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The best writers in my class are always thieves.
No, not that sort of thieving! I mean that the best writers pinch ideas from books and other girls in their class.
Plagiarising is when you copy from somebody else’s writing, word-for-word. If you copied out the first page of Silverfin and handed it in for homework you would be plagiarising. Obviously, this is pretty pointless.
Here are four authors, and how to steal from them:
Anthony Horowitz writes brilliant action scenes. Read them, and try underlining the powerful verbs. Then take his verbs and have a go at writing your own action scene!
Darren Shan has written a series of Vampire books, beginning with Cirque de Freak, which are packed with scenes of suspense. Read them, and underline every time he includes a creepy sound, and circle any words that mention ‘darkness’ or shadows. Done that? Now have a go at writing your own suspense scene, using Shan’s sounds, or substituting some of your own.
Geraldine McCaughrean is a children’s author who includes lots of ‘grown-up’ words in her stories. As you read through one of her stories, circle any words that strike you as interesting. When you’ve finished, jot them down, looking up in a dictionary any you’re not sure about. Then try and include five of the words in your next story!
Catherine Webb sets her Horatio Lyle books in the Victorian period. As you read them, try highlighting any Victorian words or phrases that are new to you, and then look them up on the internet. This way you’ll be able to make your historical stories more realistic!
When one of your friend’s stories is read out, try to think ‘What is good about this story? How has she made it interesting?’ If she’s used an interesting word, copy it into your dictionary, and try to include it in your next story!
One simple trick you can use if you’re struggling for an idea is to borrow the plot from a fairy tale, or one of the famous Greek legends.
Why not retell the story of Little Red Riding Hood, but make your version about a girl in a hoodie who has to visit her Gran by passing though a rough part of town?
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(c) Nick Hitchen 2007 |
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Last updated on
August 12, 2007
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