Playing with language conventions is like trying on clothes. Sometimes, you think something will work, but once you see it on, you realize that it is the wrong style or color. Sometimes, you have to keep trying on outfits until you find one that works. The same can be said of writing. You may try one approach only to see that it doesn’t fit the voice, style, or purpose of your writing. You may need to try another approach. Skilled writers experiment with their craft and sometimes write a piece many times to create a piece that fits their tone and style.
Let’s see how well you play with conventions and try on a writing style. After you write your paragraph, compare your writing to the sample provided.
Recall how you felt on your first day of middle school (or your first day of a new activity). Write a brief paragraph describing this event and the emotions you were feeling. Think about how you can use unconventional writing to create the mood for the reader.
| Your Responses | Sample Answers |
|---|---|
| I know you can do it. Believe in yourself. Believe. Each thought was pounding and echoing in my head--as I tried to push the negative thoughts away. I could hear my coach yell from the other side of the gym--as if he was trying to drown out the crowd. I walked slowly to the center of the gym floor, and suddenly, everything went quiet. Deafening quiet. Pin-drop quiet. It was as if the entire gym had inhaled at the same time and were all holding their breath. The fear was rising as my heart pounded. Thump. Thump. Thump. Suddenly the music began, and my body took over as I performed my floor routine for the first time in front of a crowd | |
Do you see how the writer of the sample used punctuation to slow down the reader and build suspense? In addition, the writer used sentence structure to convey the feelings of nervousness and fear.
How did you do? What unconventional approaches did you use? Let’s try another example, creating a different mood and playing with different conventions.
Imagine you are writing a fun and playful story or poem to be told to younger students. Below is a poem that shows how you can use nonstandard writing to create a whimsical tone and enhance the playful feeling of the piece.
In the garden of surprise white fences block the known.
I zig
And I zag
Looking for the heart-fluttering treasure.
In the garden of surprise, I look for the unknown.
I search thistly bushes
And the kaleidoscope of color.
The unfindable treasure is finally discovered.
I clasp it to my chest
Holding on tight to the feeling of belief
In the garden of surprise.
Do you see how the writer of the sample poem played with language and sentence structure? By using playful words in unexpected ways and varying line lengths, the writer created a lighthearted feeling, reinforcing the playfulness of the piece.
Now that you have played with unconventional writing in two shorter passages, you will write a longer story or poem using conventions to help convey your message.
