Creative Writing I Schedule

Hybrid Course, Spring 2012

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.

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.
  • Flash fiction.
Fri. Jan. 27—

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 —"Art is thinking in images."—Aleksander Potebnya

Before Class

  • Take a look at two documents to help you develop characters in your stories: Character Tips and Characterization (U. of Berkeley).
  • Read through Style to get a sense of how different writer prose styles can be.
  • Share faves from 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.) And feel free to submit something yourself!!!!!!

In Class

  • Work with prose style.
  • Workshop!

Feb. 10—

Before Class

In Class

  • Draft of Fiction Project due. Bring 2 copies.
  • Workshop.

Feb. 17—

Away at conference in MN. No regular class meeting. Instructions TBA.

Feb. 24—

Before Class

In Class

  • Fiction Project due, instructions TBA.
  • The Luminous Object exercise.
  • Begin poetry.
  • Greeting cards.

Deadline for submission to Northern Eclecta ?

March 2 —

Before Class

  • Read Hoagland poems.
  • Read Bidart poems.
  • Read Wright poems (especially "To a Blossoming Pear Tree," "Northern Pike," "A Blessing," "On the Skeleton of a Hound," "A Poem about George Doty in the Death House," and "At the Executed Murder's House." )
  • Work on Poetry Project #1.

In Class

  • The personal lyric and the persona poem.
  • Draft of Poetry Project #1 due. Critiques.

March 9—

Before Class

In Class

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

March 16—SPRING BREAK

March 23—

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 30—

April 6 —

Before Class

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.
April 13 —

Before Class

  • Complete Poetry Project #2.

In Class

  • Poetry Project #2 due.
—
April 20 —

Before Class

  • Work on performance, chapbook, and portfolio.

In Class

  • Discuss and work on portfolios.

 

April 27—Holiday Recess

Before Class

  • Work on performance, chapbook, and portfolio.

In Class

  • Portfolio checklist.
  • Intensive workshopping/conferencing.

May 4—

Before Class

  • Work on performance, chapbook, and portfolio.

In Class

  • Performances.
  • Intensive workshopping/conferencing.

May 6 —

Before Class

  • Work on performance, chapbook, and portfolio.

In Class

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

May 9 —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.

 

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