Learn2Write

Exams can be a nightmare. Even if you had been preparing well for these dreaded days, feelings came be overwhelming when they are upon you. That wretched word ‘Revision’ is a cold, slimy slug that crawls up even an adult’s spine. So, what do you do to overcome all these obstacles and thrive? 

Let’s see some tips and techniques to overcome this maniacal moment that is always sitting on our shoulders. These pointers will help you write any creative writing exam well:

1. Prepare and go through the checklist for different genres:

As you all know by now, you cannot confuse genres in the exam. If you do, straightaway 40% marks are lost.

Whenever you prepare for an exam, you must make a check list for the different genres so that you can quickly revise them before you sit for the exam. Make flash cards for each one. These help while revising as well as practising writing.

2. Have a reliable stock of vocabulary: 

Studying should not only be thorough but also smart. Smart would be to come prepared with all the points on your fingertips. Smart would be to memorise a few wow words that would go with everything. Some words can be used across topics. Commit to memory as many as you can:

aghast, blood-curdling, macabre, ominous, abundance, profusion, maelstrom, bemusement, disorganisation, bewilderment, mystification, ravishing, glamorous, picturesque, myriad, effusive, animated, exuberant, frenzied, impassioned, ruinous, cheerless, drab, dreary, unilluminated, tenebrous, etc.

Can you think of any topic where even one of the following words would not apply?

And of course, don’t forget to learn their meanings as well. A word is useless if you don’t use it correctly.

3. Have a collection of interesting figures of speech ready for use:

Just like useful vocabulary, topics like describing emotions (such as fear or excitement), places (such as a forest or a city street) and the weather (calm or inclement) appear in a wide variety of writings (story, diary, recount, description, etc.). It’s then prudent to learn a few stock expressions that will be used in any situation: 

A chill ran down my spine. (Idiom for fear)

She was frozen in place with the news that she had just received. (Hyperbole for shock)

Mesmerising and magnetic, this myriad of memorable moments will be etched in our minds forever. (Alliteration denoting happiness)

Remember, in any creative piece of writing, at least two places should be vividly described: the setting and the action (accompanied by one’s emotions). They add depth to your writing and a sense of seriousness.

4. No matter what, write for at least fifteen minutes every day:

Write, write, write. There can never be enough of writing practice. Write about a new movie or a show you watched recently. Write about what you expect from the next year. Anything. This will take care of your spellings and punctuation as well. Not to mention, your writing speed will improve, and your imagination will soar. Thoughts will come to you smoothly, and you will not beat around the bush for the next point to write. 

5. Look at old question papers:

These often give you an idea about the type of questions a school sets. Not just that, you become familiar with the weightage of marks for different question types or genres. While looking at the questions, you can practise writing a ‘plan’ for each. This will help in speedy development of ideas and good organisation of points. 

6. Read as much as you can:

Vocabulary, creative ideas and original thoughts all stem from how vastly you have read. You never know when a particularly striking idea or a word that stayed with you would come in use during the exam. Some phrase about friendship must have struck you while reading a Harry Potter, or an idea about how bad luck wreaks havoc in someone’s life may have been difficult to shake off after finishing one book from A Series of Unfortunate Events. If you like science fiction, or action, you could pick up some ideas from Arthur C Clark.

So, with these points in mind, you will find that you are more confident to sit for an exam. Because, confidence is half the battle, isn’t it?

       In describing an underwater scene, the student has built a fascinating picture with master strokes
       of figurative and sensory language. The elegant use of metaphors, similes, personification,
       oxymoron and alliteration is well-supported by rich and sophisticated vocabulary. Sounds and
       sights have been weaved fluently into the description, allowing the reader to create mental
       pictures. Some instances of advanced punctuation have been flaunted by the student to create an
       impact. The choice of each word is deliberate and purposeful.

You are moving full steam ahead. You have the goal in sight. You have overcome all the obstacles and are prepared to bring it home. Suddenly, you hit a brick wall. You can’t see the other side. Nor do you know how to proceed. Have you ever experienced such a dilemma in the middle of your fabulous writing piece? 

Everyone, no matter what age, has faced a writer’s block. It is a dark screen in front of you and no light can shine through. No matter how hard you try, you just cannot seem to look beyond it. That fabulous ending or an exciting argument seems to slip through your fingers and go further and further away from you. How do you get it back? How do you get that nitro powered engine back on track that was moving at sonic speed? 

Next time you face these problems in the middle of your story during an exam, why not try some of these methods?

1. Write a little bit more about the main character: 

How do you jump from the introduction to the heart of the action? Imagine this technique as a bridge that joins the opening to the conflict. You will have to introduce the main character soon, so why not do it now?

Annie never missed a chance to catch any programs on TV about trains and had devoured all the books available in her local library about them. Hence, she could tell that the rhythmic chuff emitted from the front was of a healthy engine and that the problem lay elsewhere. 

2. Write what is going through the characters’ heads as they struggle to solve the  

     problem:

That plotting an exciting conflict is a challenging prosect, we all agree. What comes next is even more troublesome. You need to make the main character come up with a solution. Simply making them act on it seems strange if you don’t tell what their plan is. So, another way to build that bridge is to portray their thought process.

Cameron knew this was the best time to show the class bully that he wasn’t the same meek kid anymore. Over the holidays, he had spent time gathering his guts and standing up for what was right. He wasn’t small anymore. In a flash, he took a decision.

3. Add dialogue:

Dialogue is one of the best ways to break the monotony of action. Interjections here and there are the best ways to keep the reader engaged with the movement of the plot.

“Bah!” Tom exclaimed. “This is taking longer than expected.”

 Jill looked at Britta worriedly, “What if we get caught?”

4. Give details about the place where the story is taking place:

You can never have enough of describing the setting. So, every time you don’t know how to proceed, describe something that could give a clue to the reader about the next course of action by the characters.

Gareth looked around the island he had just stepped onto. There were a couple of palm trees swaying in the salty air and providing the only shade available nearby. Farther way, he saw a patch of tall grass with some shrub sticking out like a sore thumb. Without waiting a second more, he made his way there.

5. Use foreshadowing or flashback:

When your mum or dad is cooking something delicious, don’t you want a bite of it before it is served? In the same way, it is a good idea to give the readers a taste (hint) of what is to come so that they remain excited about the end of the story. You can use a flashback or a foreshadowing or a mixture of both to create suspense and give a hint of what may happen. 

Petra entered the narrow lane that would lead her straight to the main road and onward to her friend’s house. This was the infamous lane. It hardly had any visitors. The trees grew close to each other with a thick undergrowth. Her friend’s chilling words came rushing back to her mind: she had said that she felt someone or something follow her through the trees but had never found out who or what it was. Nevertheless, brushing these dire warnings aside, Petra chose to go through. The alternative route would take up three quarters of an hour. 

So, here you have five different ways of proceeding the next time you find yourself in a rut. Which ones will you choose to dig your way out?