Writing an adventure by Amanda Wong, Spring Parks Primary School, Vic © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2010, except where indicated otherwise

Tips for story writing

Writing an adventure

R7813 Lift off - Teacher eater. With permission of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited and Heytesbury Pty Ltd. Produced by The Funny Farm. Animation by Maggie Geddes and Neil Robinson.

Writing an adventure by Amanda Wong, Spring Parks Primary School, Vic © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2010, except where indicated otherwise

An attention-grabbing openingTips for story writing

Open with

an actiona dialoguea thoughta sounda question or mystery.

R6762 'Lift Off' - Molly's sock. With permission of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited and Heytesbury Pty Ltd. Produced by Jollification. Animation by Anne Jolliffe.

Writing an adventure by Amanda Wong, Spring Parks Primary School, Vic © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2010, except where indicated otherwise

Character chartTips for story writing

Looks like … Acts like … Talks like … Feels like … Sounds like …

Writing an adventure by Amanda Wong, Spring Parks Primary School, Vic © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2010, except where indicated otherwise

Setting chartTips for story writing

Smells like … Feels like … Looks like … Sounds like …

Writing an adventure by Amanda Wong, Spring Parks Primary School, Vic © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2010, except where indicated otherwise

Introducing a characterTips for story writing

Use a unique name. Only describe briefly how the character

feels. Reveal the character through action and

dialogue. Use vivid verbs to show how a character

feels and acts. Describe the thoughts and reactions of

other characters towards the character. Show the character's thoughts and ideas.

Image from R6752 'Lift Off' – Snookle. Copyright Education Services Australia Ltd and Australian Children’s Television Foundation. Animation by Max Bannah.

Writing an adventure by Amanda Wong, Spring Parks Primary School, Vic © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2010, except where indicated otherwise

Complications that a character can face

Tips for story writing

The character...

Can't find it!

Can't do it!

Can't get it!

Gets trapped!

Gets chased!

Writing an adventure by Amanda Wong, Spring Parks Primary School, Vic © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2010, except where indicated otherwise

Writing a complicationTips for story writing

Image from R6774 'Lift Off' - A nightmare in my cupboard. With permission of the Australian Children's Television Foundation and Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited. Produced by David Downie Film Productions. Animation by Simon Allan, David Downie and Wayne Kelly.

Use ‘empty’ words, eg ‘someone’ to create suspense.

Use short sentences to be dramatic. Use strong nouns and vivid verbs

instead of adding adjectives and adverbs.

Use suspense words such as ‘suddenly’, ‘without warning’.

Writing an adventure by Amanda Wong, Spring Parks Primary School, Vic © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2010, except where indicated otherwise

Writing a complicationTips for story writing

Image from R6774 ‘Lift Off’ - A nightmare in my cupboard. With permission of the Australian Children's Television Foundation and Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited. Produced by David Downie Film Productions. Animation by Simon Allan, David Downie and Wayne Kelly.

Ask the reader a question. Vary sentence openings by starting

with an adverb such as ‘Suddenly’. Delay revealing an obstacle by

introducing shadows, sounds, etc. Use scary sounds, darkness, silence

or chills to build up the tension.

Writing an adventure by Amanda Wong, Spring Parks Primary School, Vic © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2010, except where indicated otherwise

Resolving a storyTips for story writing

Allow help to arrive in an unexpected form.

Make the character do something unexpected.

Show that the problem was only in the character's mind.

R6757 'Lift Off' - Dancing pants. With permission of the Australian Children's Television Foundation, Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited and Heytesbury Pty Ltd . Written by Pamela Rushby. Produced by Kalidor Pty Ltd. Animation by Peter Viska.

Writing an adventure by Amanda Wong, Spring Parks Primary School, Vic © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2010, except where indicated otherwise

Resolving a storyTips for story writing

Allow the character some extra effort to overcome the problem

Resolve only a part of the problem so that the character learns a lesson for the future.

Use twists or unexpected outcome.

R6757 'Lift Off' - Dancing pants. With permission of the Australian Children's Television Foundation, Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited and Heytesbury Pty Ltd . Written by Pamela Rushby. Produced by Kalidor Pty Ltd. Animation by Peter Viska.

Writing an adventure by Amanda Wong, Spring Parks Primary School, Vic © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2010, except where indicated otherwise

Ending a storyTips for story writing

With a memory – close with the character's memory of the complication.

With a feeling – close with the character's feeling about the complication.

With a hope – close with what the character hopes and wishes to happen in the future. R7811'Lift Off' – Rainbow. With permission of the Australian

Children's Television Foundation, Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited and Heytesbury Pty Ltd. Produced by Jollification. Animation by Anne Jolliffe.

Writing an adventure by Amanda Wong, Spring Parks Primary School, Vic © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2010, except where indicated otherwise

Editing checklistTips for story writing

Correct structure Flow/order of the storyline Engaging opening Effective description of setting

and character Effective complication Expanded series of events Satisfying and logical ending

Use of strong adjectives Use of vivid verbs Use of exact nouns Use of adverbs No unnecessary/unimportant

information/words Basic punctuation, grammar,

and spelling