Cathy Forde's Creative Writing Tasks

Cathy Forde
Catherine Forde concluded her series as our virtual writer in residence with the 6th episode, all about endings. You can read about Cathy's tasks and watch her explaining them on her video podcasts. We'd love to see any of the work you do for any of Catherine's writing tasks. Submit your writing to teen@scottishbooktrust.com and if we like it we'll put it on our website.
 
 
 

 Task 6: Endings - Video Introduction

 

 

Task 6: ENDINGS

THE FINAL TASK –  OR THE END! (WHICH IS JUST THE BEGINNING NOW)

TASK. Imagine that you are pitching your story idea to a publisher.

You have to provide a synopis of it.

WRITE YOUR SYNOPSIS.

 

FINAL FUN TASKS

Fun task – watch/read Cathy interviewing writers about how they tackle endings and what their favourite endings are.

Video interviews

Katie Grant, Julia Donaldson, Laura Marney, Saci Lloyd, A G Taylor, Barry Hutchison

Written responses

Kevin Brooks, Andy Stanton, Graham Marks, Julie Bertagna, Frank Cottrell Boyce

Notice how many different approaches writers have to creating their ending. It is not an exact science and there is no right or wrong.

Make a list or discuss what YOUR favourite endings are and why.

Then come up with your LEAST favourite endings to a book you’ve read? And why that is the case.

 

AND NOW TO THE FINAL BIG TASK…

Go back to any of the tasks you have done.

Which one came most naturally to you?

Was it easy to imagine something unusual happening in a place with a familiar setting?

Or has a character burst into life from the form you completed in Task 2?

Maybe you have new voice in your head, and that person has a story to tell.

Or you are inspired to bring to life a place that is so real to you that you can already smell and see and touch and feel it?

There again, perhaps there is music in your head, taking you on a journey, or making you want to tell a story about someone.

Or maybe something out of the ordinary has happened in real life to you or someone you know and has provided the framework or springboard for a complete story from you.

 

Previous tasks

  • Watch the intro and first video in the series
  • Read about the first writing task
  • Watch and read about Task 2: Characters
  • Watch Task 3: Dialogue
  • Watch Task 4: Setting
  • Watch Task 5: Music

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    Young Writers Trust logo

    The 2009 Online Writer in Residence is part funded by Young Writer Trust. For more information about Young Writer Trust go to www.youngwritertrust.org. 

     

     

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    In 2008/9 We had Keith Gray, one of the UK’s finest authors for young adults, as our first virtual writer-in-residence in 2008/9. Click the links below to see some of the results of his year with us.

    Keith is the author of the Royal Mail Award-winning novel Ostrich Boys.