Film: In God's Hands

We have spent the last two classes watching the film, "In God's Hands." Essentially, this is a surfing film, but it delves into the life of the surfers and the motivation behind their drive toward being the best in their chosen sport and taking extreme risks each and every day. The focus of this film is on looking into the internal conflict of one of the older surfers. Students were asked to discuss in writing the internal conflict of the character of Mickey. We will have a small class discussion about the film next day and students should proceed with the questions that were to be answered.

Where do ideas come from?

Where do the best ideas for stories and characters and images come from? Where will you find the most fertile resource for imagination and truth? 

Your mind, of course. And in your everyday life.

Writing is very much about elements such as plot, characterization, description, dialogue, and voice, but often the most important work does not happen at the keyboard. It comes from somewhere deeper, from bringing the riches of your mind to the surface. It’s a process that happens when you are away from the words and outlines—often sleeping or dreaming or going about your everyday tasks.

Allow your mind to wander....be bored or still some of the time so you can live in your imagination. This is the place where the greatest riches are found.

What do you have to say to the world?

What stories are your dreams revealing to you?

Have you observed someone interesting lately?

What are you frustrated about?

Unleash your fantasy world.

Remember, great writers write everyday, not because they have to, but because they need to, and  because they have something to say to the world.

Check out some writing topic ideas

Good Morning Writers

I am not at school today so I thought I would communicate with you via blog. Much of your term 1 writing has been very good, you have amazed me with your creative thinking, ability to bring a story to life and create emotion in your poetry. Congratulations!

I was going to mark the symbolism sheet for term 1, but I moved it to term 2 instead. The following is a recap of what is needed for term 2 so far ( this does not include the two writers who are writing books). All term 1 work will be handed back next day...I would like to spend the full class with you to set up expectations for term 2 and work with my two book makers.

1. Symbolism sheet -5 marks
2. Issue poem: Focus on a big, real world issue like poverty, child soldiers, the environment etc, you may need to do some research before you write in order to fully understand the complexities of your issue. - 10 marks
3. Bucket list: A list of 25 things you want to do before you turn 25. -10 marks
4. Small one scene script: This should be written in script format and should revolve around a conflict that two people are having. It is kind of like a combination between the conflict and dialogue assignment you already did. Make sure you write a small piece at the beginning to set the scene.
- 15 marks


NEW ASSIGNMENT 3-4 short entries - 20 marks

Create a character who has a secret to confess, but who is afraid to confess it. Write the diary or journal entries that your character would write as she or he considers the secret, explores why it needs to be confessed, think about who will be affected if the secret is known, and consider why she or he is afraid. Write a series of diary or journal entries, as if they were written over a period of several days or a week. In the entries, you can incorporate the main character's interactions with others and explore the ways that the day-to-day events that the character experiences influence the way that she or he thinks about the secret and confession. Your character's decision to tell (or not) should be revealed in the final diary or journal entry. All the entries need to work together as a whole -- they should sound like the writings of a single person, (first person narration) .

Term 1 Assignments

The following is a list of assignments for term #1. The term ends Nov. 8 which is a Thursday. Please make sure you have had your work edited and you have fixed up the edits and handed back in for a final mark.   Assignments are as follows:

• Personal Experience story: focusing on your own experience (20 marks)
• Setting: Use show not tell to describe a place that you are familiar with (10 marks)
• Dialogue: Should move plot or develop character. ( 10 marks)
• Conflict: You are to write a mini piece which focuses on a problem.  (15 marks)
• Observation: writers have a keen sense of observing people. Watch someone and then write about them as though they are a character in a book. Have fun describing their oddities. (15 marks)
• Personal Experience poem: Use the story you wrote, now turn it into a poem. (10 marks)
• Choice poem: Write on any theme you like, remember the elements of writing a good poem.

Creative Writing Elective

Creative Writing is a course for students who enjoy stretching their minds in new directions. Students will experiment with a variety of genres including: fairy tales, personal narratives, short stories, journal entries and poetry. The first part of the course focuses on developing technique and style through writing exercises and journal activities. Students will be expected to share some of thier work with the class.

During the second half of the course, students will have the freedom to work on their own writing in a relaxed work environment. Students will produce an individual portfolio on their work that they will be very proud of. It is my hope that we will find a way to publish student's best work so that others might enjoy their creations.

It is expected that all students will use the computer to keep all of their work organized and allow for multiple drafts of their work. Purchasing a  4gb jump drive would be helpful for students to bring their work home to work on and bring it back to class the next day.


Marking Criteria: Student assignments will be graded on the following: develpoment of content and style, ability to meet the individual criteria set out in each assignment, vocabulary, develpoment of a writer's voice, and evidence of editing of their work. Each assignment will be weighted for its complexity. Most of the assignments will be marked out of 10.

So go forth young writers and in the words of Wordsworth..."Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."