Sunday, October 22, 2006

Critiquing, Submitting and Etc.

Hi All,

I'm enjoying the submissions to the two challenges but would like everyone to try to follow the directions more exactly. It makes it deliciously hard, I know, but that's the point! No fair to have a narrator filling in the back story or having dialogue in the action challenge!

You might try revising your original, following the rules more exactly. See what you get. Also, beware of "telling" or "telegraphing" in this kind of writing. We're not writing essays here, so we need to show, show, show and can trust our readers to fill in the "tell"!

Oh, and for every submission, please do a critique of another student. I can do some, but when a student jumps in it's better overall and also gives us access to lots of different opinions. So, one for one, if that makes sense.

Now, where are the rest of you? No fair always lurking (reading, but not writing). The class has lots of writers and we want to learn to write, so write more, more often and see yourself improve!

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Short Story Basics: Post Your Ideas Here

Hi Everyone,

Looking forward to a rest on Thursday? Here's a place for you to post your sketchy story outline. Follow the worksheet, "Short Story Basics" and let us know what kind of story you are proposing.

For a first story, think in terms of 500 to 1 000 words or so (one or two pages).

Take a look at this story by Hemingway titled, "A Very Short Story" It's in Word format and may give you a security warning in your browser. It's ok to open, I'm sure.

NEW: Try Six Word Short Stories for ideas and fun!

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Jealous: Character Challenge Two

Write, using only description of a person's actions, to show a person who is "jealous." According to Wordsmyth, jealous is "envious of the qualities, possessions, or achievements of another." It can also mean, "doubtful and suspicious of the faithfulness of someone for whom one has affection; fearful of losing the other's affection."

Obnoxious: Character Challenge One

Write, using only dialogue in about 50 to 100 words to show the trait, "obnoxious." According to Merriam Webster, "disgustingly objectionable : highly offensive." According to the Wordsmyth online dictionary: "extremely unpleasant or offensive; rude."

From an article on parenting obnoxious is described as "continually arguing, whining (adults whine too!), teasing, yelling or putting others down."

Be sure to have a character to respond to the obnoxious behaviour. Although children are often accused of this, adults can be just as obnoxious. Teachers see it when students make continual and unreasonable demands or who dominate in a classroom.

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Writing a Short Story: Things to Consider

Hi Everyone,

Now that we've played around with a setting and at least begun to think about a character, it's time to consider a short story. Remember that stories can vary from as few as 500 words to thousands! Perhaps our best approach is to start with a "short short" style story.

On the web, one short story writer comes up repeatedly as the one you have to read to get ready. Many of Anton Chekhov's stories are barely more than a page long. Why not read a few?

Another short read is Writing the Short-Short Story. Refer to one or two of Chekhov's stories to see how he "sets the scene" and "introduces the main character." Copy him and you cannot go too far wrong!

Comment here on ideas you may have had for a story.

What does the main character want? What prevents him or her of getting it? (what obstacles stand in the way). Why does the character want it? (motive)

What might be shown to us (theme) by a character's struggle? Ideas?

See you on Thursday for more on first steps towards a story.