Library News
Author Visit - Jack Heath
Jack enthralled our students with his humorous and energetic creative writing workshop. He inspired our students to improve their writing skills by highlighting the tricks and tips to writing a great story (coincidentally, Jack also pointed out that these were the same lie detector strategies students could use to identify whether a story is true or not). His tips for writing a GREAT story include:
- TELL IT OUT OF ORDER
- USE DIALOGUE
- ADD SENSORY DETAIL
- REVEAL THE NARRATOR’S FLAWS
- INCLUDE SURPRISES
- RESEARCH THINGS PROFESSIONALS WOULD KNOW
As many of the students commented, Jack’s visit was awesome! Take a look at some excerpts from our budding authors. Jack and the students brainstormed a basic outline of characters and plot, and from there they were given seven minutes to write a scene from the middle of the story. Receiving expert feedback from Jack was an invaluable experience for our students.
Lisa pointed her hand and murmured a spell to herself. She took a deep breath and plunged hard into the cold, deep water. ‘Ow’, she groaned, clutching her back. This was not the dramatic effect she had been going for. She tried to scream for help, but all that came out was a gurgling sound and a whole lot of bubbles. Really? She thought. I’m underwater, I can’t call for help, and I have to rescue the Prince of Norway. Reluctantly, she swam forward. Deeper and deeper, into the depths of the ocean.
- By Leah Shoebridge
Jasmine held the gun unwillingly, she was a princess, not a killer. ‘C’mon Jasmine, you can kill a witch...right?’ She cocked the gun and ventured through the deadly, eerie forest. Sandy heard a plane roar over the clouds. ‘Shut up will ya!’ The war had driven this witch insane. Sandy sharpened her knife with a nail-biting screech. ‘She’s just a princess, couldn’t count how many of those spoiled brats I’ve killed before.’ Sandy saw a twitch behind a tree, she crept closer and closer until she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder. ‘Surprise!’ Jasmine said as she shot another bullet in her direction. Sandy scuttled behind the tree.
- By Rhys Davids
For the trial, the elders had cast a powerful spell to last one night. Everything in the woods had its own mind and will for twelve hours. This was why Ariella Rose needed to get home. The elders were trying to kill her. They had cast a spell in the hope that she would die before she reached her mother. Her mother who was also secretly working on the side of the elders.
- By Eva Davidson
Finn dived into the ocean, hoping to find the cage Rebecca was in. ‘Help! Help!’ There was a scream from a big, lost and broken plane. Swimming towards the plane, he thought he saw a familiar face. Just as he started to swim again, he heard a splash. ‘Ahhhh! I’m getting pulled by the ankles!’ Finn turned his head to see who was pulling at his ankles. ‘The Lord of Evil. My name is Nemesis.’
- By Lachlan Jaensch
Madeleine Reid
Librarian