Virtual Creative Writing Club - Part 3!

Hey Everyone. OK, the next set of instructions are all here (look down!)

It's now time to write your stories. Things to think about:

• Use the technique we learned in lesson 1 to open our stories
• Remember the basic plot will be a retelling of the classic cowboy showdown
• Don't be too wordy - Johnny Cash uses about 100 words to tell the story of "The Baron", with 3 characters, some important details that help us to picture them, and a clear plot.

Once you've finished, see me for a password to this blog and we can post away.

Mr Sharpe

Virtual Creative Writing Club - Part 2!

Hey everyone

Welcome back after the break - for those of you I haven't seen yet!

This week will all be done through videos. Work your way through the list and follow the instructions on each. I'll try to post them in the right order!

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Finally - I don't want you to start writing the story yet! Just plan out WHAT will happen, WHERE in will happen, and to WHOM it will happen!

Talk to each other and bounce ideas off one another - your idea at the end of the discussion should be different from the one at the start, even if it is just more detailed.

For those who know, complete a fiction triangle plan - ask Debbie if she is there...and be ready to start work next time.

See you in 2 weeks.

Virtual Creative Writing Club

Welcome everyone!

Over the course of the next few weeks, we'll be writing a short story. I don't want to give away too much just yet, so follow the steps in order from start to finish. I'll be trying to sharpen (geddit?) your creative writing skills to craft a story that has a structure and includes good characters, a realistic setting and good description.

So saddle up, pard'ner (that bit will make more sense later!)

First up, watch this video clip from Youtube:

Next, read the lyrics below whilst listening to the song:

The Baron by Johnny Cash

Chorus:
I wish I had of known you when you were a little younger 'round me you might have learned a thing or two
If I'd had known you longer you might be a little stronger
Maybe you'd shoot straighter than you do, maybe you'd shoot straighter than you do.

As he walked into the poolroom you could tell he didn't fit
In his hand made boots, custom suit, pearl handled shootin' stick
Tonight there'd be a showdown then everyone would know
Who shoots the meanest game around, The Baron or Billy Joe

Billy Joe looked edgy, about to lose his cool
But the Baron's hands were steady as the two began to duel
Yeah, he was like a General on a battlefield of slate
And he would say to Billy Joe each time he sunk the eight, he'd say...

Chorus

Now Billy Joe was busted but he hadn't felt the sting
And from the far end of the table he threw his Mother's wedding ring
And he said 'You won my money but it ain't gonna do the trick
I'll bet this ring on one more game against your fancy stick'

The Baron's eyes grew foggy as the ring rolled on the felt
And he almost doubled over like he was hit below the belt
Twenty years ago it was the ring his wife had worn
And he didn't know before he left that a son would soon be born

It sounded just like thunder when the Baron shot the break
But it grew quickly quiet as he lined up the eight
Then a warm hand touched his shoulder and it chilled him to the bone
When he turned and saw the woman who had loved him for so long.

The game was never finished, the eight ball never fell
The Baron calmly picked it up and put it on the shelf
Then he placed the ring in the hand that held him long ago
And he tossed that fancy shootin' stick to his son Billy Joe
And he said....

Chorus

Task 1

Think about the setting in the story: the bar. Brainstorm out as many details as you can that you would expect to see in a dive-bar like this one (think Moe's Tavern!) Use the video for inspiration, but try to make up as many details as you can as well.

Task 2

Watch me!

Follow the instructions in the video to write an opening paragraph to a story. This will be a practice for when you write the opening paragraph to your own story later...

Merchant of Venice - The Courtroom Scene

Hi Everyone,

We are fast approaching the end of MoV, and last week we watched and read the climactic courtroom scene. Shylock has the power of the law fully behind him, but it is his determination to stick to the letter of the law which is his undoing.

The scene peaks with him, beaten, facing the choice between the gallows, or disavowing his religion and losing his wealth.

It's a powerful scene, with drama, strong emotions and lots of colour throughout.

Today's Task

Creative writing task today folks, with a reflective slant. Imagine you are one EITHER of the key characters in the scene - Bassanio, Gratiano, Antonio (oh, woe is me!), Portia or Shylock OR a faceless, minor character in the crowd. Think about how they would be feeling, and write a short (max 300 words) piece of writing from their point of view. Try to include a real taste for the times - what are people wearing? What can you see, hear and smell? Is the room lit with candles, big flaming torches, or perhaps are you in an outside courtroom? How are you feeling? Do you feel sorry for Shylock, on his knees with the crowd baying for his blood? Do you feel he is harshly treated - after all, he had the law on his side? Or does he get everything he deserves? After all, he is just a Jew!

For those who asked - shakespeare's insults! Click here - but you need Adobe Acrobat

Righteous Babes and Personal Writing

Dear All,

I'm reading through the wonderful short stories S3 did today, and thinking about how many of them link back to the personal writing that happened at the end of last term. I came across Ranting Feminist / Powerful Lady Ani DiFranco a couple of years ago, and thought this might fit in with some of both creative and personal writing themes. S5 might enjoy this too, as a break from the violence and crime of MacCaig's poetry this week.

Lack of correct punctuation is intentional. You can do that once you are an artiste:

not a pretty girl

i am not a pretty girl

that is not what i do

i ain't no damsel in distress

and i don't need to be rescued

so put me down punk

maybe you'd prefer a maiden fair

isn't there a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere?

i am not an angry girl

but it seems like i've got everyone fooled

every time i say something they find hard to hear

they chalk it up to my anger

and never to their own fear

and imagine you're a girl

just trying to finally come clean

knowing full well they'd prefer you

were dirty and smiling

and i am sorry

i am not a maiden fair

and i am not a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere

and generally my generation

wouldn't be caught dead working for the man

and generally i agree with them

trouble is you gotta have yourself an alternate plan

and i have earned my disillusionment

i have been working all of my life

and i am a patriot

i have been fighting the good fight

and what if there are no damsels in distress

what if i knew that and i called your bluff?

don't you think every kitten figures out how to get down

whether or not you ever show up

i am not a pretty girl

i don't want to be a pretty girl

no i want to be more than a pretty girl

Find more ani here

S3 - "99 Ways to tell a Story" - Tuesday 26th February

Today's lesson focussed on retelling a basic story, creating atmosphere and a sense of setting in a short creative piece of writing. You fun-loving beasts wrote collaboratively in different genre.

It was based on Matt Madden's book of stylised cartoons, some examples of which are here.

If you missed the lesson and wanted to give this a try, the genre to chose from are: horror, war, teen gross-out comedy, western, romance, historical novel (think castles!) detective whodunnit or science fiction.