Page 118 - Student: dazed And Confused

I wouldn't have chosen pastiches if I had thought it would be so difficult but I'm glad I chose
this option. I might not have learned much about the act of writing if I hadn't.
I was asked to do a similar task many years ago and I could not even get my head round it
then. Even now, I have my old trouble of knowing exactly where to draw the line between
pastiche and parody. There's copying something and identifying it, then there's
exaggerating it which is where I tend to end up.
I know really skilled people can tell the difference between pastiche and original but I don't
think you necessarily need to be a genius all the time. I've done my best to satisfy the
assignment and it was a giggle pretending to be someone else for a bit, to tell someone
else's stories. But, in future, I'd like to write as me though.

TUTOR NOTES -
It's pretty hard not to do a parody of Enid Blyton (no shit), and i think you've probably
strayed over into that territory. But you have nevertheless done a good job here and the
style was instantly recognisable.
The Chandler also strayed into parody, and i think yor sense of humour can't quite allow you
to do a serious pastiche (it gets boring if there;s no fun). But your writing was crisp and

cclear and moved the story along in a pacy way.
I like your determination to follow your own trail (well, i try), but i do think that your ability
to write in these two very different styles was impressive and effective.
Your writing has really come on. Your next step is probably (liking the certaibnty here,
teach) to do some some serious work on plot. Your style is accomplished, your
characterisation good, now you need to pay attention to planning story developmentand
making changes of tone and pace - the long game.

OVERALL MARK - 67