Week 9

Before Wednesday, March 30, students will do the following…

• Read my Announcement (there are questions you need to be ready to discuss).
• Write Journal Assignment 5: Write about a moment from your past that changed you. It can be a large or small change—but focus on what, exactly, happened and how you changed. Title it Full Name, Journal #5 and save it under the category Journals by Wednesday, March 30.
  • A few prompts to get you going (if you’re needing some):Write about a significant move in your life, either from another country or just a borough/neighborhood.
    • Write about a friendship lost or gained.
    • Write about a decision you made that your family disagreed with.
    • Write about the first time you felt alone in the world–and how that made you view the world and yourself.
• Respond to your Cohort’s work by class time on Wednesday, March 30 and email it to them and me. (Remember, these critiques are worth 20% of your overall grade!)
• Read Chapter One from Ta-Nehisi Coates’ The Water Dancer.

During and after class on Wednesday, we will…

• Discuss my Announcement about setting & context in fiction (and other genres).
• Talk about Coates’ chapter and what we think the novel is about.
• Write a critique of Coates’ work. What did you enjoy? What questions/suggestions do you have for the author? Title it Full Name, Coates’ Critique, and post it under Discussions.
• Discuss how the class is working for you, what you need from me, etc. Be ready to talk about the following questions:
  • What have you enjoyed the most about this class so far?
  • What have you enjoyed the least? Why? (You can be honest!)
  • Have you been able to accomplish some of the things you wanted to learn/practice this semester?
  • How can I help you to accomplish more of your goals? (Again, be honest, but realistic!)
• Revise Short Story 1. The final draft must be titled Full Name, Short Story 1 (Revised) under Short Stories by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, April 6.
• Then, begin writing a NEW story in any POV you like (First Person or Third Person), but focus on the setting and, by changing the setting, you’re probably refocusing the context. 
• You have two options for Short Story 2.
  • Take your story from Journal 5 and fictionalize it by putting it in a totally different setting.
  • Or, you can take your story from last week’s exercise (using the pictures A, B, or C), and place that story in a totally different setting.
  • More settings from Creative Writing Now:

Have your story take place…

1. in a tattoo parlor
2. at the zoo at night
3. in an abandoned hospital
4. in a submarine
5. in a magnet factory
6. in the vault of a bank
7. in a bridal shop
8. in the kitchen of Buckingham Palace
9. on the edge of a cliff
10. entirely in the dark

• You aren’t required to use one of these settings, of course, but hopefully you see what I’m wanting you to focus on!
• First draft for your Cohort is Wednesday, April 6.