Imaginative Writing Writing an Imaginative Story

Imaginative Writing Do I have to Inform?

Audience am I trying to entertain?

Which genre genre will I choose ? Different types of stories have their individual styles science fiction horroradventure

Horror! Ben screamed and screamed. They had left him there to die entombed in a cave. When his screaming stopped and the echo vanished he heard another sound. A low moaning sound that seemed to be coming closer..... genre

Scary Settings often an isolated or scary location genre

or somewhere you feel trapped! genre

or a normal setting Where people feel suddenly threatened genre

Horror Characters Often an innocent seeming victim threatened by a more powerful force genre

and the adversary – or “enemy” is often supernatural or evil –or both genre

Plot genre plot

The victim struggles against impossible odds for freedom from a horrible fate! genre

sometimes the struggle is sometimes it is not.. successful genre

There is a build up of genre

and there may be some cliffhangers

words are chosen to genre

Sound words and figurative language build up atmosphere genre

Figurative language

intensify intensify the fear! He froze. A branch cracked behind him and the bushes shivered. The rustling of the leaves stopped when he did. Silence echoed through the still and silent jungle. No sound. No movement. Nothing. But he was no longer alone! genre Intensify the fear

Ben blinked, but the signal on his E-screen remained. It was too big to be simply an asteroid shower or electrical interference. No-one knew about their mission, he thought. It was impossible they were being tracked. Science Fiction genre

setting genre

in a future world with advanced technology genre

perhaps a similar world - but with important differences from our own Similar world

or maybe a “better” world but one that somehow “threatens” people genre

and objects often have unusual names mini-jedi warrior Duff inter-galactic gargle- blaster inter- stellar petpod genre

Characters often have unusual names ZorgBlatZeeeYuDjimi genre

“Hero” figures often are no matter what the odds.. intelligentresourcefu l calm genre

They often contrast with others genre

The “villain” may not be human but an alienor a machine

The Plot Plot is often the resolution to a problematic or dangerous situation genre The plot

or a warning warning of a possible future genre

WORD CHOICE CHOICE often includes ideas and vocabulary referring to advanced technology Beam me up, Scotty! My shields are down and I’m all out of dilithium crystals! genre

‘made-up’ names for objects and places but with some similarity to life as we know it Plutovian pilot pod Venusian filofax Martian map genre Made-up names

The The air was absolutely still, not a breath of wind. Ben settled himself in the tent, exhausted from his tiring day’s activities. Still it was a pleasant tiredness. Slowly his eyes closed… Adventure genre adventure

Settingtension is created by the deliberate choice of situation genre setting

a city a secret valley a moor a forest usually NOT an everyday situation or setting but somewhere like genre

Characterusually a “hero” type courageousquick thinking genre character

enemies or villains or “baddies” might be motivated by money, politics etc. Al Capone genre

we want him or her to win in the end we “identify” with the hero(ine)

Plot the story presents the heroine or hero with a problem genre

it builds up to a climax often a battle with the enemy

usually a resolution where the hero by virtue of some quality or strength wins through ! genre

Word Choice description reveals personality hunky bold daring strong heroic fearless good villainous mean devious cruel craven evil dastardly genre

Create atmosphere to build up suspense Cowering, they huddled together as the the dark, deafening, helicopter, blades threshing and roaring, drew closer. The hatch opened and a figure emerged. Would he – could he – reach them in time? genre

Now think about the characteristics of a selection of other genres: Romance Western Ghost Story Thriller History Crime School War War and anything else you can think of Don’t forget your pupil pack for ideas! genre