Teach Primary Issue 18.5

58 | www.teachwire.net When Nora’s old nemesis, Ripclaw (aka. ‘Winifred’), comes looking for revenge, Nora, Atticus and Autumn are forced on a hair-raising quest in search of a magical treasure map. Their journey finds them fighting snot-flinging sea monsters, battling the elements in an almighty elektrosquib storm, and fending off a flock of flying, alligator-headed weepies . When writing this book, my number- one priority was for it to be funny. Not just ‘a bit of a titter’ – I was aiming for proper belly laughs. As well as being an author, I’m also a comedy actor and scriptwriter, and have starred in and written for loads of kids’ TV shows including Swashbuckle , Big Fat Like and Horrible Histories . I drew on that comedy experience as I was writing; I was constantly looking for ways to break conventions and keep myself entertained. Nora frequently insults the reader, the chapter names get more and more ridiculous, and there are even blank pages to give the reader an opportunity for a ‘Wee and Tea Break’… If it made me laugh, it made it into the book! This extract is from near the beginning of the story. After a few pages where Nora tries her best to persuade the reader to get lost (because she wants to crimp her hair and head to the casino), she eventually gives in and agrees to tell her tale. But she’s doing it her way – with anarchy and attitude from the very first page. Here are some tips you can use to help your own stories reach their full comic potential. TP N ora and the Map of Mayhem is a comedy adventure story full of monsters, mischief... and mayhem! When Atticus and Autumn are left with their great-grandmother, Nora, for the weekend, they’re hoping for a nice relaxing couple of days eating biscuits and playing video games; but when Nora’s around, nothing ever goes quite to plan…What the kids don’t know is that their great-grandmother used to be a monster hunter! Her friends call her ‘Spit-Tooth’, she has a secret closet full of weapons, and her clip-on earrings turn into ninja stars. Nora and the Map of Mayhem by Joseph Elliott WAGOLL Nora and the Map of Mayhem (£7.99, Piccadilly Press) is out now. DOWNLOAD RESOURCES AT Download your FREE , exclusive teaching pack to help you explore both this extract and the rest of the book with your class. tinyurl.com/tp-Nora FIVE TIPS ON WRITING A COMEDIC INTRODUCTION CREATE BOLD CHARACTERS One of the best ways to dive straight into the heart of the comedy is to come up with a big, bold character. The more interesting and engaging your characters are, the easier it is to make them funny. TAKE THE READER BY SURPRISE Be creative with your writing by playing with conventions and subverting expectations. You could try speaking directly to the reader. Or writing the whole first page in a made-up language comprised of quacks... Whatever you decide, grab your reader from the start and refuse to let go. (Obviously, don’t do this in real life; you may get arrested.) USE INTERESTING SLANG The ‘voice’ of your characters can really make them come to life, so try littering their speech with witty words and amusing phrases. Givin’ your character a wee accent can work in the same way. USE REAL LIFE Think about what has made you laugh recently – situations you’ve been in, people you know – and then exaggerate them to make them even more funny. MAKE YOURSELF LAUGH! If you find something amusing, chances are your readers will enjoy it too. Always keep it rooted in truth, though; if something’s not believable, it can get tiresome pretty quickly. Most importantly, have fun! Peer inside the mind of the author, and help pupils understand how to write a comedic introduction