Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Portfolio Building, Psychology, & Coffeehouse

Please continue working on your portfolio drafts. If you are planning to attend the coffeehouse this evening, please prepare your pieces. You may also select to continue your reading for The Madonnas of Leningrad. Try to finish this book by next week when we have our community presentation (March 26) and our author masterclass (March 29).

SPOTLIGHT ON: Character development and voice

In the novel, Marina is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease--a mental health condition (cognitive disorder). This makes the story more poignant, important, and relevant to our contemporary period. Writers often find it helpful to know a little psychology or medical information when writing about such topics. Take some time today, between frustrations, to learn a little psychology.

Take a look and read or study these psychological disorders. Use what you learn to create a story, non-fiction personal memoir, poem, play, film, etc. in which you write from the perspective or about a person suffering under these conditions.

HOMEWORK: Please continue reading The Madonnas of Leningrad.

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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.