PREPARING FOR FOLIO
PIECE 2- CREATIVE WRITING
Learning Intentions
2
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We are learning toImagine a realistic main character for our
monologue.
Consider the plot development of our story.
Discuss the key characteristics of a monologue.
Raymond Soltysek / LTS
Success Criteria
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I can use the pictures provided in order to stimulate
me to think about creating a character.
I will make extensive notes in order to form a ‘pen
profile’ for this character.
I must use my imagination!
Raymond Soltysek / LTS
Charactersand characters
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Choose a number between 1 and 6.
This corresponds to a photograph of a character. Write
a brief pen portrait of this character. What is their name?
What do they do for a living? Where do they live? What
kind of lifestyle do they have? How about their personal
relationships?
If you wish, you can use the ‘fakebook’ worksheet to
help you.
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5
1
6
3
4
7
5
6
Short Story Structure
8
Objects
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Now choose a letter between A and F.
This will correspond to an object that has significance
for your character. This will correspond with the climax
of the story.
Write a scene from a story in which the character
discovers the object after a long time.
What emotions, impressions, sensations and secrets
does the object evoke for your character?
Have a look at the example at the end of the slide show.
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A – a hair comb
B – a tea pot
C – a teddy bear
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D – a pocket watch
E – a violin
F – a cute puppy
Modelling An Answer
The old man had been a hoarder, that was sure. The
attic was stuffed full of junk: stuffed with stuff, Marcus thought.
He had no idea what he was here for: ‘Have a look in your
uncle’s attic,’ his father had said, ‘take whatever you want,’
and he’d felt it would be disrespectful to say that he didn’t want
anything, couldn’t possibly have any use for anything a
decrepit old hulk who smelled bad and had yellow teeth might
have ever possessed.
Even the records were junk. Sure, some of them might
have been worth something, but Marcus’ specialty was West
Coast America, 1958 to the early seventies, an explosion of
psychedelia and jangly guitars that he would have certainly
missed out on if he hadn’t spent that summer when he was
seventeen in the old hippie commune just north of San Angelo,
days of painting houses or fixing cars and nights of driftwood
fires and lazy beers on the beach. Who the hell was Tab
Taylor anyway? Who’d ever heard of Joss Moody and the
Pipe Dreamers?
Of course, he hadn’t expected to find anything he’d
recognise, which meant he almost passed it by, stuck on the
undershelf of some mouldy side table, the kind of thing they
put doilies on. Then, when he did realise what it was, he’d
looked at it suspiciously, like it was a burglar, unwelcome and
intrusive.
His mother’s violin. In his uncle’s attic.
Marcus hadn’t seen it since she’d died, when he was
twelve. Sure, he’d looked – looked everywhere in fact – and
his father, who by that time had succumbed to the bourbon
and didn’t give a damn about her anyway, couldn’t even
remember what he was talking about.
So how had it come to be here?
Hook Sentences
14
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Definition- A ‘hook’ is when a writer gives some
details away, about a character or setting, but not
too many.
This allows a writer to ‘reel’ the reader into the
story. It adds some suspense and makes the reader
want to keep reading on.
Raymond Soltysek / LTS
Example
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Who is the
old man?
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The old man had been a hoarder, that was sure.
The attic was stuffed full of junk: stuffed with stuff,
Marcus thought. He had no idea what he was here
for: ‘Have a look in your uncle’s attic,’ his father had
What
was
Marcus
doing in
the attic?
said, ‘take whatever you want,’ and he’d felt it would
be disrespectful to say that he didn’t want anything,
couldn’t possibly have any use for anything a
decrepit old hulk who smelled bad and had yellow
teeth might have ever possessed.
Raymond Soltysek / LTS
Why might
Marcus not
think highly
of his
uncle?
Why was it
his father
who told
him this?
Where is
his uncle?
Task!
16
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Read through ‘Example Essay 1’.
Highlight each time the writer gives you a ‘hook’
that will later be developed or explained.
Feedback
Write down 2 things that you likes about this story.
