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Posted on October 6th 2022
Author Catherine Johnson Inspires Year 7 Writers
A huge thank you to Catherine Johnson, author, novelist and screenwriter, for delivering some fabulous creative writing workshops with Year 7 this term. Students left the sessions inspired and keen to write more!
Catherine Johnson is the author of Freedom, a novel about slavery in Britain which we are currently studying, so this was a wonderful opportunity to meet a real author and find out more about their life.
Catherine spoke to students about her passion for writing and why she believes we are all creative writers who have something to say, and the huge importance of writing for pleasure.
What students said...
"Today I learnt that being a writer is all about pretending. You have to pretend and use your imagination which I really enjoy." Anae, Year 7
Emman, Year 7, learnt that writing for pleasure should not be stressful: "Instead of trying to be perfect, you can make up words and write whatever comes into your mind."
Angel, Year 7, learnt that creative writing isn’t about being perfect first time. "Now I know that I should freestyle all of my ideas to get them on to paper and then edit them afterwards."
Catherine explained to the students that reading is essential for becoming a writer. She said you have to read different types of books, the good ones and the one you think are bad. The bad books will inspire you to want to write better books!
Extracts from students’ work - written during the workshop
He gripped the pen in his hand and muttered to himself. His breath was shaky. He knew this was insane. He was insane. He leaned over his bed scribbling in messy letters. The pen shook in his hand, drenched in sweat. He leaned back and stared. Stared at the messy writing scribbled on the once empty page which was now decorated with his words. "I did it. I killed her. I don’t know why". It was true. He didn’t know what had caused him to behave like this. He knew it was wrong. He loved her. Didn’t he?
In the darkest hour of the night, Layla was getting ready for a Halloween party. She was dressed as a demon: blood-red fake horns, a suit, a long thin tail and fake sharp teeth. Her dog, Jake, helped complete the costume by dressing as a hell-hound!
The only problem with Layla’s plan was that she didn’t know exactly where the party was. All she knew was that it was going to be in the woods. Layla and Jake cautiously left their house, which was in a peaceful village, and took off towards the party.
He flicked the lighter upright and lit the cigarette. Slowly, he inhaled then released a puff of smoke from his thin, dry lips.
"James", he coughed. “A stick man like you isn’t ready for war.”
As the word sank deep into James chest and into his veins, fury began to take over his body. “Don’t you know that I’ve been told this before?! Let me prove my worth! For once!”
“Son. Relax.” The man said.
No. James didn’t want to relax. He wanted to scream and shout. He wanted to let everyone who had ever doubted him know that he could do it - that he would do it, no matter what it takes.
I asked, “Do you want to marry me?” as I held out the box. The box was silver with a diamond ring inside.
The wrinkles on the witch’s face creased around her eyes and began to wobble as she smiled. Her lips cracked as she said, “No, I don’t want to marry you – I’ve never met you before!”
