Like magic?

“Writing is a discipline, but it is also a form of play,

and it can be close to magic…”

David Almond

“Your mind has an endless store of images, tales, memories, dreams, and speculations. Relax and allow your imagination to

work.”

Let’s begin...your character is 8 years old:

Imagine them on a beach, it’s early in the morning, just getting light – get your senses going – what sights/sounds/smells are around...? The

character stops, pauses, reaches down and picks up a stone...

• Why are they on the beach?• How does the stone feel in their hand?• Why did they pick up the stone?• What will they do with the stone? What will they

do next?• Where are the parents?

Adapted from “Some Thoughts” by David Almond

Now write the opening paragraph or two

Focus on creating a realistic description of place not the plot

Imagine Your character starts a story in the following 3 locations...

For each location look at the writing focus

Then write a suitable opening paragraph

Writing tips:

Atmosphere

describe the heat , the plants, the sounds... Try to imply why the character is in the jungle in the first place

Writing focus:

Tone

How will you convey the emotions of your character?

Writing tips:

Plot/Genre

Set up the story as quickly as you can

A good writer gives the reader:

• A sense of place (for each scene)

• A sense of time (passing within a scene or jumping, through plot)

• A sense of character (recognizable - thus causing an empathic reaction)

• A sense of motivation (for each character’s actions)

And overall

• A sense that it is all real

Perhaps empathy is the key here.

The educator and philosopher Khen Lampert puts it like this:

"[Empathy] is what happens to us when we leave our own bodies...and find ourselves either momentarily or for a

longer period of time in the mind of the other. We observe reality through her eyes, feel her emotions, share in her

pain.“

A good story is like an empathy machine...

And finally... some advice from a master storyteller:

“Yes, have a plan/framework, but don’t plan your story to death. Allow yourself to be surprised and to make discoveries as you scribble and write. Allow

your story and its characters to have their own life. Don’t give up after a few sentences. Write longer

than you think you can. Keep going and you’ll begin to be absorbed by your tale. Be brave. Enjoy

yourself.”

David Almond