You need access to about 12 computers with pupils working in pairs. You explain that you are going to work on a mini-saga. A mini-saga is a story with a beginning, a middle and an end but has to be told in 60 words exactly - no more, no less.

The pairs work on this and each pair writes a mini-saga. Pupils can use the word count to keep a check on their progress. When they have finished, you then make an admission that you made a mistake and that the word length should be 50 not 60 words. The pupils then have to scrutinise their work to decide how and where they are going to lose their 10 words.

Before they start the editing, ask them to make a copy of their original 60 words so that comparisons can be made with their finished 50-word version.

It is important that children work straight on to the screen. This introduces a very simple form of editing and brings in the use of the word count. Here, you can teach the most efficient ways of removing words and how to move words around.

In a later lesson, give a copy of all the mini-sagas to each person so that pupils can produce a publication using desktop publishing (DTP) software. The final work can be illustrated and comparisons made.

Here is an example of a mini-saga written by a 10-year-old pupil:

“One night when I was out, I saw something black in the trees, I wondered what it was. It was a black cat with yellow eyes and a beautiful black coat. I decided to take it into my house and give it some food. It sat on my broomstick and purred.”

Jack Kenny writes about ICT at www.tes.co.uk