CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION

CLOSING DATE: 22ND JULY 2016

VIEW THE ANCIENT ADVENTURES VIDEO THAT INTRODUCES

THIS ACTIVITY TO PUPILS
WWW.YOUNGWRITERS.CO.UK/COMPETITIONS/ANCIENTADVENTURES

TODAY YOU WILL WRITE A MINI SAGA FOR YOUNG

WRITERS ANCIENT ADVENTURES COMPETITION...
You could be published
You could win a family ticket to Ripleys
Believe It or Not, or a book token
You could win a cash prize for your school

WHAT IS A MINI SAGA?

A mini saga is a story told in 100 words or fewer

It must have a beginning, middle and an end
It must be original
You can be inspired by any historical figure or
period in history

WHAT IS A STORY?
Tell your teacher your favourite historical event or story
from history
Your teacher will pick one
Can you tell your teacher what happens using as few
words as possible?

A STORYS STRUCTURE PART 1

The plot is the main events that happen in the story youve just
told your teacher the plot of the story youve been discussing

STORIES ALSO NEED:

Setting this is where the events happen, this could be in a forest, a
desert, on the beach or in another country. In a mini saga, there is
usually only one setting
Characters these are the people/creatures in your story
Events these are situations or actions that happen to move your
story along, this could be someone being kidnapped, a strange
visitor, falling out with a friend, meeting a hero, going on holiday etc

A STORYS STRUCTURE PART 2

Stories also need:

A beginning action, dialogue or description to open your story

A middle an event to move the story along

An ending - tie up loose ends or end on a cliff-hanger

Remember, a mini saga uses up to 100 words, which means you only have
one or two sentences each for the beginning, the middle and the end!

IDENTIFYING KEY EVENTS

Earlier in the lesson you told your teacher a storys plot in as few
words as possible
Now its time to see if, as a class, you can summarise the story in
100 words...
Your teacher will make notes on the board
Once you have all the key events on the board, you can then work
together to write a class mini saga. (See our tips on the next slide to
help you!)

TIPS
Be brutal cut out any unnecessary words do we need to know
the building was high or the trees were green or that the main
character likes eggs on toast for breakfast? If its not crucial edit it
out!
Use ellipses (...) to suggest tension, excitement, mystery and
suspense
Abbreviate words it is becomes its / you are becomes youre
etc
You dont have to get exactly 100 words, it can be fewer as long as
you dont go over!
Create a clever title that hints about your story e.g. The Past, But
Not As We Know It

EDITING

Your teacher will read your class mini saga to you

Is there anything missing?
Is there anything you want to change?
Move words / lines around, add in or remove words, add in
punctuation and when you are happy with it, count the words... If its
over 100, see where you can abbreviate or edit words out
Congratulations, youve written a mini saga! Now its time to try
writing your own...

WRITING YOUR OWN MINI SAGA

Decide on a period or a person from history to write about. Your teacher
may provide this for you or ask you to use our idea generator to give you
a hand!
Write your ideas out first on the planning sheet, then write your mini saga
Count the words
Once you are at 100 words, copy your mini saga out on to the Ancient
Adventures entry form one word per box please!
Remember to write your name and age on your entry form too

EXAMPLE 1
THE BEASTS ARE COMING
The wind howled, loose pebbles tumbled and trees cowered as the
monster approached. My heart froze; my jaw dropped. There stood
the beast with bloodied teeth and hunger in his eyes. I sprinted for
my life before it engulfed its prey - me. The beast chased me but
there was no escape anymore. I bit my tongue and clutched my
hands. Roar! The beast proceeded. Within a blink it was face-to-face
with me. I noticed it had scaly, patterned skin, beady brown eyes and
razor-sharp claws. I screamed like I have never done before. It was a
dinosaur...
Charlotte Tilley (9)
Janet Duke Primary School, Basildon

EXAMPLE 2
HAROLDS SAVIOUR
The Normans came charging towards us on their huge, galloping
horses wearing heavy metal armour. They looked fierce. 'Charge!'
yelled King Harold. As they stormed towards us we stood our
ground, as deadly and gruesome as it was. As battle commenced,
blood and death was everywhere. An arrow was shot which was
heading straight to the king. I yelled to warn him. He raised his
shield. The arrow stopped dead. The king was saved and I was the
hero. The battle stopped and peace began. Handshakes, hugs and a
happy story for history to tell.
Larry Hibbs (11)
Moorside Primary School, Manchester

EXAMPLE 3
ME AND THE MUMMY
I went on holiday to Egypt. In Egypt I looked at the old pyramids. I
saw an open one... I went in. Inside I saw a dusty, old coffin. I
opened it and a mummy came out. So I ran out of the pyramid then
the mummy's bandages got caught! It spun around, went in its coffin
and the lid slammed shut. The pyramid started to collapse
underneath the ground. I took a video of it all! It was very exciting.
That was definitely the best part of the fantastic holiday. I enjoyed my
holiday lots!
By Lilly (7)
Independent Entry

FEEDBACK
Share your mini saga with a friend
They need to tell you something they like about it and something
they think could make it better
Then give your friend your feedback on their work
Make any final changes to your mini saga
Hand it in to your teacher!

WE HOPE YOUR HAVE ENJOYED

WRITING A MINI SAGA FOR
ANCIENT ADVENTURES TODAY!

CLOSING DATE: 22ND JULY 2016