the class
Write, a lot!
Writing is not easy, not for anyone. Maybe you've been given that idea from somebody, a teacher or another student, but it's just not true. Sure, it's easy to burp out some meaningless drivel about x,y.z, but to write something you care about and that speaks to other people, that's another thing altogether. That's what we're aiming for in this class, and again, it won't be easy. But, if you're willing to jump in, and to dig at those things in you, and you truly work at what you say, then you just might say something amazing. I know you will.
Read more about the classthings to consider
Assignment #5
Due May 22nd. For this, you are to to bring in three pieces of writing. All three can come from pieces you've started in class. ALL THREE PIECES MUST BE AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL, that is, they must be about you and your life. You can choose any piece we worked on from entries 24-31. One piece must be a poem; one piece must be roughly a page; one piece must be a multiple page story (minimum three pages), focusing on some element/moment/person in/of your life. Keep everything we've talked about in mind as your write: Show, don't tell (who, what, where, when, why, how); explode the moment; verbs are the key to showing (avoid: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been); Purpose (a set plan for what you are trying to show). Further, keep in mind that good writing doesn't mean that you remember every detail of the past. Rather, you decide how you want to remember the past, and write about it accordingly, filling in the details that match how you want to remember this past event. Also, keep in mind that when you are writing about a moment it's the same as writing a short story. That is, you need to develop plot and character.
Assignment #4
Due April 30th. For this, you are to write a complete short story, using the techniques and approach of a postmodernist writer. We discussed a number of approaches, and even tried a number with some short in-class writing. You can choose to extend something we started in class, or you can start from scratch.
With the first short story, I nagged you all about real characters, that feel developed and believable. You can now break that rule, along with every other we have talked about. The idea here is that you have some room to step away from what a short story is supposed to be, because that's the whole point of the postmodernist outlook, to question what a short story is supposed to be. Your story can be silly, dark, creepy, or monotonous. The way to be successful is to play with characters, plot, and every other convention in story telling, just as Stranger than Fiction does. Have fun!
As another example of postmodern storytelling, you might read the first couple of pages of the novel If on a Winter's Night a Traveler, which is a book about reading a novel called If on a Winter's Night a Traveler.
Bring three copies to class!
ssignment #3
Due April 9th. For this, you are to write a complete short story. If your story becomes massively long, then you can submit a portion of it. You story should be a minimum of five pages. This is not because I want to push you to write a bunch (which I do, but that's another story), it's that I don't think it's possible to develop something in less than that.
Things we have talked about:
1. Create a character first, one that you know. While the backstory may not appear in the story you write, all that backstory will help you know your character.
2. Every character wants something. Whatever it is that your character wants will most likely be the driving force in your story.
3. Be sadistic: put the character through hell, and watch how he behaves. Don't give your character what she wants, and torture her with what she wants.
4. The climax of the story is when the character breaks. As soon as the character breaks, the story is over. Don't let the character break, be sadistic.
5. While the character breaks, he is not broken, and for this reason, he's just a little better off. Nothing is perfect, and perfect endings are cheesy and unrealistic.
6. Dialogue and setting are simply means to develop character.
7. Go for realistic plot and character.
If you're stuck, a great resource is 10 Tips for Creative Writers.
Bring three copies of your story to class.
revise Assignment #2
Due March 12th. These will be graded, so take the feedback you receive and create a masterpiece x 2.
Assignment #2
Due March 8th. For this assignment, your task is to display what you understand about writing, at least as we have talked about it for the past two weeks. Here are the techniques we have talked about: Show, don't tell (who, what, where, when, why, how); explode the moment; verbs are the key to showing (avoid: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been); Purpose (a set plan for what you are trying to show). So first, mustering all of your skills, write a story (either fiction or non-fiction) that SHOWS one abstract noun. That is, describe a moment in your life that shows "freedom," for example. Your task is to explode a moment, use verbs, showing writing, and all other skills you have to convey "freedom." Do not use the word freedom, or any synonym for it, as that would be telling. You can choose any abstract noun. Your abstract noun piece must be at least TWO PAGES. Second, polish up one piece from your notebook, entries 7-12, and bring it in too. This should also display what you understand of descriptive writing.
