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FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, published in 2011, is a romance novel by E. L. James. It’s book 1 in the Fifty Shades trilogy.
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY spent 29 weeks at #1 on the NYT bestseller list. By June 2015 it had sold over 125 million copies worldwide. The movie was released in 2015.
“Relationship?” I squeak at her, my voice rising several octaves.
Table of Contents
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Synopsis
When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.
This book is intended for mature audiences.
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Analysis Of:
Fifty Shades of Grey is used as an example in the following posts. Check them out!
| Present Tense | Present tense happens now. Check out 5 times it’s the best choice for your novel. |
| First Person Point of View | Me, myself, and I are examples of first person point of view. Check out five times you should use first POV for your novel. |
| the Hook | The hook is the opening of your story. Learn the four elements of a hook. |
| the Climax | These 4 elements will make your climax unforgettable! |
| the Antagonist | Learn the 4 types of antagonists, get 5 tips for writing an antagonist, and see modern fiction examples. |
| Dialogue Tags | Learn why “___ said” is the best dialogue tag you can use (plus breakdowns of modern fiction). |
| Women in Fiction | Learn how to write fully developed female characters by avoiding common (and harmful) tropes. |
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Book Reviews
I hated this book.
The writing was terrible: juvenile, unrealistic, just bad. But worse than the quality of the writing? It’s romanticized abuse.
There is nothing acceptable about Grey’s actions. This is NOT hot/sexy/kinky. It’s abuse.
That’s nothing against BDSM – you do you. But this? This is not BDSM. Again, it’s abuse.
Grey is an abusive, manipulative, rapist, stalker.
But that’s just my opinion. What do others say?
Think there can’t possibly be fifty examples of abuse in the biggest-selling “romance” novel of all time? Think again…
– The Rambling Curl
So I’m pretty much in the minority when it comes to this book as I hated it.
– Dear Author
…one of the most attractive qualities about the book is the language: simple, short, witty sentences that will keep you turning the pages.
– Wamathai
A wonderful blend of HOT HOT HOT kinky fuckery and a deep emotional journey and love story… this is one of those series that will stay with you forever!!!
– Aestas Book Blog
Writing Practice
Check out these writing exercises and prompts inspired by FIFTY SHADES OF GREY.
Prompt: The Opening Paragraph(s)
This is the opening paragraph of the novel. Ignore everything you know about the story and use it as a writing prompt.
Your Task: Using as much detail as possible, write another 300+ words.
Chapter One
I scowl with frustration at myself in the mirror. Damn my hair – it just won’t behave, and damn Katherine Kavanagh for being ill and subjecting me to this ordeal. I should be studying for my final exams, which are next week, yet here I am trying to brush my hair into submission. I must not sleep with it wet. I must not sleep with it wet. Reciting this mantra several times, I attempt, once more, to bring it under control with the brush. I roll my eyes in exasperation and gaze at the pale, brown-haired girl with blue eyes too big for her face staring back at me, and give up. My only option is to restrain my wayward hair in a ponytail and hope that I look semi presentable.
Exercise: Rewrite
Your Task: Choose a scene and re-write it in the past tense.
Think about it:
- What scene did you choose and why?
- What kind of changes did you make?
- Would FIFTY SHADES OF GREY have been better or worse in the past tense?
Need an idea?
Choose a sex scene, they tend to be full of verbs – Chapter 14, for example.
Here’s the first paragraph of Chapter 14, I only changed the tense.
| FIFTY SHADES OF GREY | Writing Practice |
| Christian is standing over me grasping a plaited, leather riding-crop. He’s wearing old, faded, ripped Levis and that’s all. He flicks the crop slowly into his palm as he gazes down at me. He’s smiling, triumphant. I cannot move. I am naked and shackled, spread-eagled on a large four-poster bed. Reaching forward, he trails the tip of the crop from my forehead down the length of my nose, so I can smell the leather, and over my parted, panting lips. | Christian stood over me grasping a plaited, leather riding-crop. He was wearing old, faded, ripped Levis and that was all. He flicked the crop slowly into his palm as he gazed down at me. He smiled, triumphant. I couldn’t move. I was naked and shackled, spread-eagled on a large four-poster bed. He reached forward and trailed the tip of the crop from my forehead down the length of my nose, so I could smell the leather, and over my parted, panting lips. |
Exercise: Rewrite
Your Task: Choose a scene and change the point of view character (not Grey – EL James already published books (rewrote these books? I don’t know) from his point of view).
Your Options:
- Keep it in first person. Or change it to third person.
- Make changes to the content. Or, leave the content pretty much as is. (Obviously, I’d like to see a lot of really big changes – but that’s just me. You do you.
Think about it:
- What scene did you choose and why?
- Would FIFTY SHADES OF GREY benefit from the perspective of another character (or two)?
Need an idea?
Choose a character that you like (or at least didn’t completely hate). I would go with a scene that Kate is in. Like Chapter 3.
Here’s the start of Chapter 3, now written as Kate.
| FIFTY SHADES OF GREY | Writing Practice |
| Kate is ecstatic.“But what was he doing at Clayton’s?” Her curiosity oozes through the phone. I’m in the depths of the stock room, trying to keep my voice casual.“He was in the area.”“I think that is one huge coincidence, Ana. You don’t think he was there to see you?” | I’m ecstatic.“But what was he doing at Clayton’s?” I can’t help it, my curiosity must just ooze through the phone.“He was in the area.” Ana says in her ‘trying to hard to be casual’ voice. I roll my eyes, she’s always trying too hard.“I think that is one huge coincidence, Ana. You don’t think he was there to see you?” |
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Facts
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Thoughts?
Have you read FIFTY SHADES OF GREY?
If so, what did you think? If not, will you?
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PS. share your exercises in the comments below. I’d love to see them.
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