ABSTRACT

What links Cinderella to Harry Potter? What can The Simpsons teach us about character creation? What is the False Horizon moment? What are the two classic openings and five effective endings of a newspaper story? Aimed at primary and early secondary school teachers, Tricks of the Writer’s Trade uses a simple, straightforward and highly-entertaining method to reveal a myriad of writing approaches, from basic story structure through to advanced scriptwriting, and the techniques used by professional writers and journalists.

Covering fiction and non-fiction writing, chapters include guidance on:

  • Story structure
  • Creating characters
  • Persuasive writing
  • Informative writing
  • Scriptwriting
  • Writing techniques

By following its step-by-step approach and using the resources and materials provided, teachers can engage their pupils, improve their writing skills dramatically – and have fun while they’re doing it. Writing lessons will never be the same again!

Tricks of the Writer’s Trade is an invaluable resource for all Primary Teachers, Key Stage Three English teachers and literacy coordinators as well as PGCE students.

part 1|49 pages

Fiction

chapter 1|12 pages

Basic story structure

chapter 2|8 pages

Back Story and first exercise in writing

chapter 3|8 pages

How to get ideas for stories

chapter 4|9 pages

Creating believable characters

chapter 5|7 pages

Writing a story

chapter 6|3 pages

Rewriting

part 2|33 pages

Non-Fiction

chapter 7|7 pages

Non-fiction writing – an overview

chapter 8|9 pages

Writing to inform/journalism

chapter 9|10 pages

Persuasive writing I – the poster

chapter 10|5 pages

Persuasive writing II – the essay

part 3|32 pages

Fiction

chapter 11|9 pages

Advanced character creation

chapter 12|9 pages

Advanced structure

chapter 13|5 pages

Scriptwriting

chapter 14|7 pages

Advanced scriptwriting

part 4|9 pages

Non-fiction – advanced

chapter 15|7 pages

Advanced non-fiction techniques