Want to improve the quality of your writing?

Are you a budding writer? Creating a great story and making up interesting characters is only part of it. It might feel boring, but all successful writers spend a lot of time editing and polishing their work. Here are some tips

Writing Forward

http://www.writingforward.com/

This website has heaps of short articles on different aspects of writing. From grammar tips, to advise on how to improve your characters or how to be ruthless in your editing.

The Write Practice

http://thewritepractice.com/

As well as hosting a blog full of advice for writers, this website offers tutorials on writing short stories, grammar, character creation, and interviewing techniques.

Eyes on Celebrities Competition

This quiz is all about recognising celebrities. How closely do you actually look at them? Can you tell whose eyes are whose?

Yummy prizes will be awarded to the student/s with the most correct answers*.

Go to the competition

Entries close on Friday 12th of May.

Winners announced here on Monday 15th May.

*The number of prizes awarded for each competition may be limited at the library's discretion.

In the Cinema: A Dogs Purpose

This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog's search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, this touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here?

Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey's search for his new life's meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8 year old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog. But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey's journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders, will he ever find his purpose?

Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh out loud funny, this book is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose. [Goodreads.com]

Creative writing

Do you love creative writing? Or do you hate it, but have to do it for English? Either way, at times, you might find yourself staring at a blank page and wondering what to write or how to start. Here are a few websites that might help you…

Looking for inspiration?

Writing Exercises .co.uk

http://writingexercises.co.uk

This is a great website where the real danger is in being faced with too many ideas and getting addicted to their random generators! My favourites are the Random First Line generator and the Random Character Trait Generator. One is great for getting ideas going, especially if I am doing a 5 or 10 minute warm-up writing activity. The other is good for inspiring depth to my characters.

Writer’s Digest: Creative Writing Prompts

http://www.writersdigest.com/prompts

Aside from all the other things this community offers, this website offers a weekly creative writing prompt. These are detailed enough to be used for a short story or a longer warm-up. If you don’t like this week’s prompt, you can scroll back through previous offerings for something that sparks your attention.

Quote of the month

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.

- Philip K. Dick

Dr Seuss winners!

Another massive response to the quiz meant that 10 students answered every question correctly! Five lucky students were drawn out of a hat to win a major prize. All the other winners can come to the ILC to collect a small prize of their own

Congratulations...

Belen Coggins (7 Carroll)
Taane Mitchell (7 Carroll)
Ella Ball (7 Miki)
Daniel Duncan (9 Gonzaga)
Joseph Milledge (9 Gonzaga)

Minor prize winners:

Harrison Rolfs (7 Carroll)
Simbarahe Kamba (7 Carroll)
Daniel McInerney (8 Rubio)
Rory Quinn (8 Rubio)
Mr Mitchell (12 Garnett)

You will need to come to the ILC to collect your prizes.

Congratulations to the other students who had a go. Better luck next week!

Check out the blog again next week for a new competition and a chance to win!

Caraval by Stephanie Garber