Vox Magazine is now called 'Toitoi'

...and they are looking for submissions now for the next issue:

http://toitoi.nz/submissions.html
Who can submit?
Young New Zealand writers or artists, 5–13 years old

What can I submit?

Submissions may be anything you like! For example:

• art
• short stories
• long narratives
• character descriptions
• poems
• legends
• myths

• lyrics
• raps
• recipes
• cartoons
• comics
• plays
• scripts

All submissions should be previously unpublished. 

Stories may be any length but may not exceed 2000 words.

Publishing schedule

Issue	Submission deadline	Publication date
Issue 2 Summer 2016	October 23, 2015 Submit now!	Term One 2016
Issue 3 Autumn 2016	February 19, 2016	Term Two 2016
Issue 4 Winter 2016	April 15, 2016	Term Three 2016
Issue 5 Spring 2016	July 8, 2016	Term Four 2016
Issue 6 Summer 2017	September 23, 2016	Term One 2017

The Key to Writing Great Scenes Is All About the Ending...

From author, K.M. Weiland

What’s the key to writing a great scene? ... correct scene structure. Good scenes are structured to keep the story rolling forward with a proper balance of cause and effect. You’ve got two parts to each scene and three parts apiece to each of those halves: scene (goal, conflict, disaster) and sequel (reaction, dilemma, decision). But that’s just the bare bones. How do you ensure that what fills up those scenes is awesome?

It’s simple: always end your scene with an outcome that’s opposite to the one people expect.

Scenes that end exactly how readers think they will are lazy scenes. Whenever you start writing a scene, ask yourself, "What will readers expect?" How can you turn those expectations on their heads while still remaining true to the characters and the needs of the plot? Find the answer to that question, and you’ll be on your way to the kind of scenes people will still be in love with even fifty years later!

Elsie Locke Prize Winning Story

Thought you might be interested in reading the winning story that is to be published in the School Journal.  Click here to read.

Home Learning before Tues Week 10

FINAL WEEK COMING UP FOR TERM 3

Time to reflect on and review your Extension Writing goals. 

 

Before next EW session please:

Open your Ext Writing Goal/Assessment doc

Your first goal:

Reflect on each strategy.  

• Was it utilised or not?  
• How effective was it as a strategy? 
• Record your reflections under 'Reviews'  (date this review)
• Then overall review of achievement of goal - not achieved, partially achieved, achieved. with links to evidence in your writing

Other goals: Repeat above if you have 2nd or 3rd goal.

Next week, I will see each of you to review your review... (hee hee)

NZ Intermediate Writing Competition

Create an original piece of writing (short story) using the following phrase as the theme or as a line anywhere in the piece of writing (but NOT as the title): ‘Beyond the Stars.’

- your piece of writing must be no more than 750 words

- your piece must be written with elements of science fiction, or fantasy

Other conditions apply so go here for more details

Home Learning Term 3 Week 9

Home Learning Term 3 Week 9

In preparation for your Author’s Circle:

EITHER:

• please choose one aspect from your latest writing that you would like feedback on from your Authors’ Circle.  It may be
• your hook
• your success at showing character in one section
• is there any unnecessary text in paragraph…..?
• success in describing setting
• Is my dialogue realistic to people and situation?
• Where to now?
• etc.

                              MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU!

OR:

• choose a paragraph that you would like to share with the group

Go to this doc to record.

Sophie and Freya to be published!

Congratulations to Sophie and Freya who have had poems selected to be published in the 2015 NZ Poetry Society anthology, 'Scattered Feathers'. 

The book will be launched during the National Poetry Conference in Wellington on the weekend of 13-15 November.

We are so proud of you and can't wait to see the book!

The Breeze 400 word Comp

The Breeze  400 Word Competition is back!

It is a competition that is open to year 7 and 8 students. You can write about anything you like as
long as it is no more than 400 words. The competition will be judged by one of New Zealand’s top
authors and the top 5 stories will then be read by famous New Zealand celebrities.

The winner of the competition will win $400 and also have their story published as an e-book.

TIMINGS: 
Monday 12th October     - Competition starts and students start writing their stories
Friday 30th October       – Entries close
Saturday 2nd November – Judging begins
Monday 9th November  – Top 5 Announced and read by celebrities on air
Monday 16th November - Announce Winner