Write down one thing that could be improved.
Raymond Soltysek / LTS
Task!
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Write a few opening lines to your story.
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Success Criteria
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Include some hooks.
Allow is some insight into your character.
Don’t give too much away.
Raymond Soltysek / LTS
Getting Started. What is a Dramatic Monologue and why might it be
the choice for me?
A Dramatic Monologue is a piece of creative writing which has only
one narrative voice: the protagonist. It works well for Higher
Creative Writing as it allows you to fully develop
Characterisation and Theme; and prevents you from overloading
on redundant dialogue and trying to fit in an overly dramatic
plot.
A monologue allows for swift character establishment and
development
Hints and Tips:
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Don’t write a story which is too dramatic and/ or realistic
Don’t choose a plot which you will struggle to develop in
1300 words. (MAX)
Don’t create rigid 1 dimensional characters.
Do think about writing a monologue: 1 narrative voice.
Do choose a manageable plot that takes place within a
realistic time frame.
Do READ examples of quality literature!
Do concentrate on the development of Characterisation
and Setting
Do make a conscious attempt to incorporate imagery and
figurative language to impress your reader
Everyday People:
A rebellious teenager (or
parent)
A disappointed grandmother
Voices from History:
A suffragette
A civil rights protestor
A WW1 survivor
A disgruntled taxi driver
A teacher
Voices for Literature:
Jay Gatsby, from “The Great
Gatsby”
Miss Havisham, from “Great
Expectations”
Any minor character…
Voices from the News:
A protestor
An MP involved in expense
scandal
The mother of a child who
died at childbirth
A London Rioter
Dramatic Monologues will include a sense of internal conflict,
contemplation and/ or reflection.
Your monologue can take place in a specific location i.e café,
library, living room, train etc and what is going on in these
locations can weave in and out of the monologue. However,
your character has free reign to contemplate things from past
present and future wherever he or she may be…
Sophisticated diary? In a way…
Knowing your character inside out.
Know more about your character than you will even need to reveal on the
page.
Know the following:
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Age
Temperament
Appearance
Habits
Occupation and Income
Ethnicity and Religion
Relationship status
Likes/ dislikes
Any dark secrets
Pets
Favourite foods and drinks…
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Because all of these things have shaped your character into who he or she is
today and influence their feelings/ behaviours/ reactions…
Below is an extract of a monologue taken from a man who is travelling on the
train from work to home.
“As I stared out of the window of my carriage I watched the beads of rain race
each other from one side of the window to the next that gained enthusiasm
with the acceleration of the train. I had already spotted the heavily pregnant
lady who stood next to me clutching the yellow pole – her eyes searching me
for an answer as to why I wasn’t giving up my seat for her. And why should I?
My feet were throbbing too, sweetheart. And she sure as hell didn’t seem to be
carrying any more weight than I was. If only I had a heavy heart to match my
heavy gut – ha. Maybe then I’d have sacrificed my seat that day; the one she
believed her recent misdemeanours to have earned her. Maybe then she would
have stopped eyeballing me like some damn damsel in distress.”
1. What do we learn about the character from this
short extract. Think about his appearance/
personality/ general attitude? (only 133 words…)
Monologue 2 Example- Higher “A”.
1. List all of the things that we can infer about the narrator’s
character (age/personality etc) For example: “With a laborious
lift of my arm I picked up the spectacles and placed them on
my nose. Groaning with part effort and part irritation” – We
can infer from this that the narrator is old/ infirm.
2. Which emotions does the narrator explore in the monologue?
Support your answer with quotations
3. Monologues almost always feature an “internal conflict”. What
internal conflict is the narrator suffering? Explain fully.
4. How has the writer manipulated the weather and the narrator’s
surroundings to create their desired atmosphere in the opening
paragraphs?
Review of our Learning
25
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Consider the elements of creative writing that we
have been studying over the past couple of periods.
How confident do you feel about creating a realistic
character?
How able are you to add intensity to a plot?
Do you understand the key components of a
monologue?
Raymond Soltysek / LTS