Week 4: Plot

Mon 1/29 (S):

  • Short story reading: "One of These Days" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (157-159) in reader.

    • Short story exercise: Write a short story in 100 words. Notice that if you're going to manage a conflict, crisis, and resolution in this small space, you'll have to introduce the conflict immediately.

      • Please use the word "(word to be announced)" in your story.

      • Please write on a word doc that you'll bring to class (it will be shared and posted in Google Classroom).

    • Block B: please use the word "Valentine" in your story. For an extra challenge, try using "pineapple" as well (or "lunge"?).

    • Block E: please use the word "abstain" in your story.

Tues 1/30: NO CLASS

Weds 1/31 (L):

    • Review Chapter 7 ("Story Form, Plot, and Structure") and bring book to class

    • Also, review "One of these Days" in reader and bring to class.

    • Read through your old journal entries, freewrites, and exercises for the class (you can also look at older journal entries and relevant notes/ideas you've written down in the past)

    • On Canvas, post FIVE possible ideas for a story: Canvas link is here

    • THEN, do a freewrite on one or more of these ideas in your journal.

      • Remember to follow Goldberg's guidelines for a freewrite.

        • Keep fingers moving; don't worry about grammar, punctuation, etc.; go for the jugular, etc.

    • As always, please time your freewrite and put the time it took at the beginning or end of your freewrite.

    • Total word count (for prompts and freewrite combined): 900 words or more

Fri 2/2 (S):

    • Read Chapter 3, "Building Character: Characterization Part I" in Writing Fiction. Please read the chapter carefully! (67-83; you can skip the short stories)

Be thinking about/generating ideas for your first story, which is due Thursday 2/8. Word count: 900 words.