Sunday, December 2, 2012
No Class This Week
This is just a reminder that we will not be having class this week. Jane will be in her office during our normal class time. Please stop in and see her to get feedback on your stories. Otherwise, you can e-mail her. Your stories are due a week from tomorrow.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Reminders
Here is the link to the powerpoint presentation that I used with my lecture a few weeks back. Feel free to read through it as a refresher. It also contains the five questions you should always ask yourself about your story. Happy writing!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Homework for Monday, October 29
Due Monday, October 29
1. Make a list of ten opening lines (the very first sentence) from ten different novels or short stories. Just find ten that you think are good opening lines. Be sure to include the opening line itself, as well as the author and title of the work. Be prepared to discuss why you think it's a good opening line. You can just use books you have around the house. You can also look at Amazon, which lets you preview the first few pages of most books.
2. a. For this exercise you're going to flesh out a character and then write about them. You don't have to do the main character in your story, but it would certainly be a good starting point. Fill out the following about your character:
Character's Name:
Character's Nickname:
Sex:
Age:
Looks:
Education:
Occupation/Vocation:
Status and money:
Marital status:
Family, ethnicity:
Diction, accent:
Relationships:
Places (home, office, car, etc.):
Possessions:
Hobbies:
Obsessions:
Beliefs:
Politics:
Sexual history:
Ambitions:
Religion:
Superstitions:
Fears:
Attitudes:
Character flaws:
Characters strengths:
Pets:
Taste in books, movies, etc.:
Food preferences:
Handwriting:
Astrological sign:
Talents:
Friends:
Relatives:
Enemies:
As seen by others:
As seen by self:
Scars:
Tattoos/piercings:
Salary:
A few words or sentences will be fine for each category.
b. After you have your character fleshed out, put him/her in a scenario that gives the reader a clear indication of what kind of person he/she is. If your character is very nervous you could have them going to the mall to make a purchase, but they are overwhelmed by anxiety and have to turn around. Think about where they are in the scene (setting), what they think, what they do, what they look like, etc. and how these things define them. Make it one page, double-spaced.
On Monday you will turn in:
1. List of 10 opening lines
2. The list above (filled out)
3. A one-page scenario that expresses to the reader who the character is
*There will be no class on Halloween.
*The analysis questions for A Taste of Gianni Mascarpone are due on Monday, November 5th.
1. Make a list of ten opening lines (the very first sentence) from ten different novels or short stories. Just find ten that you think are good opening lines. Be sure to include the opening line itself, as well as the author and title of the work. Be prepared to discuss why you think it's a good opening line. You can just use books you have around the house. You can also look at Amazon, which lets you preview the first few pages of most books.
2. a. For this exercise you're going to flesh out a character and then write about them. You don't have to do the main character in your story, but it would certainly be a good starting point. Fill out the following about your character:
Character's Name:
Character's Nickname:
Sex:
Age:
Looks:
Education:
Occupation/Vocation:
Status and money:
Marital status:
Family, ethnicity:
Diction, accent:
Relationships:
Places (home, office, car, etc.):
Possessions:
Hobbies:
Obsessions:
Beliefs:
Politics:
Sexual history:
Ambitions:
Religion:
Superstitions:
Fears:
Attitudes:
Character flaws:
Characters strengths:
Pets:
Taste in books, movies, etc.:
Food preferences:
Handwriting:
Astrological sign:
Talents:
Friends:
Relatives:
Enemies:
As seen by others:
As seen by self:
Scars:
Tattoos/piercings:
Salary:
A few words or sentences will be fine for each category.
b. After you have your character fleshed out, put him/her in a scenario that gives the reader a clear indication of what kind of person he/she is. If your character is very nervous you could have them going to the mall to make a purchase, but they are overwhelmed by anxiety and have to turn around. Think about where they are in the scene (setting), what they think, what they do, what they look like, etc. and how these things define them. Make it one page, double-spaced.
On Monday you will turn in:
1. List of 10 opening lines
2. The list above (filled out)
3. A one-page scenario that expresses to the reader who the character is
*There will be no class on Halloween.
*The analysis questions for A Taste of Gianni Mascarpone are due on Monday, November 5th.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Reminders
There will be no class tomorrow.
Check three posts back for the handouts you need for the homework due Monday.
See you all on Monday!
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Portfolio Reminder
This is just a friendly reminder that your poetry portfolios will be collected at the beginning of class tomorrow. See the previous post for more information. Please don't forget to print the handouts from the previous post and bring them to class. After the portfolios are collected we'll be starting our section on fiction and short stories. See you all tomorrow!
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Adieu to Poetry!
After you turn in your poems next Wednesday we will start the last half of this course, which deals with writing fiction. You'll be reading, analyzing and eventually writing your own short stories. I'm going to be posting a bunch of different fiction handouts at the end of this post. Please print them and bring them to class next Wednesday.
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