# 1. True Purpose
> "*Why* are we doing this?"

You start with a rough idea:
Create an idea for a collaborative short story or flash fiction.
The goal of this phase is to find a **clear, concise purpose for our writing**:</small>
```text
The purpose of collaborating for this project is to collectively understand the creative writing process. How to determine characters, settings, plot, and other literary actions.
```

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## Think broad and dig deep

1. Define the "So what?"
2. How will your plot devices evoke questions thoughts and discussions among your readers? 







##Outlining

Before we begin our writing, we need to formulate an **outline** that will serve as an effective reference while during our creative process.

##Dwelling Deeper and Polishing the Details

>What themes are we provoking in our story?
>Plot devices?
>What are we evoking from the reader?
>Word choice
>Imagery
>Character Development
>Does our tone interrelate with a targeted audience?
>How are we allowing the reader to relate and understand?


## Beginning
> What **characters** will be introduced?
>What **setting** or **settings** have we established?
>What is our **theme** or **controlling idea**

##Middle 
>How are the characters (or character) interacting with one another or is there an internal conflict?
>What is our conflict?

##Ending
>How is conflict resolved? Is it resolved?
>How does our rising action lead up to the climax of our story?
>Does our reader still have questions?


## Check in With Your Concerns
What are some elements of every short story?

![](https://www.filepicker.io/api/file/HLSfWhaQii70kG3XnMog)