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Summary for Lesson 1
In today’s class we began our work on narrative writing, using adventure as a framework to help us think about why stories matter. We began with a big class discussion about why we as humans tell stories, thinking about how they can entertain, teach us things or help to solve the big questions of life. We looked at what narrative means and how we see it in the structure of story mountain and then spoke about the genre of adventure. The class looked at an adventure masterclass featuring lots of great tips such as creating risk for the characters and placing them in unusual environments. Finally we read an extract from Treasure Island introducing one of the characters and used this to create character descriptions of our own. The class made up some incredible adventure characters, describing them with beautiful detail and including some really exciting and compelling twists and turns. Very well done today everyone, it was a pleasure to see you all and hear your fun, creative and fascinating ideas. See you next week 🙂
Video from today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NESGqweSwI
The PowerPoint is attached below to help you with the homework.
Homework
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Dear Beth,
Here is my homework for this week. I hope you enjoy it and have a wonderful week!
Kind Regards,
Claire
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sorry my link is working on my laptop
here’s my work
The wind howled through the trees, carrying with it the scent of salt and the promise of the unknown. I stood at the edge of the cliff, staring out over the churning sea below. The horizon seemed to stretch endlessly, a vast expanse of water and sky, and with every breath I took, my heartbeat faster, matching the rhythm of the waves crashing against the rocks.
The map had been handed to me in secret, its edges worn and fragile from age. It spoke of a place no one had dared to visit for centuries, a hidden island that held a treasure lost to time. Most dismissed it as myth, a sailor’s tale spun to entertain the weary. But I knew better. There was something real about it, something my grandfather had whispered about in his final days before he died.
The faint sound of footsteps behind me made me turn. A shadowy figure emerged from the mist, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek. He’d been trailing me for days, and though his intentions were unclear, one thing was certain: he had come for the map.
“You’re not the only one looking for it,” he said, his voice low and gravelly. “And you’re not the only one who believes in its power.”
I narrowed my eyes, my fingers instinctively brushing the map in my pocket. I had no choice but to start running. The guy immediately started sprinting.
“Just give me the map and ill be on my way!” he shouted now six feet away.
I turned a sharp left to a small cave. I climbed in. The guy was looking for me somewhere out there for however long it takes. -
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Hi Beth this is my homework for lesson 1.
In a dark forest, came out a girl with beautiful ocean blue hair and glowy eyes that are torches to guide her. She walks with soaked boots on while the stormy rain continues. Her body trembles each time a lightning bolt makes a sound. She grips her little hands that are numb and red. She quickly found a boat nearby to steer when the flood starts, the tall trees starts to fall and the little girl didn’t know what to do…
This was inspired by Zoe’s escape from “Floodland”.
Have a nice weekend.
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Hi Beth this is my homework for lesson 1.
In a dark forest, came out a girl with beautiful ocean blue hair and glowy eyes that are torches to guide her. She walks with soaked boots on while the stormy rain continues. Her body trembles each time a lightning bolt makes a sound. She grips her little hands that are numb and red. She quickly found a boat nearby to steer when the flood starts, the tall trees starts to fall and the little girl didn’t know what to do…
This was inspired by Zoe’s escape from “Floodland”.
Have the best weekend!
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Summary for Lesson 2
In today’s lesson we finished our work on narrative and adventure, thinking about how setting and tension play a huge role in making a story tense and exciting. We began by refreshing our ideas on how a narrative works learning about structures such as the Hero’s Journey, before moving on to our adventure masterclass. The students considered the importance of a dangerous or suspenseful setting and came up with fantastic examples of their own. We then focused on tension and how to build it, using six key tips, before finishing up by describing our settings and sharing ideas for ‘calls to adventure’ which can act as the inciting incident for a story. Amazing work everyone, very creative ideas throughout our class and brilliant sharing from each and every one of you. Keep it up and see you next week 🙂
Homework
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Tension video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS_-UeTzZ-Y&t=1s
Narrative video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajTwQOFJzJQ&t=60s
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Summary for Lesson 3
In today’s class we thought about character and dialogue, discussing why these are such important elements. The class brainstormed and debated their personal approach to character, coming up with some amazing ideas for the way in which they create characters that their readers care about, and they shared their ideas in break-out rooms beautifully. We looked at an eight step process for creating character, digging into elements such as backstory and using archetypes, and the students came up with some of their own ideas. Finally we looked at dialogue and its importance. Well done everyone, fantastic work today. Keep it up and see you next week 🙂
Creating character: https://milanote.com/guide/characters
Dialogue vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLdZsmxxqMw
Homework
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Dear Beth,
Here is my homework for this week. Have a brilliant week and see you next lesson!
