.
 Ensure that the story has a setting. It shows the time and pace of the
story. It can be a backdrop, antagonist, or the mood of the story.
Does the story, at the minimum, have taken place at a particular
time and place? Is the setting realistic and believable?

Character/Characterization

 Revise to enhance the central character. Does the central character

have a motive? Character flaws? Have you developed the character
with dialogue, behavior, or appearance? Does the character have
desire to reach some goals?

Plot/Plot Structure

 Revise to improve the structure. Is there a beginning, middle and

ending? Is there an inciting incident? Problem? Setbacks? Or
obstacles? Climax or turning point? Resolution to the story?
 Ensure that your story has an ending. Is the ending correct? Open?
Or Closed?

Dialogue

 Revise for dialogue. Does the dialogue reveal character? Move the
story forward? Sound like real people talking? Does each character
speak differently? Is dialogue included in important events or
scenes? Do you include quotation marks and dialogue tags
dialogue?

Style

 Revise for style. Do you use a consistent voice? Tone? Diction?

Sentence variety?

Voice

 Ensure that the story has a correct and consistent point of view. First
person (I)? Second person (you)? Third person (He/She)?
 Ensure that you have included concrete and specific and
significant details and descriptions.
 Ensure that you have used imagery, language that appeals to the
reader’s sense of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch.

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  Ensure that you have used figurative language, such as simile,
metaphor, personification and symbolism.
 Ensure that you show the reader what happened with dialogue,
action, setting, and imagery when writing about important events
such as the inciting incident, crisis, climax, and resolution.

Theme

 Ensure that the story has a theme. What is the implicit meaning of
your work? Do symbols help to develop the theme? Is the theme
revealed in the conflict? Is the theme revealed in the consequences
of the story?

If you are writing a piece of creative nonfiction, you will want also to
ensure that you have written into a structure. For instance, if you are
writing a theme-based personal essay, you will want to make sure that you
have a variety of sections which support central idea.

If you are writing a poem, your macro revision will consider the following:

 Form- narrative, meditative, surreal, image, or prose

 Line break- for emphasis, enjambment ad rhyme
 Stanza
 Diction-word choice
 Figurative or poetic language such as simile or metaphor or imagery
 Concrete and significant details
 Description
 Grammar- syntax and punctuation
 Right voice and style
 Sound such as alliteration or assonance or rhyme
 Rhythm and meter
 Point-of-view- first, second, third person, or invented persona
 Theme-meaning of the poem

B. Micro Revision

After completing the macro revision, you will complete a micro

revision. Whether you write poetry, fiction or narrative piece, you must
complete a micro revision. It is a line-by-line edit of the following:
grammar, spelling, punctuation, and writing style.

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  Ensure that you are using correct grammar such as correct usage
(e.g. subject-verb agreement).
 Ensure that you are using correct spelling.
 Ensure that you are using correct punctuation-period, comma,
dash, exclamation point, question mark, quotations.
 Scenes. Ensure that you have shown and told your readers. You
must write in scenes for all important events. Do you show
readers what happened? For things that are less important, do
you tell your readers?
 Diction/word choice. Ensure that you have chosen the best
language. What is the connotation and denotation of each word?
 Ensure that you have used sentence variety such as long and
short sentence, fragments and climactic sentences, simple,
compound, and complex sentences.
 Ensure that your prose have melody. Have you used alliteration?
Assonance? Rhyme? Repetition?
 Ensure that your prose have rhythm. It refers to the parallel
structure of your prose.
 Lyricism. Ensure that your prose is lyrical. Have you used
imagery? Metaphor? Simile?
 Usage. Ensure that you have used the active voice, concrete
nouns, and action verbs. Ensure that you have adjectives and
adverbs sparingly.

Explore

Here are some enrichment activities for you to work on to master and
strengthen the basic concepts you have learned from this lesson.

Enrichment Activity 1: Fill Me!

There are a number of ways to revise your creative writing output

such as your narrative piece. Revising is not to rewrite. Revising means to
improve your story, refining your story, and correcting weaknesses in your
story.

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What you need:

A graphic organizer (use colored paper if you have)

Pen

What you have to do:

Using the template below, make a graphic organizer on the processes

involved in revising creative nonfiction.

Definition Characteristics

R
E
V
I
Macro Revision S Micro Revision

I
N
G

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 Enrichment No. 1: Blockbuster

Directions: Complete the crossword puzzle. Use the clues below to

help you answer the crossword puzzle.

Across Down
1. The character who is opposed to 2. It is the section of the plot leading to the
(against) or competes with another. climax, in which the tension stemming from
the story’s central conflict grows through
5. People in the story. successive plot development.
8. The plan or main story of a play or 3. The central idea or message explored in the
novel. story
10. The beginning of a story that exposes 4. It is the section of the plot leading to the
or introduces the background. resolution of the story.
11. Details before the resolution, loose 6. It where and when the story takes place.
ends are tied up, usually very brief.
7. The main character, usually the one the
12. The point at which the intensity of reader identifies with.
the action rises to a high point.
9. Literary elements that involves a struggle
between two opposing forces.

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Assessment 2: Revise the following draft. Use a separate sheet of paper for
your output.

Text 1(Dull Plot). A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey
of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with
another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger.

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