Thursday, October 25, 2007

Short Story: Same Story in Different Voices

Post your story here. Remember that you can submit a part of a story. For example, write the ending or write a scene (a single incident). Anything you do will help you with the story overall.
View Short Stories: 10 Tips for Novice Writers for more information.

The "rules" are as follows.

Name of protagonist: Jack, a charming, ambitious, smart and selfish 26 year old.

Kind of conflict: external conflicts (with social environment, with other people etc.) Jack wants to marry a rich woman.

Why does he she want that? It's the easiest route to success.

What does he or she need to do? To find that woman somehow and seduce (attract; not have sex unless you are really daring!) her.

What are the obstacles (name 3): He comes from a poor family. He doesn't have enough good clothes. No car.

Setting: From a poor eastside Vancouver neighbourhood. (east of Main Street). Near Boundary.

Ending:

Does the protagonist succeed. How? or Why not? In a way he succeeds, but finds that it is not a perfect situation. The ideal woman is 20 years older than he is.

Introducing the Student Essays

For the four essays chosen in today's class, write a short introduction (50 to 75 words) that would help to interest a reader in devoting the time to reading the full essay. You should write at least one, but can write more than one if you wish. Write on your favourite, of course.

A New Way to Collaborate!

I've found a unique and interesting way for us to make edits to student work online. I've put students' writing up to demonstrate today. In order to access editing the document, you'll need the password, writing12.

Assignment: Go in and try an edit on one or two pieces below. Try to be helpful, but don't take too much time. We'll practice more throughout the term.

Here's Masaru's "A Daffodils and a Douglas Fir"

Here's Hongxin's "The Freds"

Here's Emilia's "10 Words"

Max's "10 Favourite Words Paragraph"

Suzanne's "Pursuing Fortune"

Tina's "Business and Happiness"

Thursday, October 11, 2007

"Short Story Basics" Worksheet

Put your story outline as a comment to this post. Bring your ideas to class on October 25 to begin working on writing a full length short story.

Your "Favourite Ten Words" Writing Exercise

Please post the results of your writing exercise as a comment to this post. For Masaru (and Lina) here is the final list. There is no word limit. The only rule is to use all the words in your writing and for it to make some kind of sense!

Douglas Fir
Daffodils
Sunset
Pacific Ocean
Chocolate
Smile
15 Million Dollars
Green
Hawaii
Motorcycle

Link to "Learning the Edits" Information on an Editor's Changes

In 2000, I had a piece published in The Globe and Mail on the life of a dear friend whose life was cut short by cancer. The piece was extensively edited before it was published. As a favour, the editor agreed to answer ten questions about her editing decisions. Read about it here.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Vote for Your Favourite 10 Concrete Words

Vote for 10 in a comment to this post. Next week, we'll use some of these words in a piece of writing.

Sunset, Pacific Ocean, Douglas Fir

Turkey, Cook, BBQ Sauce

Daffodils, chocolate, green

The Big Idea, Mont Blanc fountain pen, parchment

Spaghetti, motorcycle, pin-striped suit

U.S Open, Hawaii, Fred

15 million dollars, health, smile

Electricity, clams, soccer

Homework for October 11 Class

First, repost your writing from October 4 with a 20% cut. After your paragraph, explain why you made one of your biggest cuts (be specific about the words you took out). Why is the sentence (or sentences) better now?

Second, take one of the original sentences from another student's writing and suggest a cut. You might even suggest a cut to the revised version if you dare! Don't be afraid to make a suggestion on Brad's piece. I'm pretty wordy in my first drafts.