Need help with my homework (especially from all the good writers out there)

Sir Exxon · 01-08-2002, 08:29 AM

Ok, here's the deal.
I got homework today, saying that I must write a story on atleast 2.5 pages.
I must imagine that I live in London in 1666, and tell my life-story.
But I just cant find a good start! Can anyone out there help me?

see ya!

Staralfur · 01-08-2002, 08:31 AM

Write on every other line - use more space up

Galadria · 01-08-2002, 08:49 AM

Hi, Exxon. Since you helped me, I'll take a swipe at it.
"As dawn broke in London, Sir Josiah Peabody had just finished adjusting his wig. He surveyed the result with complacency. The woman in the bed had not yet awakened,and her soft snores filled the room. Peabody slipped noiselessly out, and once in the street, commenced the brief walk to the Admiralty, where he was to wait on Lord Bartholomew Chicester, the Second Lord of the Admiralty, about his request for a command of a ship to fight in the Dutch Wars. His last ship, the 74-gun Traffic had been lost after a desperate combat against the Dutch cruisers Noordhwuin and Heemskirck, sending both of them to the bottom, but so weakening the poor Traffic that she had succumbed in a storm that followed. A Cort Martial had of necessity followed, but he had been honorably cleared. Now, Lord Batrholomew had sent him a letter, advising him of Milord's good opinion and the hint that, if he happened to be in town, his Lordship just might have something for him" How's that?

Donut · 01-08-2002, 09:01 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Sir Exxon:
Ok, here's the deal.
I got homework today, saying that I must write a story on atleast 2.5 pages.
I must imagine that I live in London in 1666, and tell my life-story.
But I just cant find a good start! Can anyone out there help me?

see ya!

Ha! Ha!, just tell them how bloody hot it is!

This subject is so broad - you just lived through the Great Plague & now you are in the Great Fire of London, you might find it hard to limit it to 2.5 pages!!!

Melusine · 01-08-2002, 09:05 AM

Do a Google search on it....
The most obvious subject would be the Great Fire. Try and read up on that a bit and imagine the effect it had on people's lives.
Try and find some info on Pepys' Diaries, too, they're quite famous and should inspire you. His diaries were written in a secret code that was cracked years later. He started writing it in 1660.
Try to start with thinking about the kind of person you were: rich or poor, scholar or merchant... what religion did you have, what political views. Remeber that the period of Commonwealth had just been ended seven years ago by the ascension of Charles II. How does your persona feel about that?
An other interesting viewpoint may be to write your story from a foreigner's point of view. When war broke out between France and Spain in 1635, London saw a huge influx of protestant refugees. You could try to write from the stance of such a refugee who decided to build up a new life in London.

In short, try to find a persona and immerse yourself in his world. If you can REALLY imagine what his life and ideals were like, your story will be convincing. Good Luck!!!

[img]smile.gif[/img]

Melusine · 01-08-2002, 09:08 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Donut:

This subject is so broad - you just lived through the Great Plague & now you are in the Great Fire of London, you might find it hard to limit it to 2.5 pages!!!

Good point. Assume that your teacher knows enough about the subject: don't go explaining the political situation or giving an overview of the history of England: write from the viewpoint of one who assumes that his/her audience knows the same things as he/she him/herself knows.

Melusine · 01-08-2002, 09:12 AM

Ack... one more thing:

Run a GOOD spellcheck and if you're still unsure, I'd be happy to help out with any spelling/grammatical problems you may encounter: it just really makes a difference.
Oh and Galadria...isn't the story supposed to be written from a first-person perspective? Not sure if that was in the assignment or not... [img]graemlins/confused2.gif[/img]

Galadria · 01-08-2002, 09:48 AM

Easy enogh to change, Melusine. Just trying to help.

Hiram Sedai · 01-08-2002, 10:37 AM

Try this approach:

"Bring out your dead
Bring out your dead.

I'm not dead yet.
Oh, shut up.

Avatar · 01-08-2002, 10:43 AM

what happened in 1666?

01-08-2002, 08:31 AM	#2
Staralfur Baaz Draconian Join Date: April 8, 2001 Location: Nottingham, UK Age: 44 Posts: 786	Write on every other line - use more space up __________________ We\'ve heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the Complete Works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.\"<br />Robert Wilensky <br /><br />\"Why is there only one Monopolies Commission?\" <br />Screaming Lord Sutch<br /><br />If you choke a smurf, what color does it turn?

01-08-2002, 08:49 AM	#3
Galadria 20th Level Warrior Join Date: November 3, 2001 Location: Texas Age: 54 Posts: 2,830	Hi, Exxon. Since you helped me, I'll take a swipe at it. "As dawn broke in London, Sir Josiah Peabody had just finished adjusting his wig. He surveyed the result with complacency. The woman in the bed had not yet awakened,and her soft snores filled the room. Peabody slipped noiselessly out, and once in the street, commenced the brief walk to the Admiralty, where he was to wait on Lord Bartholomew Chicester, the Second Lord of the Admiralty, about his request for a command of a ship to fight in the Dutch Wars. His last ship, the 74-gun Traffic had been lost after a desperate combat against the Dutch cruisers Noordhwuin and Heemskirck, sending both of them to the bottom, but so weakening the poor Traffic that she had succumbed in a storm that followed. A Cort Martial had of necessity followed, but he had been honorably cleared. Now, Lord Batrholomew had sent him a letter, advising him of Milord's good opinion and the hint that, if he happened to be in town, his Lordship just might have something for him" How's that? __________________ Lady Galadria,Goddess\' Equal of the O.R.T.; [img]\"http://havak.db-forge.com/portraits/bitmaps/wlf180L.bmp\" alt=\" - \" /><br />\"Romance at short notice was her specialty.\" - Saki <br />Founder of the IW Branch of the Anti-Anomen Society

