Creative Writing II Schedule, Summer 2009

Last updated: July 28, 2009

Schedule-in-Progress

 

Following each date below are reading or other assignments due for that day. In parentheses 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.

Week 1: Preliminaries

Tues. June 16 —(Introduction to course. Getting aquainted.)

Wed. June 17 —

  • Read our Homepage carefully and review it often.
  • Read about Workshop.
  • Post a "self profile" in our Blackboard Discussion Board.
  • Skim-read Skittish Libations and select a quotation you like best. Be prepared to discuss.
  • Check your email and/or the Blackboard Discussion Board "Workshop Submissions " Forum daily for anything your classmates may have submitted for discussion this week. (Be sure to read that material carefully before class.)

(Compare views of art, creative writing. Begin film, 2 hrs.)


Thurs. June 18 —

  • Submit something for workshop?

(Visit by Governor's School English Studies high school students. Workshop.)


Fri. June 19 —

(Continue film and possibly expand perspectives wheel. )

Week 2: Fiction

Mon. June 22 —

By class time, read:

(Very brief quiz. Finish film and discuss: multiple perspectives on art. Possibly begin discussion of student views.)


Tues. June 23—(Student views, assigned readings, and perspectives wheel. Begin discussion of fiction: plot and character. Assignment for fiction project.)

Wed. June 24—(Continue discussion of plot and character in assigned stories. Workshop.)

Thurs. June 25—Class cancelled due to GS.

Fri. June 26—(Second visit by Gov School students. Intensive workshop.)

Week 3: Fiction and Screenwriting

Mon. June 29 —

By class time, read:
  • SM: Eggers, "After I was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned"
  • SM, Baxter, "Cures for Love."
  • Always read interview material as well.

    (Work with fiction: Oates, O'Brien. Nonchronological plots. Brief workshop.)

Tues. June 30 —(Bring 3 dollars in bills and/or coins.

(Exercise. Continue work with plot. Workshop.)


Wed. July 1—WRITE!

By class time, read:

  • All of Eggers, "How the Water Feels to the Fishes" in One-Hundred-and-Forty-Nine Stories in a Small Box.

(Screenwriting? Discuss Eggers. Workshop as needed.)

Thurs. July 2—WRITE!

By class time, read:

  • All of Unferth, "Minor Robberies," in One-Hundred-and-Forty-Nine Stories in a Small Box.

(Continue work with fiction and workshop.)

Fri. July 3—Holiday.

Week 4: Finish Fiction


Mon. July 6 —MEET AT 1:00!

(Discuss Baxter story and characterization. Workshop. (REMINDER: TAKE NOTES DURING YOUR WORKSHOP SESSIONS. YOU'LL NEED THEM.)

Tues. July 7—

  • All of Eggers, "How the Water Feels to the Fishes" in One-Hundred-and-Forty-Nine Stories in a Small Box. Also: review SM: Eggers, "After I was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned."

(Screenwriting. Commercial fiction (see Eggers comments on genre fiction.) Copyright. Workshop.)

Wed. July 8 —MEET AT 1:00!

  • All of Unferth, "Minor Robberies," and Manguso, "Hard to Admit and Harder to Escape," in One-Hundred-and-Forty-Nine Stories in a Small Box.

(Continue work with fiction: setting and image. Scenes from The Player. Small groups work with Eggers.)

Thurs. July 9 —(Intensive workshopping.)

Week 5: Finish Fiction; Begin Poetry

Mon. July 13— MEET AT 1:00!

(Return to $3 exercise. Discuss style and figurative language. Unferth and Manguso. Workshop. )

Tues. July 14—

Wed. July 15— MEET AT 1:00!

(Discuss chapbooks and book arts. Click here for chapbook assignment. Continue work with poetry. Workshop.)

Thurs. July 16—

Week 6: Poetry

Mon. July 20 — MEET AT 1:00!

  • Look over Writer's Link.
  • Read through Form and Poetry, including all links. See also the "Form and Poetry" Power Point presentation in BB Course Documents.

(Poetry Project #2. )

Tues. July 21—

Wed. July 22— MEET AT 1:00!

Thurs. July 23—

Week 7: Poetry

Mon. July 27 — MEET AT 1:00!

(Fiction project due. You may turn this in EARLIER or a bit LATER if you like. Discuss chapbook and reflective letter. Persona poetry: Bidart and Ai. Poetry Project #2. Begin work with the oral tradition.)

Tues. July 28 —

(Discuss Bidart and Ai. Go over chapbook assigtnment. Begin work with the visual tradition.)

Wed. July 29 — MEET AT 1:00! (Workshop.)

Thurs. July 30 —(Workshop. Writer's Link.)

Week 8: Poetry.

Mon. Aug. 3 —MEET AT 1:00! (Workshop.)

Tues. Aug. 4 — (Workshop.)

Wed. Aug. 5 —MEET AT 1:00!

  • Oral and visual performances due.

Thurs. Aug. 6—(Final workshopping. Wrap-up. Course evaluation.)

 

Chapbook and Poetry projects due: Mon. Aug. 10

If you want this work returned to you, you MUST include an SASE or SASB. It will not be stored in my office. I'll use it to make a bonfire by the babbling brook and roast weenies.

No late work accepted. Grades must be submitted to the Registrar's on the 11th!

 

 

Back to 323 Homepage