Crafting Story Adaptations

Story Adaptation Techniques

Structure

• 1. Introduction: Set the scene or context.
  • Generic phrases:
  • It was a [description] day, and I felt [emotion].
  • I had no idea what was about to happen.
  • The moment I stepped off the plane, I knew this was going to be a special journey.
• 2. Development: Introduce the main problem or surprising situation.
  • Change the context and the details based on the topic.
  • Example: If the story is about an elephant from Africa that loses a tusk on a plane:
  • As the plane took off, [character] felt a strange sensation in his tusk.
• 3. Conclusion: End with a resolution or reflection.
  • Generic phrases:
  • In the end, I realized [reflection].
  • That day taught me something I’ll never forget.
  • Now, looking back, I understand why it happened.

Example

Original: Story about a birthday surprise.

Adaptation: Story about an elephant that loses a tusk on a plane.

Response:

It was the [longest flight] of [Nuru the elephant’s] life. He had left his home in [Africa] for the first time and was excited to explore a [new country]. As the [plane] took off, he felt a [strange sensation in his tusk]. He tried to ignore it, but the feeling got worse with every hour [in the air].

Suddenly, he heard a [crack]. One of his [tusks had snapped right in half]! He was [scared] and didn’t know what to do. When the [plane finally landed], he rushed to the [airport staff], who quickly brought him to a [vet]. They assured him he would be fine, but [Nuru] learned a lesson that day — [sometimes, even strong elephants have fragile parts].

Now, [Nuru] looks back and [laughs], but he’ll never forget his first [adventure away from home].

Explanation of Sections to Change

• [Longest flight]: Change this to reflect the context or main event of the story, such as "biggest journey" or "strangest day."
• [Nuru the elephant’s]: Change the name and character based on the theme, such as "Milo the cat" or "Jenna the explorer."
• [Africa]: Adapt the character's place of origin, such as "a small village" or "the bustling city."
• [New country]: Change the destination or place of interest, such as "a mysterious island" or "a faraway galaxy."
• [Plane]: Substitute with the means of transport or environment, such as "train," "forest," or "school."
• [Strange sensation in his tusk]: Adapt to any relevant problem or conflict, such as "a strange itch in her paw" or "a curious feeling about the new environment."
• [In the air]: Change the context of the conflict, such as "on the road" or "in the deep forest."
• [Crack]: Adapt this key action based on the event, such as "a loud rumble" or "a sudden splash."
• [Tusks had snapped right in half]: Change this detail according to the problem the character faces, such as "his tail got caught" or "her glasses broke."
• [Scared]: Adjust the feeling to something relevant, such as "embarrassed," "excited," or "confused."
• [Plane finally landed]: Change the moment of resolution, such as "the day came to an end" or "they finally reached the shore."
• [Airport staff]: Adapt this element to supporting characters, such as "village elders," "zookeepers," or "school friends."
• [Vet]: Change to a place or figure of help, such as "a friendly guide" or "a wise teacher."
• [Nuru]: Change the name based on the character.
• [Sometimes, even strong elephants have fragile parts]: Modify this lesson or moral based on the theme, such as "sometimes, everyone needs help" or "you never know what might happen on an adventure."
• [Laughs]: Change the character's reaction to "smiles," "reflects," or "feels grateful."
• [Adventure away from home]: Adapt the lesson or conclusion, such as "first day at school" or "big discovery in the city."