It's Christmas morning...

Well... soon.

Write a detailed description of Christmas morning - I want really fine details, no broad strokes, from the moment you open your eyes to getting to the presents (presuming you get up, go down and see what Santa has left!)

Write a rainbow

Write a short story where the first sentence includes the word "red."  The first sentence of all the subsequent paragraphs have to include a new colour.  You are only allowed to use the colour word once in each paragraph, but must suggest it in as many ways as possible.  E.g.

The world had turned grey. Nothing but mud and asphalt surrounded the unpainted house, little more than a box made of concrete blocks. Charlie, dressed in faded work pants, rubber boots, and a thick wool sweater, steadied himself with a hand on the top rail of a weathered cedar fence. Behind him, nothing but ash-coloured sky, bare trees, and plumes of smoke belching from the factory in the distance. A lone sparrow rested on a branch, one beady eye watching.

Summarise your research

Last time, you researched a specific idea connected to the soul.  I would like you to summarise your research into no more than 150 words.

Mix and match

Create a character with personality traits of someone you love, but the physical characteristics of someone you don’t care for.

Title it!

Write 10 potential book titles of books you’d like to write.

Exercise: 7th October 2014

The bottles clanked.

Use this line to start a piece of writing - it should be no longer than a side of A4 (on computer, size 11 font) and no shorter than 10 lines (on computer, size 11 font)

Competition Links

http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/adults/short-stories/prizes/

Tasls: 2nd October 2014

You have twenty minutes to write a response to these questions.  You must answer the questions in order, but can add sentences around them.

• How long have you been at the side of the road?
• Where were you going?
• Describe the two people who are with you.
• How is your car damaged?
• When you decided to leave your car, how far did you walk?
• What were you looking for?
• When did you realise that someone was following you?
• Describe them.
• While you were running away, you tripped and fell.  What happened.
• How did it end?

How long have you been on the planet?

Why did you go there?

Describe the two people who are with you.

Why is your spaceship damaged?

When you decided to leave your ship, how far did you walk?

What were you looking for?

When did you realise that someone was following you?

Describe the creature.

While you were running away, you tripped and fell. What happened?

What was the big surprise at the end of your story?

- See more at: http://www.teachthemenglish.com/2013/01/the-greatest-creative-writing-activity-ever/#sthash.k6V59kpF.dpuf

How long have you been on the planet?

Why did you go there?

Describe the two people who are with you.

Why is your spaceship damaged?

When you decided to leave your ship, how far did you walk?

What were you looking for?

When did you realise that someone was following you?

Describe the creature.

While you were running away, you tripped and fell. What happened?

What was the big surprise at the end of your story?

- See more at: http://www.teachthemenglish.com/2013/01/the-greatest-creative-writing-activity-ever/#sthash.k6V59kpF.dpuf

Welcome back!

If you'd written any book, which would it be and why?

The Snowstorm

Write a short story with the title 'The Snowstorm' - you can be as literal or esoteric as desired!

A leaf's journey

Imagine you are a leaf - what can it see?  Hear?  Feel?  Where does it go?  Follow the leaf on its journey from bud to decay.

Feature focus

Choose one feature on a person's face and write a minimum of 250 words describing it - we're really zooming in and thinking of the finest detail with the most imaginative vocabulary.

Create a character

Here are 10 items that someone owns:
- Dried lavender sachets
- A broken umbrella
- A saxophone
- An easter bonnet
- A pack of tarot cards
- An iPad
- A pasta spoon
- A bottle of vintage wine
- A tiara
- A fake fur stole

Write 250 words about this person.

Write a story or poem connected with this image

Research Rendezvous

Being a good writer isn't just about writing well.  It's about detailed research and ideas that lend authenticity to your work.  Even fantasy and science-fiction writing has its roots in well-researched ideas.  So this week's task is to think of something completely random and research it.  Produce a clear and detailed factfile on your random topic.

If you're struggling for ideas then try:
- Squids
- The Savannah
- Mongolian empire
- Ice holes
- Papaya

An intergalactic voyage

In the spirit of all things spacey, what do you think lies on the other side of our galaxy?  Write a detailed description of space, or a star or a planet - whatever you think floats in the great beyond.

Heaven, I'm in heaven...

Write a creative interpretation of what heaven might be like - this can be a classical or religious interpretation or can be something completely different.  200 words!

Competition Junkies - Challenge

1. Visit http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/adults/short-stories/prizes/ and choose a competition that you would like to enter - it can be any of them but make sure the closing date is in the future, probably by at least two months.
2. Over the course of the next month, write your story or poem for the competition.
3. On Tuesday February 25th, bring your completed story to our lunchtime session for review and editing.
4. Enter the competition (let me know if there's a fee!) and win!!!

I would like everyone to enter at least one competition this year!  Come on people!

Your mythical pet

In the spirit of all things mystical, imagine you had a mythical beast for a pet.  Describe your pet in detail, including their care routine and why you opted for that beast as a pet.

Project Theme: Into the Mystic

For this term's long project we are talking about all that is mystical.  Write a poem or a story on the mystical by 14th April 2014.

I love you... no, I really love you...

Write about the sun as though you love it.  Then write about it as though you hate it.