PREPARING FOR FOLIO PIECE 2- CREATIVE WRITING

Learning Intentions

We are learning to-

Imagine a realistic main character for our monologue.

Consider the plot development of our story.

Discuss the key characteristics of a monologue.

Raymond Soltysek / LTS

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Success Criteria

I can use the pictures provided in order to stimulate me to think about creating a character.

I will make extensive notes in order to form a ‘pen profile’ for this character.

I must use my imagination!

Raymond Soltysek / LTS

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Charactersand characters4

Choose a number between 1 and 6.

This corresponds to a photograph of a character. Write a brief pen portrait of this character. What is their name? What do they do for a living? Where do they live? What kind of lifestyle do they have? How about their personal relationships?

If you wish, you can use the ‘fakebook’ worksheet to help you.

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3

4

6

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6

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Short Story Structure8

Objects9

Now choose a letter between A and F.

This will correspond to an object that has significance for your character. This will correspond with the climax of the story.

Write a scene from a story in which the character discovers the object after a long time.

What emotions, impressions, sensations and secrets does the object evoke for your character?

Have a look at the example at the end of the slide show.

A – a hair comb

B – a tea pot

C – a teddy bear

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D – a pocket watch

E – a violin

F – a cute puppy

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Modelling An Answer

The old man had been a hoarder, that was sure. The attic was stuffed full of junk: stuffed with stuff, Marcus thought. He had no idea what he was here for: ‘Have a look in your uncle’s attic,’ his father had said, ‘take whatever you want,’ and he’d felt it would be disrespectful to say that he didn’t want anything, couldn’t possibly have any use for anything a decrepit old hulk who smelled bad and had yellow teeth might have ever possessed.

Even the records were junk. Sure, some of them might have been worth something, but Marcus’ specialty was West Coast America, 1958 to the early seventies, an explosion of psychedelia and jangly guitars that he would have certainly missed out on if he hadn’t spent that summer when he was seventeen in the old hippie commune just north of San Angelo, days of painting houses or fixing cars and nights of driftwood fires and lazy beers on the beach. Who the hell was Tab Taylor anyway? Who’d ever heard of Joss Moody and the Pipe Dreamers?

Of course, he hadn’t expected to find anything he’d recognise, which meant he almost passed it by, stuck on the undershelf of some mouldy side table, the kind of thing they put doilies on. Then, when he did realise what it was, he’d looked at it suspiciously, like it was a burglar, unwelcome and intrusive.

His mother’s violin. In his uncle’s attic.

Marcus hadn’t seen it since she’d died, when he was twelve. Sure, he’d looked – looked everywhere in fact – and his father, who by that time had succumbed to the bourbon and didn’t give a damn about her anyway, couldn’t even remember what he was talking about.

So how had it come to be here?

Hook Sentences

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Definition- A ‘hook’ is when a writer gives some details away, about a character or setting, but not too many.

This allows a writer to ‘reel’ the reader into the story. It adds some suspense and makes the reader want to keep reading on.

Example

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The old man had been a hoarder, that was sure. The

attic was stuffed full of junk: stuffed with stuff, Marcus

thought. He had no idea what he was here for: ‘Have

a look in your uncle’s attic,’ his father had said, ‘take

whatever you want,’ and he’d felt it would be

disrespectful to say that he didn’t want anything,

couldn’t possibly have any use for anything a

decrepit old hulk who smelled bad and had yellow

teeth might have ever possessed.

Who is the old man?

What was Marcus doing in the attic?

Why was it his father who told him this? Where is his uncle?

Why might Marcus not think highly of his uncle?

Task!

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Read through ‘Example Essay 1’. Highlight each time the writer gives you a

‘hook’ that will later be developed or explained.

Feedback Write down 2 things that you likes about

this story. Write down one thing that could be

improved.

Task!

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Write a few opening lines to your story.

