Keith Toda just posted about writing simple texts and parallel stories for extensive reading use, such as during Free Voluntary Reading (FVR). Follow this template to create simple texts from scratch using the Sweet Sēdecim (Top 16). Also follow this template starting with any text (e.g. the simplest version of an Embedded Reading, a parallel story, a textbook chapter, a Write & Discuss, details from Discipulus Illustris, a myth, etc.). This will get you practice writing for the novice:

1. Setup:
   (is, is in, likes)
2. Conflict:
   (there isn’t, doesn’t have, wants [to ___], wants to go)
   – Interactions: (sees, hears, says, thinks, knows)
   
3. New Location(s):
   (leaves, comes to, is in, goes)
   – Interactions: (sees, hears, says, thinks, knows)
   
4. Resolution/Unresolved Ending:
   (if item/object: someone carries, puts, gives, if action: character is able)

Example: Here’s a 250 total word length story I could add to the FVR shelf as another comprehensible option…

The template did most of the work of inspiring ideas and details, I used just started out by using a single character and object from Version 1 of Mārcus et elephantus (itself already an embedded parallel story!). This took me 13min to write, and uses only a handful more of unique words in addition to the Top 16. N.B. Notice how the Top 16 support and encourage the use of unsheltered grammar, even in a text this simple ! This story below could easily be read by first year students.

Setup:
Mārcus est discipulus bonus. Mārcus est domī. Mārcō placet lūdere canistripilā.

Conflict:
Mārcus vult lūdere canistripilā. ēheu! nōn est canistripila domī! Mārcus nōn habet canistripilam! Mārcus vult canistripilam ad lūdendum. Mārcus putat canistripilam esse in scholā. Mārcus vult īre ad scholam.

New Location(s):
Mārcus domō discēdit. Mārcus iam vēnit ad scholam. ēheu! Mārcus nōn vult esse in scholā! est diēs Sāturnī. Mārcus nōn vult esse in scholā diē Sāturnī. Mārcus nōn vult esse in scholā, sed  Mārcus putat canistripilam esse in scholā.

Mārcus videt custōdem. Mārcus: “salvē, custōs! estne canistripila in scholā?” custōs nōn audit Mārcum. custōs ignōrat Mārcum. Mārcus it ad custōdem. Mārcus: “custōs, estne canistripila in scholā? volō lūdere canistripilam. habēsne canistripilam?” iam, custōs audit Mārcum. custōs est bonus. custōs nōn vult ignōrāre Mārcum. custōs dīcit canistripilās nōn esse in scholā. prō dolor! Mārcus vult canistripilam ad lūdendum, sed nōn sunt canistripilae in scholā. est rīdiculum! Mārcus audīvit canistripilās esse in domō Līviae. Līvia est amīca Mārcī. Mārcus iam vult īre ad domum Līviae.

Mārcus discēdit ā scholā. Mārcus iam venit ad domum Līviae. Mārcus videt Līviam. Līvia videt Mārcum. Mārcus: “salvē, amīca! habēsne canistripilam? volō lūdere canistripilā. vīsne lūdere canistripilā mēcum?”

Resolution/Unresolved Ending:
Līvia habet canistripilam. mactē! Līvia fert canistripilam ad Mārcum, sed dēpōnit canistripilam. Līvia nōn dat canistripilam Mārcō. Mārcus videt Līviam dēpōnere canistripilam. Mārcus vult lūdere canistripilā, sed Līvia nōn dat canistripilam eī. Līvia vult pecūniam. ēheu! Līvia vult Mārcum dare pecūniam. Līvia nōn est amīca. Mārcus nōn habet pecuniam! Mārcus nōn potest lūdere canistripilā!

subitō, Līvia nōn est Līvia! Līvia ēvānuit! iam, est…