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A creative writer strives to tell unique stories in a distinctive voice. Yet with all the fiction writing that is already out there in the world, it can be hard to feel that your work is legitimately creative compared to the competition.
You could be a novice author finishing a creative writing course in high school, a hobbyist working on your first book, or a seasoned author with a degree in English literature who is just trying to improve as a writer while avoiding writer's block.
You can benefit from setting aside time to evaluate your writing abilities and consider whether there are any new methods you can set your work apart, regardless of your background or the sorts of writing you undertake.
When you open up your leaving cert English paper 1 you will need to take sufficient time to read through the exam paper. The second step is to study the prescribed texts and try to find examples of appealing literature, images, themes or poetic techniques that you can discuss from your leaving cert English course.
With the leaving cert English paper 2 exam paper you will need to read the questions carefully of course, though you will spend most of your time writing. Students will need to write about the poetry, literature and text that they study for the comparative section.
When you write up your study plan for leaving cert English, make sure to include reading poems, reading literature and learning to write both of these too! If you study each of these it will help exam results.
The English textbook at school will help students to improve their vocabulary, use of words, reading and writing. The book is a great help for students looking to work their way through the writing questions and learn the English language through a scope that will maximise their performance in the exams.
If you are looking to jump up a few grades in the leaving cert English exam then take a look at how reading can help!
Reading fiction to help with your creative writing
It's crucial to study well-known authors as examples of the power of excellent writing. Depending on your writing style, look for the genre's high points.
If you want to create young adult literature, turn to classics like J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, R.L. Stine's Goosebumps world, or Judy Blume's moving coming-of-age books. Consider studying the writings of Isaac Asimov or Neil Gaiman if you want to write science fiction.
Albert Camus’ The Plague is a novel that might also appeal to students who studied throughout the recent covid pandemic. The novel paints the scene of a rural town and its battle with a plague. Camus' descriptive language helps the reader to escape to the town and see the entire quarantine unfold.
It is extremely interesting to see the parallels that one might draw between this dated novel and that of the recent global pandemic. The book is a great example of how a book might evoke some interesting thoughts which might inspire your next creative writing piece.
You might also want to consult J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy if you want to write fantasy books. Try H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King if you enjoy horror. But be careful not to mistakenly identify these authors' voices as your own. Make use of your favourite novels as starting points.
For more seasoned fiction readers, you might want to try reading some of the great Ernest Hemingway's works. Hemmingway is a great example of how colloquial language can be used effectively in dialogue. He is also a master at storytelling and has a knack for developing characters.
You will learn a lot about conjuring characters and the attention to detail that is given to creating everything that the reader comes to learn about them. You will find yourself with a sense of each character's respective attitudes, values, preferences and tendencies and anticipating the moments that their world collides.
If you are a leaving cert student that is looking to maximise your grade in the English exam, then the creative writing question that features on paper one of the exam is a great way to go about accomplishing this.
While the aforementioned readings will work wonders for your understanding of what constitutes effective creative writing it is important that your reading remains a mere source of inspiration.
Getting inspiration and exploring the world of fiction through reading books, is a great way to light the fire within you as a writer. By taking some pointers from some of the greats mentioned above you will have developed a strong foundation that will be noticed by your examiner when they get around to correcting your paper over the summer!
Reading can also help to improve your comprehension skills, this will help you to jump up a few grades in the exam.
Choosing to study Shakespearian texts
Since language is always changing, several of the terms used in Shakespeare's plays now do not exist or have different meanings than they did when the plays were written. When in doubt, use the sentence's context to determine the meaning or consult an online Shakespeare lexicon.
If you get to select your own play, start with something simple that you might already be familiar with. A concise summary is usually written on the back cover of publications. The play could be a suitable choice if it seems engaging.
Due to the fact that many of us are familiar with the "star-crossed lovers" story, Romeo and Juliet is sometimes an excellent place to start.
Take a comedy like a film adaptation of the play The Taming of the Shrew for example. Shakespeare's use of similes and metaphors can make some sections more challenging to comprehend. Shakespeare also made extensive use of puns, double meanings, and mispronunciations in order to add humour.
It is important that you keep an eye out for these techniques when you are reading your unseen comprehension piece if you are going to impress your examiner! You might also draw upon this knowledge if you decide to study a Shakespearian play as part of your comparative studies that features as a long question on paper two!
Another well-known Shakespearean tragedy is Macbeth, which can be the right choice for you if you're interested in political scheming.
Shakespeare regularly uses different parts of speech and changes "standard" sentence structure for the purpose of rhyme or rhythm.
Shakespeare often played with standard language and this will certainly take some getting used to if you are going to ace your Shakespearian comprehension question on paper one.
Since there are so many marks going towards poetry, reading this article might just help you to squeeze some more marks out of this section.
Get the reading bug with a tutor from Superporf
Perhaps one of the more effective resources, and also possibly the least adopted by students, professionals and book warms alike is availing of a personal tutor or instructor to aid them in their learning. A personal tutor can provide some much-needed clarity for anyone looking to pick up a new hobby or skill such as reading or creative writing.
This is often a difficult transition for even the more mathematic and problem-solving students, but working through the Shakespearian works or complex fiction books alongside a professional can help you to realise your weaknesses, allowing you to better target your progress going forward.
Superprof is a one-stop shop for students who are interested in learning new skills. This is a great place to have a look around for your next creative writing or reading mentor with both in-person and online options.
This is one of the best options out there for people of all ages that are looking to improve their grades at school, relax before upcoming exams or improve their overall reading skills. More and more English and writing instructors are offering their services to students across the platform each year.
Superprof’s extensive pool of community members will not only give you a great way of finding your next instructor, but it will also allow you to have a look at some of the platform’s existing coaches and the prices that they charge for their one-to-one and group sessions.
While this hourly rate is likely to fluctuate depending on the respective experience of the tutor, it will provide you with a great benchmark to arrive at a fair price. Just a short browse through the instructors operating across the island of Ireland and you’ll find out what you should be paying in your area!
Why not put yourself at an advantage when it comes to the leaving cert English exam and develops your reading and creative writing skills by delving into some of the aforementioned books?
Your writing and reading skills will be put to the test at school if you study English. Remember that the more books that you read, you will attain a better use of language. Having a more expansive vocabulary will improve your writing and your grades in higher-level English.
Students often struggle to improve their writing skills at school. English students often learn about grammar mechanics. This time could be put to use by learning new words to improve your vocabulary. You could also read more books if you want to learn to write a high-level story. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help within your school if you want to improve!
You will improve at an accelerated pace if you choose to study alongside an experienced teacher from Superprof!
The platform that connects tutors and students
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