Getting into Creative Writing

• English
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• GCSE

Getting into Creative Writing

Learning Objectives

To try out Lesson Up

To understand what 'genre' means

To use some story starters

To use character development 

as a way into starting a story

What is Genre?

Firstly, there are different types of writing.

The following slide takes you to the BBC Bitesize website. 

You will need to follow the link.

Scroll down to watch the video of 

the 2 ducks.

www.bbc.co.uk

What do you understand by the word 'genre'?

Genres I Know

Which one of the following genres do you enjoy most , in books or films?

Horror

Science Fiction

Fantasy

Crime or Mystery

Action Adventure

Animal Stories

Romance

Sport

War

Comedy

Which genre do you think this story will be?
'The rabbits hopped towards the glittering stream in the colourful sunset.'

1. War
2. Animal
3. Crime Mystery
4. Horror

Which genre do you think this story will be?
'The vibrations of the distant gunshots could be felt through the floor.'

1. War
2. Animal
3. Crime Mystery
4. Horror

Which genre do you think this story will be?
'It was icy cold. Lightning lit up the distant tumbledown cottage, and in the far distance a wolf howled.'

1. War
2. Animal
3. Crime Mystery
4. Horror

Which genre do you think this story will be?
'The body lay on the floor by the fireplace, in an expanding pool of blood.'

1. War
2. Animal
3. Crime Mystery
4. Horror

It's important to know what you are good at.
What type of genres do you enjoy writing?

Try out a genre

The following slides will have the first sentences of a story.

Can you write the next few sentences and identify the genre? 

Look out for the extra help button if you get stuck.

1. The car screamed to a halt. Four men wearing masks jumped out and ran into the nearest building. I looked around. The street was deserted except for me. 

2. Three of us.  We were the only ones left, the only ones to make it to the island.

3. The crowd roared with excitement. Everyone was watching me. This was my big moment. I took a deep breath to calm myself.

Which did one are you more drawn to, if you were to continue one?

The car screamed to a halt...

Three of us. We were the only ones...

The crowd roared with excitement...

And the genres are...

1. The car screamed to a halt. Four men wearing masks jumped out and ran into the nearest building. I looked around. The street was deserted except for me.  This could be a crime/mystery/action/adventure story.

2. Three of us.  We were the only ones left, the only ones to make it to the island. This could be a science fiction/adventure/dystopia story.

3. The crowd roared with excitement. Everyone was watching me. This was my big moment. I took a deep breath to calm myself. This could be a sport/action/comedy/musical story.

How you choose to develop it can change the genre.

Strategy: Start with a Character

Starting a story with a description of a character can get you into the flow.

Or, just thinking about and developing a character can inspire ideas for your story and how to get started.

Watch the BBC Bitesize video on the 

next slide...

www.bbc.co.uk

Things to think about when creating a character:

Name - Give your character a name that people can remember.

Setting - Where would your character live or spend time?

Appearance - What does your character look like? Do they have any unusual features like a scar or glasses? Use lots of adjectives (describing words) to bring your characters to life.

Job - What does your character do? Do they go to school? Are they a ballerina? A bank robber?

Clothing - What does your character wear? This can help people get to know the character better.

Likes and dislikes - What does your character like and dislike? Do they love football? Do they hate Brussels sprouts?

Who are your favourite characters from books or films?

Strategy to get started:

Concentrate on the character

Ask yourself:

Will I tell the story from the main character's viewpoint?

Where are they?

How do they feel?

What is their main issue or problem right now?

What is going on around them?

Choose one of these pictures or search for your own.

Answer the questions on the next slide

Where are you? How do you feel? What is your main issue or problem right now? What is going on around you? What has led you to this point in your life? (If you chose your own picture add it below)

Recap

Today we...

Tried out Lesson Up

Looked at what 'genre' means

Tried some story starters

Looked at character development

as a way into starting a story