Writing is rewriting:-

• Revision and rewriting – Rewriting is not JUST REWRITING.
• It’s rethinking (perspective, sequence of things, obstacles, character’s behaviour/action/speech/goal), re-conceptualizing and approaching new things.
• Everyone should at least try and rewrite their stories 5 times.
• You will never find out what is really in you until you write and rewrite.
• This doesn’t mean just stop polishing phrases.

TIP:-

• Study your story, see it with a new vision and changed values.
• Write it afresh.
• Then maybe scrap it, start all over again – don’t be afraid to do this!
• After this, then you can begin “polishing”.
• Finding expressions with character, dialogue that has rhythm. (Character has depth, worthy to follow)
• It may take 2 more more versions to bring out the full colour of the characters or yourself.

The inclination of the egoist is to get as much as he can, but at the same time not to change.

The Final Draft

Read with a fixed eye. (focused on the story)

1. Re-read through your story carefully.
2. Focus on a particular aspect each time, eg character, location, action etc.

Ask yourself:

1. “Is the protagonist ALWAYS the focus of the story?”
2. “Is he/she doing anything or is everyone else always doing stuff around him/her?”
3. “Does it make a difference is he/she is even there?”

The chainsaw is your friend

1. Now is the time to look at script economy (trim a lot of scenes)
2. Why have your reader dying to finish after 4 pages when they could be craving for more after 2?

Ask yourself:

1. “Where do my scenes begin? Where do they end?” (cliffhanger)
2. “Can six lines be said in three?”
3. “Can I trim the fat? Can I cut the exposition? Can I tell it visually instead?”

Crank it up!

1. The stakes are high – can they be higher?
2. More to lose = more dramatic tension

Ask yourself:

1. “Does everything matter enough? Can everything matter more?” (Does the situation matter enough to the characters? If it matter more to the characters, the characters will matter more to the audience)
2. “Am I giving my characters hell? Is it fun to see them squirm and satisfying enough when they get out of it?”

AUTOGRAPH BOOK

1. Field – Big wide, give each other stare. Jealousy.
2. Bus – Autograph book, eeee. Bus shaky.
3. Library – Anger, vandalising book. Empty, quiet. Cover sweater on friend.
4. Classroom – Publicly humiliate Tess.
5. Staff room – privacy

THREE PAGES MAX

1.5 spacing

Name/student number/tutorial group/”final draft”

submit to safeassign!

first draft with final draft!!!

due Friday January 29 by 5pm. TIME STAMP.