Creative Writing II Schedule, Spring 2009

Following each date below are reading or other assignments due for that day. Also following each date are tentative activities and topics for the class period. If you miss a meeting, you should 1) get full notes and updates from several classmates; and 2) check with me again if you have specific, informed questions. Because this schedule is very flexible and subject to change, and because it's a workshop course, it's vital that you attend regularly and keep up with current announcements. Be sure as well to check your email and this online schedule regularly for changes and updates.

Jan. 11—

• Introduction to course.
• Count laptops.
• Begin notebook work: Eat Snow #1, 2, and 3.
• Style handout (figurative and descriptive language).
• Introduction to fiction project.
• Snow event narrative. How find/make a story in any event or sequence of events?

Jan. 18—Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Note: We WILL Meet for Class.

Before Class

• Read our Homepage and browse around Harmonious Confusion.
• Read about Workshop.
• Post your self-profiles to Blackboard. Include brief discussion of your favorite quotation in Skittish Libations.
• Check your email and/or the Blackboard Discussion Board "Workshop" Forum for anything your classmates may have submitted for discussion this week. (Be sure to read that material carefully before class.)
• Read Carver, "Cathedral."
• Read JCO story.

In Class

• Share faves from Skittish Libations.
• Work with readings.
• Elements of fiction: style and character. Take a look at two documents to help you develop characters in your stories: Character Tips and Characterization (U. of Berkeley).
• Eat Snow #4.
• Workshop.

Before Class

• Munro, "The Bear Came Over the Mountain."
• Read O'Brien's, "How to Tell a True War Story."

In Class

• Elements of fiction: plot.
• Work with stories.
• Workshop.

Before Class

• Read in Small Box: all of Deb Olin Unferth.

In Class

• Work with readings: the short-short story.
• Workshop.

Deadline for submission to Northern Eclecta ?

March 8 —

Before Class

• Read: Poetry and Form and all links.
• Read short-short poems online: Click here.
• Read online: Kooser.
• Read Jones poems .
• Complete Poetry Project #1.

In Class

• Poetry Project #1 due.
• Verbal music: sound, rhythm, meter, traditional forms.
• The short-short poem and Poetry on Wheels.

March 15—SPRING BREAK

March 22 —

Before Class

• Work on Poetry Project #2 draft.

In Class

• Semester review.
• Discuss chapbook assignment and samples.
• Draft of Poetry Project #2 due. Bring 2 copies.
• Begin discussion of Poetry Project 3: Spoken word poetry and the oral tradition. Audio recordings.
• Listen to Jones on web?

March 29—

Before Class

• Look around Writer's Link.
• Thoroughly explore the Electronic Poetry Center and UBUWeb.

In Class

• Responses to Writer's Link: career options, further education, publication.
• Continue work with Poetry Project #3: Concrete/new media poetry and the visual tradition.
• Performances sign-up.

Before Class

• Complete Poetry Project #2.

In Class

• Poetry Project #2 due.

Before Class

• Work on performance, chapbook, and portfolio.

In Class

• Discuss and work on portfolios.

April 19—

Before Class

• Work on performance, chapbook, and portfolio.

In Class

• Portfolio checklist.
• Intensive workshopping/conferencing.

April 26 —

Before Class

• Work on performance, chapbook, and portfolio.

In Class

• Performances.
• Intensive workshopping/conferencing.

May 3 —

Before Class

• Work on performance, chapbook, and portfolio.

In Class

• Performances.
• Wrap-up workshopping/conferencing.
• Course evaluation.

May 5th—All final work is due no later than midnight. Exceptions are made only with documented evidence of serious hardship or illness.

You need to hand in the following hardcopy items:

• Portfolio with
  
  1. manilla envelope (no name on front);
  2. reflective letter;
  3. miminalist version of chapbook;
  4. minimalist version of notebook.
     
• Separate copy of complete, full-version chapbook.