Bring THREE COPIES of each!!!
revise all writing for 2/29
That is, revise all the pieces that were returned today (2/27).
Submit to reflections!
Two submissions are required, and any beyond that are extra credit. While I hope you submit all sorts of work, for this purposes of this assignment, the writing must be from this class and it must be writing, as opposed to art.
Due February 24.
revisions of Assignment #1
Due February 21st. Based on the feedback you received, revise all four pieces. We haven't talked about revision yet, but suffice it to say that fixing spelling errors is NOT revision. Revision means re-seeing. Now that you've gotten some words on the page, how can you make them say what you really want them to? That might be as much effort as writing the original piece. But, great writing takes some effort, and you'll amaze yourself when you see what your efforts will create.
Bring all drafts from class today, and the new ones, on Tuesday.
Assignment #1
Due February 16th. For this assignment, you need to do several things. One, choose two pieces from your front journal that exhibit your best work (keep in mind that we've been experimenting with language over making sense, i.e., sound is the key!). These were written quickly, in class, so chances are 100% that those pieces will need some polishing, extending, smoothing, crafting, and lots of other -ings. These will also form what will eventually become your grade, so choose pieces you love, and pieces that show your ability as a writer. Next, create a blackout poem. You can find inspiration and explanation on this site, but a couple of specifics: one, you must actually blackout all of the words except the ones that form your poem; two, tape the newspaper clipping to a piece of 8.5 x 11 paper; three, bring in a typed version of your blackout poem. Last, create a new poem that is inspired by the beat poetry approach, ee cummings, or Walt Whitman, or if you're feeling particularly out of control, all three.
BRING IN THREE COPIES OF EACH OF THE FOUR PIECES OF WRITING!!!!
Due February 16th.
myself as writer
For the overview of the assignment, click here. As a young writer it's not only important to work on the craft of writing, but also to consider your successes and failures as a writer. That's what this assignment is designed to do. All assignments, including this one, must be word-processed.
Due February 14. If I forget, happy Valentine's Day.
cool links
These are all to further advance ideas we may be talking about in class
As you well know, the internet is packed full of amazing amounts of information, much of it completely worthless. The links below are items that I have found that seem to connect with ideas we're are pondering in class. Some of them might simply be interesting, and have very little to do with our focus. Whatever the case, the more that you can see how the ideas we discuss in class spread through many different spheres, the more you'll begin to truly understand what this is all about. With that in mind, if you find any sites that seem relevant to our discussions, please let me know and I'll post them.
- Visual Poetry I'm not entirely sure how to explain this, but you need to check it out. This is computer based, visual poetry, and it can be amazingly intense.
- Poem staters and creative writing ideas
- How to write a novel using the snowflake method
- Creative Writing Prompts a list of prompts of all sorts. These are great to unlock your writing mind if you feel stuck, especially when it comes to back journals. Some are wacky, some are serious, but they're all good for writing.
- Learning to love you more a list of assignments stemming from simple to bizarre. The site is no longer updated, but the idea is originally a project run through P.S.U. These make great prompts for back journals.
- Nanonwrimo the one and only writing contest wherein you write a novel in one month. Lots of writing tips, and all sorts of fun activities. It's all about quantity not quality: everyone can write a novel!
- The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest write the worst opening line to a novel? It's harder than it seems. The examples are hilarious.
- Oregon State Poetry Association a site that catalogues all sorts of local poetry goings on. One item of note, look into all the contest that you might enter.
- Postsecret the immensely popular and important site that presents the postcard art and confessions of anonymous senders. How is this related to good writing? Isn't the best writing a sort of confession, a digging down into the core of who we are?