Success Criteria

Include some hooks. Allow is some insight into your character. Don’t give too much away.

Getting Started. What is a Dramatic Monologue and why might it be the choice for me?

A Dramatic Monologue is a piece of creative writing which has only one narrative voice: the protagonist. It works well for Higher Creative Writing as it allows you to fully develop Characterisation and Theme; and prevents you from overloading on redundant dialogue and trying to fit in an overly dramatic plot.

A monologue allows for swift character establishment and development

Hints and Tips:

Don’t write a story which is too dramatic and/ or realistic

Don’t choose a plot which you will struggle to develop in 1300 words. (MAX)

Don’t create rigid 1 dimensional characters. Do think about writing a monologue: 1 narrative

voice. Do choose a manageable plot that takes place

within a realistic time frame. Do READ examples of quality literature! Do concentrate on the development of

Characterisation and Setting Do make a conscious attempt to incorporate

imagery and figurative language to impress your reader

Everyday People:

A rebellious teenager (or parent)

A disappointed grandmother

A disgruntled taxi driver

A teacher

Everyday People:

A rebellious teenager (or parent)

A disappointed grandmother

A disgruntled taxi driver

A teacher

Voices from History:

A suffragette

A civil rights protestor

A WW1 survivor

Voices for Literature:

Jay Gatsby, from “The Great Gatsby”Miss Havisham, from “Great Expectations”Any minor character…

Voices for Literature:

Jay Gatsby, from “The Great Gatsby”Miss Havisham, from “Great Expectations”Any minor character…

Voices from the News:

A protestor

An MP involved in expense scandal

The mother of a child who died at childbirth

A London Rioter

Dramatic Monologues will include a sense of internal conflict, contemplation and/ or reflection.

Your monologue can take place in a specific location i.e café, library, living room, train etc and what is going on in these locations can weave in and out of the monologue. However, your character has free reign to contemplate things from past present and future wherever he or she may be…

Sophisticated diary? In a way…

Knowing your character inside out. Know more about your character than you will even need to

reveal on the page.Know the following: Age Temperament Appearance Habits Occupation and Income Ethnicity and Religion Relationship status Likes/ dislikes Any dark secrets Pets Favourite foods and drinks…

Because all of these things have shaped your character into who he or she is today and influence their feelings/ behaviours/ reactions…

Below is an extract of a monologue taken from a man who is travelling on the train from work to home.

“As I stared out of the window of my carriage I watched the beads of rain race each other from one side of the window to the next that gained enthusiasm with the acceleration of the train. I had already spotted the heavily pregnant lady who stood next to me clutching the yellow pole – her eyes searching me for an answer as to why I wasn’t giving up my seat for her. And why should I? My feet were throbbing too, sweetheart. And she sure as hell didn’t seem to be carrying any more weight than I was. If only I had a heavy heart to match my heavy gut – ha. Maybe then I’d have sacrificed my seat that day; the one she believed her recent misdemeanours to have earned her. Maybe then she would have stopped eyeballing me like some damn damsel in distress.”

1. What do we learn about the character from this short extract. Think about his appearance/

personality/ general attitude? (only 133 words…)

Monologue 2 Example- Higher “A”.

1.List all of the things that we can infer about the narrator’s character (age/personality etc) For example: “With a laborious lift of my arm I picked up the spectacles and placed them on my nose. Groaning with part effort and part irritation” – We can infer from this that the narrator is old/ infirm.2.Which emotions does the narrator explore in the monologue? Support your answer with quotations3.Monologues almost always feature an “internal conflict”. What internal conflict is the narrator suffering? Explain fully.

4.How has the writer manipulated the weather and the narrator’s surroundings to create their desired atmosphere in the opening paragraphs?

Review of our Learning

Consider the elements of creative writing that we have been studying over the past couple of periods.

How confident do you feel about creating a realistic character?

How able are you to add intensity to a plot?

Do you understand the key components of a monologue?

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