Welcome to the second semester!
Some writing advice from Marking Period 2 (and before):
1. Schedule writing at least 1 page of creative work per week--this can be done in the lab or at home, or during an advisement period. The more you write, the better practice it is. There will, of course, be required assignments during the course, but if you really want to write a poem or a short story and we're working on a script, feel free to write a story or a poem. Writers write. To be successful in class, to improve your writing, and to raise a grade in a portfolio, I should see writing of various kinds and types in your portfolio.
2. In ficion primarily, but in other genres as well: focus on a protagonist dealing with a conflict. This is your story. Don't avoid conflict in your stories. It's the element that makes a story interesting. It reveals your character. You need it. Stories are about a character dealing with a situation (usually a problem or situation out of their control, or at best because of a poor decision). Use models of our reading and see this truth in every successful story we read: a main character must overcome a conflict that threatens his/her way of life.
4. Build your ideas from earlier drafts. You wrote a story or a poem because you had to. Whatever you wrote, develop your ideas. If you are stuck, use the writing process to help you. Generate ideas. Outline. Mind map. Brainstorm. Use "writing assignments" as first drafts, but feel free to revise (see #5 below!)
5. Revise. Actually re-see your original drafts. Attempt to turn a 10-line poem into a short story of at least 1,000 words in length. Turn a play scene into a poem, or rewrite a homework assignment as a how-to manual.
6. Use imagery. That means visual imagery. That means metaphors, similes, allusions to famous or well-known myths or historical events, figurative language, symbols, etc. Learn the poetic devices we've been teaching you since 9th grade and USE them.
7. Risk. Write something that scares you because it's not like your normal writing. Walk the ledge and at the edge: jump.
8. Learn dialogue punctuation rules.
9. Learn sentence punctuation. Use punctuation in POETRY! Breaking grammar rules in poetry--you are NOT e.e. cummings. Not yet.
10. Write from your soul, not from your apathy or disinterest. Surprise yourself by enjoying the creative process. Try to fall in love with writing again. It's trying to get back with you.
Until March 15, Ms. Jordan will be working with you. While she is under my direction as regards curriculum, she is learning how to instruct high school students and will be directing and writing her own lessons. Please use the link below to check her blog for our course.
Ms. Jordan's Blog:
http://craftofwritingjordan.blogspot.com/
Some writing advice from Marking Period 2 (and before):
1. Schedule writing at least 1 page of creative work per week--this can be done in the lab or at home, or during an advisement period. The more you write, the better practice it is. There will, of course, be required assignments during the course, but if you really want to write a poem or a short story and we're working on a script, feel free to write a story or a poem. Writers write. To be successful in class, to improve your writing, and to raise a grade in a portfolio, I should see writing of various kinds and types in your portfolio.
2. In ficion primarily, but in other genres as well: focus on a protagonist dealing with a conflict. This is your story. Don't avoid conflict in your stories. It's the element that makes a story interesting. It reveals your character. You need it. Stories are about a character dealing with a situation (usually a problem or situation out of their control, or at best because of a poor decision). Use models of our reading and see this truth in every successful story we read: a main character must overcome a conflict that threatens his/her way of life.
- In drafts that do not have a central character, create a central character. Ask yourself: Who's story is this?
- In drafts that do not have an important or significant conflict, add conflict. What does your character want to avoid in his/her life? Once you answer, make this happen to your character.
4. Build your ideas from earlier drafts. You wrote a story or a poem because you had to. Whatever you wrote, develop your ideas. If you are stuck, use the writing process to help you. Generate ideas. Outline. Mind map. Brainstorm. Use "writing assignments" as first drafts, but feel free to revise (see #5 below!)
5. Revise. Actually re-see your original drafts. Attempt to turn a 10-line poem into a short story of at least 1,000 words in length. Turn a play scene into a poem, or rewrite a homework assignment as a how-to manual.
6. Use imagery. That means visual imagery. That means metaphors, similes, allusions to famous or well-known myths or historical events, figurative language, symbols, etc. Learn the poetic devices we've been teaching you since 9th grade and USE them.
7. Risk. Write something that scares you because it's not like your normal writing. Walk the ledge and at the edge: jump.
8. Learn dialogue punctuation rules.
9. Learn sentence punctuation. Use punctuation in POETRY! Breaking grammar rules in poetry--you are NOT e.e. cummings. Not yet.
10. Write from your soul, not from your apathy or disinterest. Surprise yourself by enjoying the creative process. Try to fall in love with writing again. It's trying to get back with you.
Until March 15, Ms. Jordan will be working with you. While she is under my direction as regards curriculum, she is learning how to instruct high school students and will be directing and writing her own lessons. Please use the link below to check her blog for our course.
Ms. Jordan's Blog:
http://craftofwritingjordan.blogspot.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment