Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Hemingway Draft #2

Most of Hemingway’s stories have simple plots revolving around the theme of death or alienation. Two characters usually do not have the same world view (or opinion) and their conversation or relationship is strained by miscommunication (or the fact that a character cannot explain him/herself to another human being.)

In your first draft you should have chosen a situation, written a story that focused on the here and now--a single moment or a limited time period in one location as discovered through dialogue between at least two characters. You were instructed not to get into the minds of the characters yet. For further details, please refer to the assignment below this post.

By now you should have a completed draft #1. If you do not have a complete draft #1, please complete draft #1 and label it as such before you continue.

Complete? Then go on to these instructions:

Draft Two: Flashback

1. After you complete the basic story. Write a second draft including the following:

a. Find moments in the story for your character to think about his/her past. Select these moments and for each one, develop the inner dialogue or thought process of your protagonist.

b. This “flashback” should reveal personal opinions, reflect on the situation, and/or connect ideas and people with your character’s past. Your character’s past should be detailed with much verisimilitude.

c. You may cover years or many days or a great length of time for your flashbacks. You may also change scenery or setting.

2. Separate your flashbacks by italicizing them.

Complete your draft #2 today in the lab.

During 8th period, please workshop your writing. Get feedback on the writing you've been doing. Also, discuss Hemingway and the stories you have read. Use the worksheet to take notes on the stories. Get your workshop group to assist you. You will be tested on this book when we return from break.

HOMEWORK: Please read the next 3 stories: "In Another Country", "The Killers", and "A Way You'll Never Be" for next class.

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About this course!

This course stresses understanding the characteristics & techniques in the literary genres of fiction, poetry, and dramatic writing. This course will continue to build on students’ reading and writing skills begun in previous creative writing classes. Readings and discussions of works by major writers in the field will be examined as inspiration and models of fine writing. This educational blog is designed for the use of the students at the School of the Arts in Rochester, NY.