The story centres on whether Eli will admit breaking a window. Which opening introduces that situation?

• The town had grown over many centuries.
• Eli had cousins living in several distant towns.
• Eli hid the ball as the owner came outside.

For this one-page exercise, which plan keeps the story focused on one turning point?

• A disagreement leads to a decision to apologise
• Three separate mysteries each begin and end
• A family history follows several generations

For this exercise, an ending can show a character's change through a final action without explaining the lesson.

Circle one:   True   False

A one-page story follows Ren deciding to return a borrowed jacket. Which passage can be cut without losing that story's context or result?

• An unrelated account of a neighbour's holiday
• Ren's promise to return the jacket
• The final exchange when Ren gives the jacket back

A story opens: 'The alarm woke Mara. Smoke was coming under her door.' The story follows her escape. Which revision judgement fits?

• Cut it: waking up cannot start a relevant story.
• Keep it: the escape problem has begun
• Expand it: describe her routine before the smoke.

Replacing 'Lena felt guilty' with 'Lena felt very, very guilty' shows a new action or decision.

Circle one:   True   False

A story opens with Jo's key failing in a lock. The lock changed yesterday, and readers need that fact to follow Jo's next choice. Where should the background go?

• In a long building history before Jo arrives
• Beside the failed attempt, before Jo's next choice
• After the ending, once Jo's choice is over

Kai has decided to let a former rival join his project. Which ending shows the result without stating a moral?

• Kai learned a lesson about accepting other people.
• Kai remembered what the day's events had taught him.
• Kai pulled another chair up to the workbench.