What are you reading these days?

Give an account of your reading to us (why, where, how, what kind) and select one or two sentences that you think best reflect some of Janet Fitch's ideas.

Type the sentences into your comment so we can examine them carefully in next week's class. Also, if you like, please choose a really interesting (musically speaking) sentence for us to look at and imitate.

Link to Story Plots (the ones we didn't print properly last class)

Another version of the same plots with different, more easily understandable explanations.

TSA Writing Tips - THEMATIC PREMISE SHEET

TSA Writing Tips: No Nos (common plot problems)

Tennessee Screenwriting Association (home page for all above; lots to look at here)

Rules for Writers: Janet Fitch

Write a short comment (100 to 150 words) about one of Janet Fitch's rules for writers. Does it make sense to you? Why or why not? Is her advice familiar or unfamiliar to you?

Story Idea

Give us a plot and basic theme that you think might make the "bones" of a short short story of 1 500 words or so.

Varying the Narrative "Voice"

Take one of your pieces and rewrite it according to the way events and characters might be viewed by a very different narrator. Try to include all the same elements of setting, dialogue, plot and character.

*For an extra challenge: try doing the rewrite as a change from the omniscient narrator (all-seeing) to a first person (or the reverse, depending on your original).

A Jealous Character

Write, using only description of a person's actions and thoughts, 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."

Choose the kind of jealous you wish to express.