Notes #1
THURSDAY, 17 APRIL (WEEK 1)
Assignments in this class will use:
- present tense
- 3rd person
- visual voice
3rd person / present tense:
- a character is ‘narrating’ the story as it is happening. Example of visual voice: Mark picks up the gun and holds it in his hand. It begins to tremble, as if alive.
- it presents a more immediate and urgent feel to the material
- Commonly used in:
I. Screenplays
The story/film is unfolding as we read it.
Fosters a more urgent and immediate feel to the story
II. Thriller & Suspense Genres
Passive VS Active voice
(we are writing in active voice)
Passive voice
1. uses weak verbs
2. tells what’s happening in the character’s head
3. distances the reader from the story
Active voice
1. uses strong action verbs
2. show the action
3. uses an immediate sentence structure
4. conveys the story in a lively manner
Active voice: adding actions into the way you want to bring across a particular idea or thought
Use actions to replace expression
Tips for writing
just get started!!! Its really much easier to continue writing than to have a blank page
_ _ _ _ _
Exercises 1A: Openers
Hannah walks into the library wearing a wet suit and a clown nose …
She have been well know in school for having the weirdest sense of fashion, though she really thinks that her wardrobe is the only thing that she can be proud of. Many in the library started to give her weird stares. Many started to run away from her. Her friend, Jocelyn, did not dare to approach her as she had a bad smell coming from her.
“Where were you all these while? And what’s up with what you’re wearing??!” Jocelyn yelled.
“I went to get some lollipops at the canteen just now and I accidentally stepped on a pile of shit. I did not want to clean it off because I think I smell better like that.” replied Hannah.
Note down questions you were asking yourself as you wrote it
- whose story am I telling?
- what is the point of this story?
- how can engage the attention of the audience?
