Category: Uncategorized
-
The Narrative Hook: Grabbing Your Reader by the Scruff of Their Neck
The first sentence. It’s arguably the most important one in the entire story. It has to hook the reader, reel them in, and make them want more. Doug Lemov’s ‘Show Call’ can be brilliant for this. Share some of the best opening lines from classic books and get the students…
-
Can technology truly solve all human problems?
As technology increasingly automates tasks, provides endless distractions, and shapes our realities, a fundamental question emerges: where do we find meaning in a technologically advanced world? If machines can perform complex labor and algorithms can curate our experiences, what is humanity’s unique purpose? Some argue that technology frees us to…
-
The Rule of Three: Your New Best Friend in Storytelling
Why is it that so many things come in threes? The Three Little Pigs, the three wishes of a genie, the three-act structure. It’s because the ‘rule of three’ is a powerful tool for rhythm and emphasis. It’s psychologically pleasing. When teaching students about structure and emphasis, we can use…
-
The ethical use of biometric data.
The modern world has seen the unprecedented rise of multinational corporations, many of which wield economic, technological, and even political influence that rivals or even surpasses that of nation-states. With vast resources, global reach, and control over critical infrastructure and information flows, these entities can shape policies, influence public opinion,…
-
The Character Conundrum: Making Your People Believable
A great story is nothing without great characters. They need to be more than just names on a page. They need to be flawed, complex, and relatable. Doug Lemov’s ‘Wait Time’ can be used to great effect here. Ask a question like, “What is one thing your character is afraid…
-
Exploring the concept of “thought crime” in a digital world.
Biometric data — fingerprints, facial scans, iris patterns, voiceprints — offers unparalleled security and convenience in unlocking devices, verifying identities, and accessing services. However, the widespread collection and storage of this uniquely personal information constitute a significant ethical minefield. Unlike passwords, biometrics cannot be changed if compromised, making breaches potentially…
-
The Hero’s Journey: A Plotting Potion for Creative Souls
The Hero’s Journey, as outlined by Joseph Campbell, is a classic narrative structure. It’s not a rigid rule book, but a helpful guide. It’s the skeleton on which you hang the meat of your story. As Tom Sherrington advocates, we should use models. Let’s show them a classic film or…
-
The impact of hyper-connectivity on mental health.
In controlled or authoritarian societies, “groupthink” — a psychological phenomenon where individuals conform to the majority opinion to maintain harmony, even if it contradicts their own beliefs — becomes a powerful tool for maintaining power. The pressure to conform can be immense, driven by fear of ostracism, punishment, or simply…
-
Is true privacy still possible in the digital age?
As AI becomes increasingly sophisticated, its ability to mimic human intelligence, conversation, and even creativity grows exponentially. This raises a fascinating, and somewhat unsettling, question: could we be fooled by a highly advanced AI, believing it to be human? Beyond the Turing test, imagine an AI capable of crafting compelling…
-
The Art of the Rewrite: Why the First Draft is Never the Best Draft
The first draft is where you tell yourself the story. The second draft is where you tell the reader the story. And the third draft is where you make it pretty. Students often see a first draft as a finished product. We need to teach them that the magic is…
Antony West (Author) 