01-08-2002, 09:01 AM	#4
Donut Jack Burton Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Airstrip One Age: 40 Posts: 5,571	quote: Originally posted by Sir Exxon: Ok, here's the deal. I got homework today, saying that I must write a story on atleast 2.5 pages. I must imagine that I live in London in 1666, and tell my life-story. But I just cant find a good start! Can anyone out there help me? see ya! Ha! Ha!, just tell them how bloody hot it is! This subject is so broad - you just lived through the Great Plague & now you are in the Great Fire of London, you might find it hard to limit it to 2.5 pages!!! __________________ [img]\"http://www.wheatsheaf.freeserve.co.uk/roastspurs.gif\" alt=\" - \" /> <br />Proud member of the Axis of Upheaval<br />Official Titterer of the Laughing Hyenas<br />Josiah Bartlet - the best President the US never had.<br />The 1st D in the D & D Show

01-08-2002, 09:05 AM	#5
Melusine Dracolisk Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Age: 43 Posts: 6,541	Do a Google search on it.... The most obvious subject would be the Great Fire. Try and read up on that a bit and imagine the effect it had on people's lives. Try and find some info on Pepys' Diaries, too, they're quite famous and should inspire you. His diaries were written in a secret code that was cracked years later. He started writing it in 1660. Try to start with thinking about the kind of person you were: rich or poor, scholar or merchant... what religion did you have, what political views. Remeber that the period of Commonwealth had just been ended seven years ago by the ascension of Charles II. How does your persona feel about that? An other interesting viewpoint may be to write your story from a foreigner's point of view. When war broke out between France and Spain in 1635, London saw a huge influx of protestant refugees. You could try to write from the stance of such a refugee who decided to build up a new life in London. In short, try to find a persona and immerse yourself in his world. If you can REALLY imagine what his life and ideals were like, your story will be convincing. Good Luck!!! [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ [img]\"hosted/melusine.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /><br />Your voice is ambrosia

01-08-2002, 09:08 AM	#6
Melusine Dracolisk Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Age: 43 Posts: 6,541	quote: Originally posted by Donut: This subject is so broad - you just lived through the Great Plague & now you are in the Great Fire of London, you might find it hard to limit it to 2.5 pages!!! Good point. Assume that your teacher knows enough about the subject: don't go explaining the political situation or giving an overview of the history of England: write from the viewpoint of one who assumes that his/her audience knows the same things as he/she him/herself knows. __________________ [img]\"hosted/melusine.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /><br />Your voice is ambrosia

01-08-2002, 08:29 AM	#1
Sir Exxon Zartan Join Date: October 15, 2001 Location: Oslo, Norway Age: 35 Posts: 5,367	Ok, here's the deal. I got homework today, saying that I must write a story on atleast 2.5 pages. I must imagine that I live in London in 1666, and tell my life-story. But I just cant find a good start! Can anyone out there help me? see ya!

01-08-2002, 09:12 AM	#7
Melusine Dracolisk Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Age: 43 Posts: 6,541	Ack... one more thing: Run a GOOD spellcheck and if you're still unsure, I'd be happy to help out with any spelling/grammatical problems you may encounter: it just really makes a difference. Oh and Galadria...isn't the story supposed to be written from a first-person perspective? Not sure if that was in the assignment or not... [img]graemlins/confused2.gif[/img] __________________ [img]\"hosted/melusine.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /><br />Your voice is ambrosia

01-08-2002, 09:48 AM	#8
Galadria 20th Level Warrior Join Date: November 3, 2001 Location: Texas Age: 54 Posts: 2,830	Easy enogh to change, Melusine. Just trying to help. __________________ Lady Galadria,Goddess\' Equal of the O.R.T.; [img]\"http://havak.db-forge.com/portraits/bitmaps/wlf180L.bmp\" alt=\" - \" /><br />\"Romance at short notice was her specialty.\" - Saki <br />Founder of the IW Branch of the Anti-Anomen Society

01-08-2002, 10:37 AM	#9
Hiram Sedai Emerald Dragon Join Date: October 8, 2001 Location: Georgia Age: 54 Posts: 918	Try this approach: "Bring out your dead Bring out your dead. I'm not dead yet. Oh, shut up. __________________ [url]\"http://www.xsorbit3.com/users/HADB/index.cgi?board=general&action=logout\" target=\"_blank\">HADB Messageboard Board</a><br /><br />Hopelessly Pedantic

01-08-2002, 10:43 AM	#10
Avatar Vampire Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: Cambridge Age: 41 Posts: 3,877	what happened in 1666? __________________ <b>Ê†ë®Ñï†Ý \'s Avariel<br /></b><br />Creator and Mithril Protector of the ALSB Clan <br /> [img]\"http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/avatar.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

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