ENGLISH - CREATIVE WRITING
A Glimpse Into the World of HNHS Writers
Whether as a tool for sharing ideas with the world , to share magical stories , to piece together an argument , or just a way to make sense of our own thoughts and experiences , writing allows us to connect with the world in incredible and unexpected ways . Within Havelock North High School is a community of writers who all share a passion for their art form which drives them to create . As a writer myself , I wanted to shed some light on this community , and to show how and why HNHS writes .
Year 10 student Zoe Congalton has been acknowledged in a number of competitions , including her commended piece Cleaning Clouds for National Flash Fiction Day , and recently placed third in a haiku competition . To Zoe , writing is a way she can express her emotions and feel more connected to the world . She also uses writing as a way of shedding light on world issues , as “ The world we live in will never be perfect . There is so much we don ’ t know , don ’ t care about or can ’ t change . I couldn ’ t stand knowing that I ’ m not even trying to make a difference . Writing allows me to speak out .”
One issue which Zoe has spoken out about through poetry is climate change . Her piece “ A Snapshot of the Future ” gives a look into the bleak future which could be in store for our oceans if we don ’ t take action , and acts as a warning for readers . She received a $ 100 scholarship as part of a Distinguished Honorable Mention Award for this work in the Bow Ocean Awareness Contest . Although she often struggles with beginning a piece of writing , Zoe says she has found it helpful to have structure within her planning process . ���� ������ ��� ���� ������ �������� ����� ��� ��� �������� ���� head ’, when she is able to actively search for ideas , free of outside distractions . This is important as she believes that it is important to have a clear direction in order to produce writing of a high quality .
A penguin , An avalanche of ice , The brushing of ice against a penguin , A million penguins , Dead , Drifting on the surface , A snapshot , Of a world ,
Of the future excerpt from ‘ A Snapshot of the Future ’ by Zoe Congalton
Living within magical worlds is something which creative writers are able to do on a daily basis . As with �������������������������������������������������������� Ruth Zapasnik is driven to write by the constant stream of ideas which occur to her , in the form of characters , their conversations and actions , or even whole worlds . Ms Zapasnik is a published author , having written numerous poems published in anthologies , as well as a book which has over 2000 reads on Wattpad . ���� ���������� �������� �������� ������� ���� ������ realism — are those which allow for creative freedom and the exciting challenge of world-building ; and her spontaneous approach lends itself to the development of gripping adventure plots .
Perhaps it is the spirit of adventure which lies at the heart of her stories that has led to the investment of
�������� ��� ���� ������ ��� ���� ����� ����� Anahera , and ���� ��������� ��� ���� ��������� ��� ����������� ���� �������� and even a song inspired by her work . This level of connection readers have with her story is to her a kind of magic in itself . However , along with this success has come the challenge of completing a second book — a daunting task which has taken over a year so far . Ms Zapasnik points to regularity as being the hardest thing to achieve with her writing , particularly when it comes to developing sections between key scenes . Her advice to an aspiring writer would be to “ Write . No matter what is in your head , even a sentence or a picture , write it out . And keep hold of it — you never know what , in future , you can develop into something bigger .”
������������������������������������������������������� separated by long , glittering sea lochs the Shetlanders call voes . The folds of the hills wax green and gold as the light moves across the landscape . Elaborate bastions of clouds curl above them , pearlescent in the afternoon light . Up on the mountainside , the air is painfully fresh and the breeze causes the golden strands of grass to ���������������������������������������������������� rocks .” excerpt from Anahera by Ruth Zapasnik
Piecing together an argument to convince audiences of an opinion is a task which allows opinion writers to use words in persuasive and engaging ways . Jess Soutar is a student teacher at HNHS , as well as a journalist who has written for countless prominent publications including Shortland St , Bay Buzz , and Women ’ s Weekly . She has been paid to write since she was a teenager , and has found her niche in writing opinion editorials / personal essays . These forms of writing , although based in facts ��������������������������������������������������������� generating ideas as these kinds of essays or articles are intended to challenge readers and to provoke an emotional response . In contrast to the more free-form style of creative writing , Ms Soutar ’ s work is generally tailored towards a brief , and restricted by length and a concrete deadline .
Books deserve our love , because in them lie the ideas and imaginings of our species . In books lies our freedom . But all that ’ s locked up in another ream of useless paper unless you take it into your own hands to release it . excerpt from ‘ Bibliogrinch ’, article for Bay Buzz by Jess Soutar Barron
The precision required within the opinion-writing process makes it more mathematical than creative , consisting of brainstorming ideas and then connecting them together in a predetermined structure . Even once the piece has been written it undergoes a rigorous editing process to ensure that it meets the brief , has ������������������������������������������������������ consistent with that of the publication . Although she is able to complete this process in short amounts of time ����������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������� work . The key to success as a writer , she says , is to keep putting yourself out there . “ Good writing takes oodles of practice so write , write , write . And say yes to every opportunity .”
Emilie Horsfall Year 12 110