Knock, knock! Who’s there? Rye Rye who? Rye Ting. Got any paper?

2. Knock, knock! • Who’s there? • Rye • Rye who? • Rye Ting. Got any paper?

3. How many mystery writers does it take to change a light bulb?  Two.  One to screw it almost all the way in, and the other to give it a surprising twist at the end.

4. The Writer’s Craft How can I get my writing: *to “show control” * to “command attention” ?

5. Tip 1: Word Craft • Make thethesaurusyour friend • Start a Word Bank in a notebook • Collect, harvest, steal, listen for words that sing! • Hang out on Vocab Building websites • Replace general words with precise ones • Use proper nouns (with capitals) to make your settings more specific • Use colourful, vivid, unusual, varied, specific, onomatopoeic words not boring, cliched ones • Read! Read! Read! And become a ‘word magnet’.

6. The girl went to the shops. • In the sentence above the words are too general, common and boring . Wave your magic word wand and make the sentence come alive. You can add/change/delete words to write 2 different versions of the sentence. • Sentence A - positive, cheerful effect • Sentence B – negative, dramatic, suspenseful effect

7. Our Favourite Words • In your group brainstorm words which have: • Positive connotations • Negative connotations • Informal words • NZ English / Te Reo kupu • Sayings • Arrange your words in a group poem

8. Words are everywhere! Try websites such as http://www.visuwords.com/

9. Lovely WordsKoolKupu! e.g. scorch, luscious, crunchy, clatter, shrill, nook, speck, gritty, audacious, sinister, sluggish, waddle, crimson, totter, ivory, blush, hover, baffle, ravenous, sputter, squelch, dawdle, reel* Find the meaning of any of the above words you don’t know. Use some in sentences.* Find lots of good fiction and collect vivid vocab from it for your Word Bank.

10. Taking Charge of Your Sentences!

11. Tip 2: Sentence Craft • Know what is, and what is not, a sentence! • Can you define and write: minor, simple, compound and complex sentences? • Know when to use each type to create a deliberate effect. • Make sure you use a variety of sentence types. • Aim for a deliberate effect with each sentence. • Read your sentences aloud to check for rhythm and correct structure.

12. S = Complete Thoughts • Sentence- a sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. Sentences are used to make statements and ask questions.Examples:Incomplete:The boy with the compass (What about him?)Complete: The boy with the compass is our leader.Incomplete:Kay Jones, the manager of the bicycle factory (Did what?)Complete: Kay Jones, the manager of the bicycle factory, talked to our class. • Try http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/game/ en30stru-game-logging-sentences

13. Watch Out! No Run-Ons or Comma Splices • It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark. • The sun is high, put on some sunblock. • This computer doesn't make sense to me, it came without a manual. Fix these please

14. Sentence Types • Minor = makes sense but has a missing subject or verb e.g. A rainbow? Children. • Simple = subject + verb e.g. A rainbow appeared in the sky. • Compound e.g. A rainbow appeared in the sky and the children ran outside. This is two simple sentences joined with a conjunction ‘and’ • Complex e.g. After a rainbow appeared in the sky, the children ran outside. A simple sentence and a ‘dependent clause’* Find some good examples to share

15. Example • WitiIhimaera’s ‘ A Game of Cards’ Or the short story ‘Ten’ we read.

16. Craft Your Own • Write a paragraph which builds suspense by using a series of short simple and minor sentences e.g. • “Who’s there?” No answer. I was sure I had heard something. I checked the clock. Only 9pm. Mum and Dad wouldn’t be back for an hour. My heart thumped. • Now create a leisurely paced paragraph with long sentences. Start and finish with a short one.

17. Sentence Variety • We live in one of those houses that have concrete paths everywhere. There is a square of lawn out the front with an elm tree exactly in the middle. The lawn is jewel green and carefully manicured and has sculptured edges of concrete kerbing to match the paths and driveway. I don’t think much about it now, but I used to hate the concrete everywhere. I guess that’s why I rang up about the farm job.

18. Tip 3: Imagery • Imagery = creating pictures or images in the reader’s mind with words • Know the types e.g. simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia etc • Don’t overdo any of these. Less is more. • Make yours original or fresh • Make them match your story’s theme or mood • Use the five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell. taste

19. Spot the Imagery • When the evening is spread out against the sky like a patient etherised upon a tableT. S. Eliot • A hospital bed is a parked taxi with the meter running.Groucho Marx • Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.William Wordsworth

20. Tip 4: Structure • Beginnings and endings are very important – craft them very carefully • You must use paragraphs • Topic sentences to begin • Time markers? • Foreshadowing? • Narratives need to build to a climax – plan first • Chronological? • Use a flashback?

21. Tip 5: Narrative Method • Decide which one best matches your purpose and desired effect: * First person? I remember the time….. * Second person? You take a bite. * Third person? She stared in horror.

22. Tip 6. Add Some Speech • To start the story or to convey a character’s feelings or personality e.g. “What did you get?” she asked me. “None of your business,” I replied grumpily. “You are always so nosey.” Remember to punctuate carefully and use a new line for a new speaker. Study examples in books.

23. Final Tips • Good writers are readers. Read as widely as you can and notice what published writers do. • Good writers craft their work i.e. they write and rewrite and rewrite! Make sure you do too.