Creative Writing I Schedule

Hybrid Course, Spring 2012

Read through Skittish Libations

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 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.

Fri. Jan. 13—

  • Introduction to course.

Fri. Jan. 20—

Before Class

  • Read Carver's, "Cathedral."
  • Set up personal Thread in Bb Multi-Use Board.

In Class

  • Give Away a Dollar Excercise.
  • Where to find stories; how to frame; character-based.
  • Begin work with flash fiction.
  • Briefly discuss "Cathedral."

Fri. Jan. 27— "Art is thinking in images."—Aleksander Potebnya

Before Class

  • Read flash fiction samples (pay attention especially to those with an * by their name).
  • Read O'Brien's, "How to Tell a True War Story."
  • Work on Cyber Class flash fiction pieces. Remember that each week's Cyber Work is due by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, and that full instructions for each week will aways appear in the Cyber Class WEEKLY INSTRUCTIONS Forum of our Bb Multi-Use Board.

In Class

  • Continue discussion of flash fiction: Giles and Fernandez. Elements of fiction: character, plot.
  • Discuss O'Brien. Elements of fiction: setting and plot.
  • Go over Fiction Project.

Fri. Feb. 3 —

Before Class

In Class

  • Work with prose style and/or quotations about creative process.
  • Discuss Oates and O'Brien stories.
  • Discuss Fiction Projects.

Feb. 10—

Before Class

  • Continue working on Fiction Project, as well as any independent pieces you have cooking.
  • Groups meet to complete Cyber Week assignment: go over sample student flash pieces and make edits for concision. (These were on a handout in class, and can also be found in Bb, "Readings & Handouts.") Groups will also workshop Tessa T's story, using worksheet. (See Bb "Cyber Work Weekly Instructions" for full info.)

In Class

  • Draft of Fiction Project due by 11:59 pm, Wed. the 8th. Post in your personal thread.
  • Critique of Tessa's story due by 11:59 pm, Wed. the 8th. Group secretaries should send a copy to Tessa, the instructor, and each group member.
  • Go over instructor edits of sample student flash pieces.
  • Discuss prose style and look at samples.
  • Workshop Tesse's story as a large group, with small groups sharing feedback from their session.

Feb. 17—

Away at conference in MN. No regular class meeting. Groups will meet to workshop 3 student stories. See Cyber Class Weekly Instructions in our Bb Multi-Use Board for full details.

Continue working on Fiction Project, as well as any independent pieces you have cooking.

3 writers (chosen in class on the 10th) should send stories for workshop to the class no later than 11:59 pm, Wed. the 15th. They should also post those stories in our Pub, again no later than the 15th.

Feb. 24—

Before Class

  • Continue working on Fiction Project, as well as any independent pieces you have cooking. (I haven't finished my feedback, so take some extra time!)
  • Workshop groups need to complete worksheets on 3 stories no later than Wed. the 22nd.

In Class


March 2—

 

Before Class

  • Continue working on Fiction Project, as well as any independent pieces you have cooking.
  • This week we are cyber-workshopping Gretchen Barker, Gabe K-J, and Marne Johnson. They will post their work in the Pub and also email it to all of us, hopefully no later than about Tuesday or early Wednesday. As always, see our Multi-Use Board/Cyber Class Weekly Instructions for full details. Fiction Workshop Form.  Poetry Workshop Form.
  • Read:

In Class

  • Fiction projects drafts returned with instructor comments.
  • Brief look at Ai.
  • Assignment for Poetry Project #1.
  • In-class wrap-up of cyber-critiqued Gretchen, Gabe, Marne. Then full face-to-face workshop of Linnea Nelson, Lane Johnson (?), and Elliot Schwab.

March 9 —

 

Before Class

  • Great poems to help you with Poetry Project #1 and more:
  • Cyber-workshop Tesse Torgeson, Elliott Schwab.

In Class

  • Cyber Work/Personal Thread Check after today. Have all of your cyber work to-date revised and completed by this date.
  • In-class wrap-up of Tesse and Elliott, then full in-class workshop of Gretchen Barker, Lee Gullickson, Jess Wagner.

 

March 16 — SPRING BREAK

 

 

March 23 —

 

Before Class

In Class

March 30 —

 

Before Class

  • Cyber workshop Josh and Trent.
  • Read new poetry: go over Form and Poetry, and read all of the poems (includes links) that you see there.

In Class

  • Draft of Poetry Project #1 due, hardcopy.
  • Poetry and form.
  • VERY quick chat with Josh, Trent, and HeyJee Choi (cyber-workshopees)
  • In-class workshop Gretchen and Lee.

 

April 13 —

Before Class

In Class

  • Poetry Project #2 due, hardcopy.
  • Revision of Poetry Project #1 due, hardcopy.
  • In-class workshop Chelsea, Keona, HeyJee Choi, and Myah. Be sure to read their stuff carefully before class time!

 

April 20 —

Before Class

  • Cyber workshop Linnea, Linda, Keona (Keona's was posted late--cyber-workshop it at your convenience).
  • Lane recently sent some material by email for cyber-workshop. However, this was actually due last week, and it wasn't posted in our Pub. I'm not sure when we will get to it.

In Class

April 27 —

Before Class

  • Cyber workshop.
  • Work on Poetry Project #3.

In Class

  • Discuss Chapbook assignment.
  • Discuss Poetry Project #3.
  • In-class workshop.

May 4 —

Before Class

  • Cyber workshop.

In Class

  • In-class workshop (student-lead).

Finals Week: Tuesday, May 8th, 1:00, SE 314

  • Oral and visual performances (Poetry Project #3), roughly 4 minutes each.
  • Workshop wrap-up.

 

 

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