Creative Writing Tips

HSC Area of Study – Creative Writing Hot Tips This section of the paper is the only time in the HSC English exam that you become the composer. The other 5 sections, you are the responder. Purpose of creative writing in the HSC is to display you:  Ability to write in the nominated text type – (P.I.L.S)  Display your understanding of the concept of belonging What is a narrative? A narrative is a story. Therefore a narrative concept is flexible enough for you to transform into other text types such as diaries, letters, speeches and interviews etc which also tell stories.     Narratives are made up of 4 main elements – plot, setting, themes, characters Narratives are constructed by using a variety of techniques Narratives have a definite structure of orientation, complication and resolution Narratives can be written in a linear, woven or circular style

Building a narrative for HSC English Establish the T.O.O (this will be your concept) This can be achieved by drawing on ideas or combinations of ideas from a wide variety of sources (stimulus) as well as you own experiences or expectations or experiences of others. Once you have your idea or concept of the narrative establish whether the story is going to be character driven or setting driven (this will be determined by the type of belonging you are focussing on eg disconnection to place = setting driven, belonging in a relationship = character driven. If your story is character based, the reader MUST have an emotional connection to them. If the story is setting based, then the reader MUST be able to visualise that place as though they have been there. The story then needs to build around the focus. You must decide what techniques allow the focus of your story to be conveyed: st nd rd  Narrative voice: 1 , 2 , 3 person narrative. Which is more appropriate for the focus of your study?  Sensory image – touch, taste, sound, sigh and smell. Which is more appropriate for the focus of your story?  Descriptive...