CHALLENGE 6 – SCENE SETTING

Hello all,

So… by now, you have learned all the fundamental aspects of a story – characters, story starts and story endings. So now you can start actually writing something!

So how about you all pick a location from the story you’ve been thinking about – a particular place where a scene might take place – and describe it as if you were writing the actual book.

There are no rules here: anything goes. It could be a very simple place or a totally crazy one. Try to use all your senses when you describe it. Don’t just write what you see, but maybe what you smell or hear in this place, too. That said, don’t overdo the description. The best descriptions pick one or two memorable detail to set a scene and then get on with the character’s story.

Maybe also think a little about how your character responds to the place. So rather than just saying it smells, perhaps describe how that smell offends him or her, or how it delights the character, or reminds them of something from their past. That way you’re always focusing on the most important thing in any place at any time: the character.

Everything comes back to your main character, and everything in your story should revolve around that person. Always keep that character right at the front of your mind when you’re writing. If the character ever disappears from your thoughts then stop writing and bring them back into the story as fast as you can.

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Rob Lloyd Jones’s Six Story Challenges Rob Lloyd Jones is the award winning children’s author of over 80 books, including the Wild Boy and Jake Atlas adventure novels for Walker Books and the best-selling See inside and Look inside books for Usborne Publishing.

Here he shares six story-telling tips, and sets six simple challenges to help you write your own amazing story.

JAKE ATLAS TOMB ROBBER,

TREASURE HUNTER, TROUBLEMAKER

A couple of days ago I was a schoolboy with terrible grades and even worse behaviour. I had the world’s strictest parents, a sister who would barely talk to me and a way of

causing trouble that drove people nuts.

Now I am a member of a super high-tech treasure-hunting team searching for a

lost tomb so I can save my parents from being turned into mummies

by an evil cult.

Things have moved pretty fast…

E

#JakeAtlas

www.walker.co.uk

£6.99 UK ONLY

eBookavailable

Also by Rob Lloyd Jones

Praise for Wild Boy:

“Good fun and jolly hair-raising” The Times

“A gripping murder mystery” Sunday Express

“A pacy, atmospheric and thrilling adventure” Metro

JAatTotS_9781406361445_PC_UK.indd All Pages 20/10/2016 11:04

Rob Lloyd Jones is the award winning children’s author of over 80 books, including the Wild Boy and ‘Jake Atlas’ novels for Walker Books, and the best-selling See inside and Look inside books for Usborne Publishing. His most recent series of nov-els, Jake Atlas and the Keys of the Apocalypse was published in 2020, and is perfect for projects on the ancient world. Here he shares six story-telling tips, and sets you six simple challenges, to set you well on your way to writing your own amazing story.

This is your six and final story challenge – once you have done this, you’ll be all set to begin writing your story. You now know what makes a good character, how stories begin and how they end, how characters change in stories and how to describe places where the story happens. You have a story map to show you the way whenever you get lost.

Of course there are loads of things we haven’t mentioned, such as dialogue (what the characters say) or descriptive writing (making it nice to read), but I believe you know have a really good understanding of what makes a good story, and how to write one.

So get busy writing it – and I can’t wait to read them.

Have fun and good luck everyone!

Rob

Here are some books Rob wrote using these story tips. His ‘Wild Boy’ novels are perfect for anyone studying the Victorian times, while the ‘Jake Atlas’ adventures are ideal for topics on the ancient world. They’re also great stories. Find out more at: www.roblloydjones.com

JAKE ATLAS TOMB ROBBER,

TREASURE HUNTER, TROUBLEMAKER

A couple of days ago I was a schoolboy with terrible grades and even worse behaviour. I had the world’s strictest parents, a sister who would barely talk to me and a way of

causing trouble that drove people nuts.

Now I am a member of a super high-tech treasure-hunting team searching for a

lost tomb so I can save my parents from being turned into mummies

by an evil cult.

Things have moved pretty fast…

E

#JakeAtlas

www.walker.co.uk

£6.99 UK ONLY

eBookavailable

Also by Rob Lloyd Jones

Praise for Wild Boy:

“Good fun and jolly hair-raising” The Times

“A gripping murder mystery” Sunday Express

“A pacy, atmospheric and thrilling adventure” Metro

JAatTotS_9781406361445_PC_UK.indd All Pages 20/10/2016 11:04