Sally Jones - Changes. Brush Up on Your Writing Skills

Title Page

Creative Writing Tutor

CHANGES

by

Sally Jones and Amanda Jones

Publisher Information

Published by GUINEA PIG EDUCATION

2 Cobs Way

New Haw, Addlestone

Surrey, KT15 3AF

www.guineapigeducation.co.uk

Digital edition converted and dstributed in 2012 by

Andrews UK Limited

www.andrewsuk.com

Copyright 2011 Sally A Jones and Amanda C Jones

This pack may not under any circumstances be photocopied, without the prior consent of the publisher.

Choose a topic and start to practise writing. Each booklet has a theme to help you start to write...stories, reports, articles, letters and many more. Start collecting them now.

Guinea Pig Creative Writing booklets also provide extra practice for children who have completed:

- Creative Story Writing

- Persuasive Writing & Argument

- Information Writing

They are for children who are working at Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum, levels 3-5 (in Years 5 and 6 of primary school), children who are working at Key Stage 3, levels 3-5 (Years 7 and 8 of Secondary School). They provide practice for all 9-13 year olds, especially children taking 11+ examinations.

First things first...

Lets learn to write fiction.

When you write fiction, you must:

• Decide who will be your audience?
• Think of different genres - realistic, detective, ghost, gothic horror.
• Ask what is the purpose of my writing?

When you write to entertain, remember that you must :

• Have an interesting opening and a memorable ending
• Have good characters, setting and plot
• Build up suspense
• Use dialogue - to move the story along
• Use a variety of simple, compound and complex sentences

Plan your fiction writing:

PARAGRAPH 1

• Start with a memorable first sentence to make the reader want to read on.
• Introduce the characters and the setting.
• Introduce the plot.

PARAGRAPH 2

• Develop the plot.
• What might happen to trigger off a series of events?
• Build up suspense.

PARAGRAPH 3

• Wind up your story with a good ending. In the resolution you will have solved all the problems.
• It could be happy, sad, a cliff hanger (which leaves the reader to make up his or her own mind), or a moral ending
• Have a memorable final sentence.

Write:

• in FIRST PERSON, so you are the main character telling the story (using I or we) or
• in THIRD PERSON (using he or she) as if you were a fly watching from the wall.

Remember:

Use connectives or conjunctions:

• and or but (to join compound sentences)
• or, so, if, when, while, after, before, because, unless, until, whereas, although (to join complex sentences)
• use pronouns - who, which, whose, what, that
• to link ideas use - firstly, later, therefore, on the other hand, at that moment, by this time, next, soon...
• Use a range of sentences -simple, compound and complex sentences

Think about changes...

On the morning the letter came, Dad had shouted out excitedly, Were setting out on a new adventure, but I wasnt convinced I wanted to leave behind my life in the city. Two months later, removal day had come and gone, and we had arrived at our new house in the country. The hallway looked like a pigsty. It was cluttered up with piles of boxes; full of dusty old books we never read, ancient ornaments we didnt look at and other family heirlooms even Granny didnt want. There was a musty sort of smell that you associate with old things that are stored in the loft. It was a horrible muddle and looked as if we were collecting for a jumble sale. This made me feel even more miserable; the adventure hadnt got off to a good start.

Why cant we go for a walk, I pestered Dad whose feet were hanging out of the loft. You promised that we would explore the area.

Look, youve got to understand, he moaned, Mum and I have to get these crates unpacked before we start work tomorrow.

Its just not fair, I retorted indignantly, digging my heels into the carpet. You said youd make time.

We didnt know how long it would take. Look, I give you my word, that this weekend we will... I didnt wait to hear another string of false promises from Dad, but stormed angrily down the stairs and stood contemplating the view from the big window in the lounge. There were a row of identical houses, built in the same coloured brickwork and painted in shiny white paint with a small, neat front garden laid with lawn. Suddenly, I felt isolated and alone. Something deep within me yearned to go back to the city street where I used to live. As I wrestled with my thoughts, I yearned to see again: Mr Patels corner shop by the old railway bridge, my friend Reg and my teacher Mr Wong. My head was full of pictures of familiar places. A terrible sadness overwhelmed me. My eyes misted over. If only Dad hadnt applied for that new job.

A few minutes later I had made up my mind to go out alone. I wouldnt wait. My parents were now employed by Global Oil and started tomorrow and we had started a new life. I would explore the area myself. Swiftly I grabbed my anorak, put on my trainers and went outside, banging the door firmly behind me. I strolled purposefully down the new street. A group of boys about my own age were playing football, arguing about who scored a goal... but they ignored me completely. Had I become invisible? Was I really bothered? Deep in thought, I walked on until I came to a small park with benches and play equipment for tots. By now I was sure there was nothing here for boys like me, so I was about to turn back when I heard a voice calling me. I turned and saw a dark haired girl smiling at me through kind brown eyes. She beckoned me over. Are you new round here? she asked. Yes, Ive just moved into number 22.

Me too, a bit further up the road. My Dads got a new job. Weve all moved to England from Dubai - me, my parents and my twin brother. Not Global Oil,

Yes, thats the one. My Dad works there too.

Try a date, she added, thrusting a packet of fruit at me. I brought them from old house. Theyre yummy. There was so much to talk about and I just knew we were all going to be friends. Dad was right we were going to start a new adventure.

Continue the plan for this story.

• The opening sentences make the reader want to read on because...
• The characters are:...
• The setting is:...
• The plot is: having to face a big change after moving house

Introduction:

• boys father has new job
• moved from the city to the country
• the house is full of packing boxes - is a big muddle
• boy feels miserable

Middle

• Tension is when...
• Suspense is...

Ending

• The ending is memorable because...
• ...and links to the beginning.

Complete the lists.

• Adjective: new, horrible...
• Noun: adventure...
• Verb: stormed, strolled...
• Adverb: angrily...

This could be the first chapter of a childrens novel. The main character and his new friend could have several adventures as they explore their new life. You could write another chapter...

Now write your own story about moving to a new house. Write about how sad and lonely you felt at first, but then you met a new friend.

Write in paragraphs. Remember to start a new paragraph if you change the place, time, person or situation.

Plan your story. Think about the following points.

Write an introduction

• Have you got a good opening sentence?