Discovery: The Ultimate Guide to Creative Writing

[elysepopplewell]

Small alterations such as gender and tense are usually allowed - just as long as the meaning of the stimulus is kept the same.

Spot on! Sticking to the stimulus and it's requirements (use this as the first sentence of your creative, use this as the central piece, etc, etc) is important - but it is lenient. If the most important idea is there, that's all that matters Do your best!

[Fadwa9]

Hi,
For the creative section, what does it mean to use the given stimulus as 'the central element'?

[jamonwindeyer]

Hi,
For the creative section, what does it mean to use the given stimulus as 'the central element'?

Hey Fadwa! You could interpret this a few ways, but the way I always did was this. It should be obvious to the marker, without you telling them, which stimulus you used (assuming there were multiple). Being the central element means that your creative is based, in some way, on that stimulus. It could actually play a central part in the story, or there could be a connotation/metaphorical meaning of it that your creative focuses on

[Fadwa9]

Hey Fadwa! You could interpret this a few ways, but the way I always did was this. It should be obvious to the marker, without you telling them, which stimulus you used (assuming there were multiple). Being the central element means that your creative is based, in some way, on that stimulus. It could actually play a central part in the story, or there could be a connotation/metaphorical meaning of it that your creative focuses on

Ok thank you ! 

[Blazeee]

WOW!! amazing amazing! very helpful thank you!

[Wales]

Hey Fadwa! You could interpret this a few ways, but the way I always did was this. It should be obvious to the marker, without you telling them, which stimulus you used (assuming there were multiple). Being the central element means that your creative is based, in some way, on that stimulus. It could actually play a central part in the story, or there could be a connotation/metaphorical meaning of it that your creative focuses on

Agreed. The stimulus should never be blatantly obvious. For example, my Half yearly creative stimulus was a person holding a teddy bear staring at a reflective painting. I had students who wrote about their character staring into the painting and gaining insight or a flashback trigger. I wrote about a person playing the piano and slowly realising things while playing and received a good mark. For your stimulus you want to extract the IDEAS from it but try avoid including it physically. It's what I like to call a noob trap

Goodluck!

[Crabstickz]

Thanks for the guide, it's super helpful!
Touching on something already mentioned about endings, would yyou reccomend an explicit ending or something a little vague and cliff-hanger-y? I am always terrified that my 'cliff hangers' are really just super vague endings and the marker doesn't know what I'm trying to say, do you have any tips on how to nail the ending without being too literal or too vague?

[jamonwindeyer]

Thanks for the guide, it's super helpful!
Touching on something already mentioned about endings, would yyou reccomend an explicit ending or something a little vague and cliff-hanger-y? I am always terrified that my 'cliff hangers' are really just super vague endings and the marker doesn't know what I'm trying to say, do you have any tips on how to nail the ending without being too literal or too vague?

I think the key for cliffhanger endings is, can you answer this question:

What does the cliffhanger reveal to the reader about Discovery?

If you can answer that question, chances are the cliffhanger works well and is justified given what you are trying to convey. It's very much a case by case thing, but this is a good exercise

In terms of what I'd recommend, normally having a climax is a must, but the resolution slightly less necessary. For example, you could have a creative where the whole piece is the character standing at the door of a plane deciding whether or not to skydive. The climax is the jump - You need not cover the drop and hitting the ground if you don't think it adds to your story

[Crabstickz]

right, so it's about whether my ending hits the discovery point or not? whether it reveals something about discovery rather than being unessecary information (in regards to discovery at least)
Thanks for tip! I'll keep the question in mind when I'm writing 

[jamonwindeyer]

right, so it's about whether my ending hits the discovery point or not? whether it reveals something about discovery rather than being unessecary information (in regards to discovery at least)
Thanks for tip! I'll keep the question in mind when I'm writing 

Precisely it - Ultimately everything you do needs a purpose, especially more controversial/abnormal decisions as a composer (anticlimax, abnormal structure, profanity, etc)

[jadzia26]

creative writing is by far my weakest point in english and i struggle to come up with ideas that don't end up cliche.
Another thing that is worrying is how subjective markers are. I know at my school the feedback can make no sense and sometimes reflects the portrayal of a character when in actual fact they're supposed to be that way.
do HSC markers treat creative writing the same way or are they a bit more open with ideas?
I feel creative writing is all based on opinion i worry if my idea isn't liked it will be marked down.
Is this the case?

[dancing phalanges]

creative writing is by far my weakest point in english and i struggle to come up with ideas that don't end up cliche.
Another thing that is worrying is how subjective markers are. I know at my school the feedback can make no sense and sometimes reflects the portrayal of a character when in actual fact they're supposed to be that way.
do HSC markers treat creative writing the same way or are they a bit more open with ideas?
I feel creative writing is all based on opinion i worry if my idea isn't liked it will be marked down.
Is this the case?

it can be 100% subjective which pisses me off! got 15/15 for my creative for belonging last year, modified it a bit for discovery this year and different marker gave me 11/15 - no negative feedback about not relating to discovery but the actual story itself so i feel you

[jadzia26]

it can be 100% subjective which pisses me off! got 15/15 for my creative for belonging last year, modified it a bit for discovery this year and different marker gave me 11/15 - no negative feedback about not relating to discovery but the actual story itself so i feel you

Is there any way to ensure it doesn't happen?
or give less chance of the markers being able to do that???
I find it so frustrating especially since its already an area i struggle with it makes it just that much worse that marking guidelines are so broad and open to interpretation really. :/

[dancing phalanges]

Is there any way to ensure it doesn't happen?
or give less chance of the markers being able to do that???
I find it so frustrating especially since its already an area i struggle with it makes it just that much worse that marking guidelines are so broad and open to interpretation really. :/

well personally i believe it is that one teacher, he marks very weirdly. for example, he wrote on some kids papers "ok" as feedback and that was pretty much it. mine was too "melodramatic" apparently, but dont see how that equals 4 lost marks since it doesnt really matter that much. i guess make sure you reference the stimulus (preferably not literally) and make sure each sentence or so is saying something eg. about discovery and not there just for description/to look good. unfortunately you cant really ensure a marker isnt subjective haha it sucks

[jadzia26]

well personally i believe it is that one teacher, he marks very weirdly. for example, he wrote on some kids papers "ok" as feedback and that was pretty much it. mine was too "melodramatic" apparently, but dont see how that equals 4 lost marks since it doesnt really matter that much. i guess make sure you reference the stimulus (preferably not literally) and make sure each sentence or so is saying something eg. about discovery and not there just for description/to look good. unfortunately you cant really ensure a marker isnt subjective haha it sucks

True i guess just better to be safe and follow everything properly to try an eliminate the chance of marks being taken off.
so annoying lol but I'm glad its only one part of the exams!