Day 1 Writing Homework
Writing Prompt:
Write a short narrative (250–350 words) that explores the relationship between a single character and a vivid setting. Like Leo in The Lost Violinist at Circular Quay, your character should be shaped by their environment and have a relationship with it — your setting should reflect their emotions, choices, or transformation.
Your story must include:
– A character with a clear personality, vulnerability, or motivation
– A specific time and place that shapes the story’s mood (e.g., dawn, storm, fog, rooftop, train station)
– Use of sensory detail to bring the setting to life (include at least 3 senses) AND at least one example of figurative language (personification, metaphor, simile)
– At least one moment of internal conflict or emotional change in the character
– A final piece of imagery that connects character and setting in a powerful way
Please upload your homework as a comment below:
Homework will not be marked if submitted after the due date.
- Due Date : July 16, 2025
- Feedback will be shared in 3-5 days
4 thoughts on “Day 1 Writing Homework”
Fog clung to the harbor like an old sorrow on this damp October evening. Mae stood at the edge of the wooden dock in Port Arlan, her scarf fluttering in the wind like a frayed memory. The last ferry was late. The sea hissed beneath her boots, whispering promises and warnings she couldn’t quite decipher.
Mae had always been the quiet one, a librarian in a coastal town too small for secrets. But today, her world had shifted. In the hollow of her coat pocket was a letter—creased, smudged with the oils of her fingertips, read too many times. It was from her sister, Isla, gone seven years without a word. Come to me. I need you.
She hated boats. She hated the sea. And yet, here she was, drawn by something deeper than fear. The ghost of old arguments haunted her—the way she’d slammed the door, the way Isla’s voice cracked the last time they spoke. Now, regret curled tight around her ribs.
A seagull shrieked above, slicing the silence. The salty air stung her nose, mingling with the faint scent of diesel and seaweed. Her fingers trembled as she traced the name on the ferry ticket: Isla’s Cove. She closed her eyes and let the wind comb through her hair, whispering of tides and second chances.
The boat’s horn cut through the mist like a wound reopening. Mae stepped forward.
As the ferry emerged from the fog—its lights soft halos in the gray—a strange calm settled over her. The dock creaked beneath her, steady as a heartbeat. She wasn’t sure what waited on the other side, but the sea, once a wall, now felt like a bridge.
And as she boarded, the fog folded around her like a quilt, stitching her into the story she was finally ready to continue
Please see the attached PDF for the feedback.
Y4_D1 – Thomas Zou
Tom’s Performance
At the crack of dawn in Central Station, Tom unpacked his cello from its case. His callused fingers fumbled as he unlocked the case and his hood and cloak draped his body. With bated breath, he looked around the station at the starring eyes of people standing around waiting for him to start his performance.
As Tom carefully pulled his cello from its case, his teeth chattered, and his body started to tremble. He unpacked his case, stand and sheet of music while cautiously looking at the audience. His fingers quivered and turned pale as he began to play his well-rehearsed piece of music and beautiful music flowed through the air like a waterfall.
The music coming from Tom’s cello told its own story, and the sunny weather mirrored the music. Tom was overjoyed at his accomplishment of playing the first half of his song. It all changed when he beamed at the audience absentmindedly, and lost track of the song. His finger hit the wrong note, and his eyes flew open like two full moons. The next part of the piece was a pandemonium. Many of his audience lost interest in his song and contemptuously walked away.
Tom’s heart beat as if he had just run a long marathon. A bead of sweat trickled down his face. His whole body turned a ghostly pale pink, and his cheeks reddened with embarrassment. Those left standing snickered and turned away disdainfully. A small tear escaped his eye, and his bottom lip trembled.
Just at that moment, a small voice whispered, “don’t stop, you can do it.” Surprised, Tom turned to see his best friend Jon beside him. When Jon encouraged Tom, Tom’s heart seemed to spark with determination. He picked up his cello and strummed the rest of his song, attracting more audience. At the end of the song, he bowed and was showered in a round of applause. When Tom left Central Station, he realized that even the greatest performers made mistakes, and the thought of it encouraged him to become a more confident and braver cellist.
Please see the attached PDF for the feedback.
Y4_D1 – Astrid