• Bookshop
  • News
  • Login
  • Donate
  • Programmes
    • Young Writers Programme
    • Young Writers Festival
    • Summer residential
    • Folio Mentorships
    • National Writing Day
  • Writers
    • Our ambassadors
    • Who we work with
    • Becoming a First Story writer
  • Schools
    • Partner schools HUB
    • Free writing resources
    • BBC Teach x First Story resources
    • Becoming a First Story partner school
  • Locations
    • North of England
    • East Midlands
    • Greater London
  • About
    • About us
    • Our impact
    • Staff and trustees
    • Vacancies
  • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Make a donation
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

First Story

England's leading creative writing charity for young people

  • Bookshop
  • News
  • Login
  • Donate
  • Programmes
    • Young Writers Programme
    • Young Writers Festival
    • Summer residential
    • Folio Mentorships
    • National Writing Day
  • Writers
    • Our ambassadors
    • Who we work with
    • Becoming a First Story writer
  • Schools
    • Partner schools HUB
    • Free writing resources
    • BBC Teach x First Story resources
    • Becoming a First Story partner school
  • Locations
    • North of England
    • East Midlands
    • Greater London
  • About
    • About us
    • Our impact
    • Staff and trustees
    • Vacancies
  • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Make a donation

Alternative Valentine’s

A fun poetry writing game for beginners. This exercise highlights cliches — in this case writing about love and romance — and encourages students to be more daring and original in their work.

Prep and resources

Bring in a selection of Valentine’s cards or love poems, that can be cut up by students. (You’ll also need some pairs of scissors!)

Icebreaker: Poison Pen / Love Letter

Ask students to cut out individual words from a selection of Valentine’s cards or love poems. Then, scramble the cuttings in the middle of the table. Using a selection of random words, encourage students to piece together a new alternative verse.

Exercise: Bad Romance

First, ask students to compile a list of clichéd objects that they would expect to find in a typical Valentine’s card e.g. roses, hearts, teddy bears, puppies.

Next ask them to create a corresponding list of unusual and/or disgusting equivalents e.g. nettles, intestines, pebbles, headless dolls, eels.

Using the second list, ask each student to write the verse of a ‘bad’ Valentine’s card. For example, “My feelings for you are like the sting of a nettle / I love you with all the force of my intestines.’’

Feedback: ask if any students would like to read their pieces aloud. Are there any lines which stand out? Ask students to try and build on the imagery from their strongest lines.

Above Footer

First Story's funders include

Footer

Contact us

44 Webber Street
London
SE1 8QW

020 7481 7777

info@firststory.org.uk

  • First Story North
  • First Story East Midlands
  • First Story London
  • Vacancies
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Safeguarding
  • Pandemic response
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Notice
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Site Footer

© First Story Ltd. All rights reserved | Registered Charity No: 1122939 | Company No: 06487410