Explore,+Imagine+or+Entertain

=Writing to EXPLORE, IMAGINE or ENTERTAIN is basically another name for CREATIVE WRITING.= = =

Whether it is coursework or in an exam, the examiner is looking for your ability to use language which is:

 * ==IMAGINATIVE==
 * ==ORIGINAL==
 * ==ACCURATE==

to create a narrative which ENGAGES the reader from start to finish.
=Stuck for what to write about? Try one of these:=

Write a story with one of the following titles:

 * 1) The End
 * 2) Trouble
 * 3) The First Time
 * 4) Watching
 * 5) Surprise
 * 6) Chips with everything

Or try writing a story with one of these openings:

 * 1) Look at him, sniggering into his coke can, globules of brown spit hanging off his chin.
 * 2) The day started badly.
 * 3) People often think me strange.
 * 4) Coat. Check. Bag. Check. Knife. Check.
 * 5) "How predictable! I suppose you are going to go and tell mum now?"
 * 6) I am the last to arrive, and they all stare at me when I walk in.

Here are some resources which might help you explore the ingredients of effective creative writing, and how to produce it yourself:

 * This is a piece of **EXEMPLAR creative writing** provided by OCR. It would have achieved an A* grade, and shows you the BEST work they receive:
 * This is the **powerpoint presentation** I have showed in class, which explains how to plan and write a piece of creative writing. It stressed the importance - especially with coursework, when you have more time - of drafting different versions of the **opening** and **conclusion**, until you are satisfied with these most important parts of any story:
 * And here is a finished piece of writing which I produced as an **exemplar response** last year. It came out of the powerpoint presentation, and was produced under timed conditions (in around half an hour). Look at what I am trying to achieve with language and structure - and see what you would change or improve yourself:
 * This is a selection of **excerpts** from a variety of teen and adult fiction, showing you a number of different approaches to narrative technique. Obviously, the best place to pick up 'tips' like this is in **your own reading** - which is why I recommend a new book on the BLOG every week:

Here are the assessment criteria for EIE tasks: You will notice we have to give two marks for this coursework:
 * One mark out of 14 - for **narrative, tone, vocabulary** and **structure**; and
 * One mark out of 6 - for **spelling, punctuation** and **grammar**.

Lastly, here are a few tips for writing effective creative writing:

 * Don't write **too** much. **Concise** is much better than waffling. There should be no reason to exceed 800 words, and you might be able to get away with writing less.
 * Think long and hard about **your first and last paragraphs**. These are more important than the rest put together, and need to grab your reader's attention, and stay ringing in their ears long afterwards. I suggest you produce around **FIVE** different versions of each **BEFORE** you start writing your first draft, and then select the best one.
 * **Variety** is the key, when it comes to sentence length and vocabulary. The examiners are looking for writers who select their sentences, punctuation and vocabulary **for precise effect**. This does not necessarily mean lots of long words - everything for a reason...
 * Think about how to be **original**. This is an important key to success. Perhaps you will use an unusual **tense**; perhaps you will play around with the sequence of **time**; perhaps you will use an atypical **genre**. Whatever you do, try to make yours fresh and unique, not cliched and **[|derivative]**.
 * Remember this is going to be a **SHORT** **STORY**, or an **excerpt** from what might, given more time, become something much longer. So **don't** try to cover **too** **much** **action** or **plot** in what will be a very short space. Keep your focus **small** - a short period of time; a simple narrative; nothing too complicated.
 * Ensure there are NO **careless** errors. **Spelling, punctuation** and **grammar** MATTER on this task more than perhaps any other in the whole GCSE. So be **[|meticulous]**, **check** carefully and don't allow yourself to make any careless mistakes.

See the following websites for further tips and guidance:

 * [|universalteacher.org]
 * [|teachit.co.uk]
 * [|BBC Blast!]