M 1/16--NO SCHOOL
Tu 1/17--S:
Read excerpt from Writing Down the Bones (attached below).
Journal Entry #1. Word count: 500 words.
Pick one of the topics for writing practice listed on pp. 20-22 of Writing Down the Bones.
This should be a freewrite!
Please remember the "rules" of free writing
hands keep moving
don't worry about grammar and spelling
don't cross out/go back/edit
lose control
go for the jugular
Please time yourself--how long did it take to freewrite 500 words?
Post your journal entry on here on Canvas (note: it will be confidential)
Come up with THREE suggestions for writing prompts following the list suggested on pp. 20-22 of Writing Down the Bones.
Write these suggestions on your laptop (in class, you'll post them on a Google doc or on Canvas to share with other students)
W 1/18--L:
Read: Chapter One of Writing Fiction--read pages 1-15
Read: "The Omens"--pages 45-46 in your reader
Two separate PDFs below (apologies for image quality on page 2!)
Bring to class a wacky/interesting/beautiful/strange image
Print it out in color on one of the school's printers
Make TWO copies
Optional: Read Jane Bakerman "The Seams Can't Show" about Toni Morrison (attached down below as a PDF).
Fri 1/20--S:
Please read "Roy Spivey" posted below.
Think about the following questions:
What makes the story work (if it does work) for you?
Try to read the story like a writer and consider at least ONE thing you can take from the story to help your own writing (if you didn't like the story, that one thing can be something NOT to do in your own writing)
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Jot down FIVE sources of inspiration on your phone, computer, or piece of paper.
Upcoming important deadline: Thursday 2/9--first story submission due!
Note: Sometimes, assignments are intentionally short so as to allow you time to work on your own writing/story idea. Please use this extra time to full advantage!
Note: I often don't give assignments in advance because I like to create space for new ideas and assignments. I'm very open to your ideas so let me know if anything comes to you. That said, if you'd like assignments a bit further in advance b/c it's a heavy work week, let me know and I'll try to give the assignments out a little sooner (or at least tell you what I'm thinking).