(:, [: & :D

In lesson one, we learnt about the active and passive voice. It was interesting how the active voice could really make a big difference in one’s essay. Like how it can make the audience feel that he/she is actually experiencing whatever it is written rather than writing a story in past tense, leaving the audience to imagine what happened. This was something new to me and hence, I was never conscious about it in the past when I write stories. I have to admit I took a very long time doing the ‘Openers’ as I kept writing my sentences using the passive voice, subconsciously. (No wonder I can never find my stories interesting! Oh no!)

Anyway, we were then told to complete a sentence(Louis puts on a hula-girl outfit and enters the temple..) into an essay using the 3rd person and active voice ‘rule’. I must say it was quite difficult at the beginning for me as I am used to writing in past tense… The questions that ryan thought we should think of when writing a story set me thinking alot. Whose story am I telling? What is the point of the story? How can I get the audience’s attention? Hmm..

Overall, I felt that the lesson was interesting and I definitely learnt something!

We encounter stories all the time. Television, movie, books or even when you’re talking; telling another about your day or an experience.

Present tense
I travel by bus. 

3rd person
Example: “Mark picks up the gun and hold it in his hand. It begins to tremble, as if alive.”

Screenplay uses this format. It presents a more immediate & urgent feel to the material.

Passive vs Active voice
Passive:
- Weak verb .
- Tells rather than shows what is going on. 
- Distances the reader from the story.

Eg. “The sky was blue with a lot of white clouds.”

Active:
- Strong action verb.
- Shows the action.
- Uses an immediate structure.

Eg. “The white clouds are floating in the blue sky.”

Best excuses for not doing homework: I sprained my wrist. I did not know there was homework.

Ryan’s tips:

1. Never stop for the night if  you are stuck.
2. Always solve the problem and keep going until you are in safer water. A good night’s sleep is important. Sleeping on problems is a myth.
3. If you cannot get started on a project, start writing anyway. To do this you have to have some words to type.
4. It does not matter what you write, you will soon begin to think and move in your own rhythm/pace.

Questions that should be running through your mind when writing…

1. Whose story am I telling?
2. What is the point of this story?
3. How can I engage the attention of the audience?