Monday, March 26, 2012

Creative Writing: Realistic & Autobiographical Writing, Pt. 1

Week of March 26-30, 2012:



I would like you to send me TWO reading journals of the free read book you are reading. If you do not have a free read book anymore, let me know before FRIDAY, and I will send you a couple of short stories to read instead.

I then want you to think of some ideas for your own short story.  Think about your own experiences.  "Write what you know" is a famous piece of advice.  Think of at least FIVE ideas of stories that have happened to you or someone that you know well that you can retell in a short story (creative licence is fine here to fill in some details).  

So that you have some other options, write down THREE ideas in which you can be a little more creative.  That is, you don't have to write about an actual instance in your life, but base it on what you know.  Nathan Englander explains that sometimes, “'Write what you know’ isn’t about events… It’s about emotions. Have you known love? jealousy? longing? loss? Did you want that [video game system] so bad you might have killed for it? If so, it doesn't matter whether your story takes place in Long Island or on Mars – if you’re writing what you know, readers will feel it.” 

So, to summarize: This week you will need to complete the following by Friday: (Remember, no school on Friday, so you may want to get this all finished and sent by THURSDAY, though Friday is acceptable for on-time credit):
  • TWO (2) reading journals (your free read book OR the following short stories: "Hair" by Malcolm X and "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros)
  • FIVE (5) story ideas based on your life/experiences (a phrase or sentence describing the event is fine)
  • THREE (3) creative (but realistic) story ideas (Ex. "A story of a girl named ____________, who lives in _____________ during _______________ and does ___________________/________________ happens to her.")

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