Kind Regards,
Claire
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Hello Beth,
I don’t think you saw the whole story.
If you cannot see the document this is it:
Usually Furina was not scared of the dark, usually the dark was not forty foot tall. It didn’t have milky black wings, and most certainly didn’t have a chariot pulled by two horse who look like they were stepping on smoke.
Nyx was too much to take in. Her dress was a void of black, her face was hard to see except for the pinpoint of her eyes. Her horses nickered.
‘Down both of you,’Nyx hissed to her horses, “These little prizes, I will kill myself.’
Furina didn’t feel confident but her instincts all screamed talk. After all, two demigods couldn’t take Nyx down. At least not two demigods using force.
‘Oh, please don’t kill yourself! ’ She cried. ‘We’re not that scary are we?’ Furina nudged Lisa, forcing her to agree.
‘Ha ha, yes that would be sad, killing yourself.’
‘Do you know who I am?’ Nyx demanded.
‘Well, your Night, I guess, as your so dark. But we thought we weren’t going to meet you as the travel guide hadn’t included you. Let see, where have we been? The river Phlegethon, the Cocytus, even the random Titans and giants here and there; but Nyx… you weren’t featured.’
‘Not featured?’
‘Yeah,’ Lisa added, warming up to the idea. ‘We came down for the Tartarus tour. I mean mount Olympus is so overrated.’
‘Gods totally,’ Furina agreed. ‘However, nobody said we would run into Nyx. I guess they thought your not important.’
‘Not important’
‘But we could change that,’Lisa added. ‘How about a photo with you and your children. We would then personally add it to the travel guide.’
Suddenly, a dozen demons and minor gods spawned in front of Nyx. Furina wanted to run, but that would only kill her. Her insides screamed in fear.
‘Sorry, but you guys are so…dark. Even if I used a flash it wouldn’t come out,’ Furina complained.
‘Yeah,’ Lisa managed, ‘You guys are not photogenic.’
‘You miserable tourists!’ Nyx hissed. ‘How dare you not tremble before me, not beg for my autograph.’
‘Its getting late, Furina lets go have lunch in one of the restaurants the tour guide recommend,’ Lisa insisted.
‘But first, I think we should get Nyx to have a photo with her darkest child, as having all her children won’t come out. So who do you choose?’
‘I am the darkest’ Eric hissed, spraying darkness everywhere.
‘I am darker still’
‘No, behold my darkness’
‘Wait!’ Nyx called, suddenly panicked ‘I cannot see anything.’
‘Yes!’ Shouted shouted one of her children, ‘It was me.’
‘No it was me’
‘Fool, I did it,’
Lisa squeezed Furina’s hand, ‘ Ready?’
“Someone, give me some light!’ Cried Nyx. ‘Gah, I cannot believe I just said that!’
‘Jump,’ Furina called. Together they jumped, reaching for the doorway far, far below.
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Summary for Lesson 4
In today’s class we continued our work on characterisation, thinking about some key tips to get inside our characters’ minds. We spoke about psychology and what it can help us think about as writers and we focused on the importance of motivation. The class completed a writing exercise taking their characters to dinner and then did some hot-seating in small groups, embodying their characters and being interview by their partner in order to more fully understand who they were. We thought about how asking yourself where your character goes from here is important and the class worked beautifully together to get a sense of how strong characters can push the plot forward. Amazing work everyone, very well done and see you next week 🙂
Homework
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