Creative Writing

2011-12

Creative Nonfiction

Teen Ink -- Reading Creative Nonfiction Assignment

Open the document linked above. Follow the links to read articles of your choice on the Teen Ink site.

Be sure to STAY in the NONFICTION section for all of this assignment!

Below is a screenshot of the subcategories you will see when you hover your mouse over the Nonfiction tab.

NaNoWriMo 2011

Final Assignment (see details on page linked here)

1. Complete NaNo: email to MsB at bowenowrimo<at>gmail.com

2. 1000 Word Sample
In a word: poofread. If there is an error in the first half-page, it is not an A paper. If there are two errors on the first page, it is not an A paper. If there are ANY avoidable errors ANYWHERE in the text, it is not an A paper. (Errors of ignorance are one thing--errors of carelessness quite another.) Your work may be brilliant, world-changing literature, but you are a first-time novelist; it is the rare editor who will bother to find the qualities hidden behind a poorly prepared manuscript.
Hint: "I looked it over" is not what we're after. We want to know that every mark on the paper is correct. Can you create a sample chapter that passes the eagle eye of MsB?

3. Query Letter

Feel free to choose a letterhead template that complements the genre, style, and spirit of your novel.

Hello Memoirists!

For nonfiction writers, check out Teen Ink -- lots of student examples.

For memoirists whose work does not fit the Plot/Subplot Challenge, use the Memoirist Challenge (download .doc)

Hello Novelists!

Shall we challenge another class to a WordWar? There are classrooms all around the world participating in NaNo YWP...nearly 2000 in the USA alone. See MsB if you'd like to help us start a WordWar.

Day 21: November 21, 2011

Preview of NaNo Final Assignment. Authors who still have lots of story to write, FULL STEAM AHEAD! Authors who have written all you can [OR authors who know you will need extra time to prepare the final with excellent spelling, grammar, punctuation]: you may begin the final project at any time.

Day 18: November 18, 2011

Work time in Writing Center.

Due: Plot / Subplot Challenge OR Memoirist Challenge. Turn in to tray (with late slip if absent).

Day 17: November 17, 2011

Reading Day... Take a little break from the madness of NaNo and "nourish yourself" by reading. Notice the great techniques your fellow authors use in creating characters, plots, and settings that satisfy your imagination!

Day 16: November 16, 2011

Plot and Subplot Challenge

Download the Plot/Subplot Challenge worksheet (.doc). Due by end of class Friday, November 18.

Plot Arc
1 a character,
2 in a situation,
3 with a problem,
4 who tries repeatedly to solve his problem,
5 but repeatedly fails (usually making the problem worse),
6 then, at the climax of the story, makes a final attempt
7 final attempt succeeds or fails, depending on the kind of story
8 reader makes meaning from the effect of these events on the character
(adapted from Algis Budrys, via http://www.philipbrewer.net/story-structure-in-short-stories/)

The arc of a subplot may be shorter, but is often structured very similarly--and contributes in its own way to #8 above.

Selected plot formulas for reference and inspiration (download .pdf) -- also can be used for subplots

Short and excellent "class" on subplot

Good how-to on weaving plot and subplot

Day 15: November 15, 2011

Be sure you have turned in your contributions from 11/14 for our Wall of NaNo outside the hallway.

Preview of plot/subplot activity coming tomorrow.

Work time in Writing Center. Keep writing! Keep saving! Keep updating your word counts!

Day 14: November 14, 2011

NaNo Halftime!

1 Autograph your name card for our NaNo wall. (Get yours from MsB)

2 Discuss your struggles/successes with someone you know.

3 Discuss your struggles/successes with someone you don't know quite as well.

4 Write two "I am learning…" and "Novelists are…" or "Memoirists are…" or "A novel is" or "A memoir is" statements on torn paper. Put your name on the back.

5 Choose a quotation (up to a paragraph) of your work to post on our wall. Put your name on the back.

6 Turn in #4 and #5 to tray (with late slip if absent).

Day 11: November 11, 2011

Writing time!! Yeah!

Please note that we are celebrating NaNo HALFTIME on Monday--will be in the classroom to discuss the project--back to the Writing Center on Tuesday.

1) By end of day today (or ASAP if absent) please report your TOTAL word count so far to MsB.

2) For Monday, choose and print ONE page from your NaNo so far: either choose a part that you like and are excited about, OR choose a part that you could use some help on, OR a part that has a little of both!

Day 10: November 10, 2011

Day 9: November 9, 2011

Once your Character Challenge is scored and you are ready for feedback on your writing, you are invited to send part or all of your writing to MsB for feedback (not grading, just feedback). Send to bowenowrimo2011 through NaNoMail (copy/paste right into message) OR share your document with bowenowrimo (at) gMail dot com.

Plot: Take a look at the following graphic. It's an interesting version of the "usual" plot pyramid.

(Image source: Loesser, Christopher)

Day 8: November 8, 2011

NaNo Character Challenge due (printed out) by start of class TODAY.

Write, write, write!

Preview of coming attractions: now that you've created characters you love, your next step as novelists is to be really mean to them. Hard, I know! But this is plot: the series of problems or obstacles the character must confront on the way to his/her goal.

Day 7: November 7, 2011

Write, write, write!

Post your updated word count to your NaNo page.

Remember, NaNo Character Challenge due (printed out) by start of class Tuesday, November 8.

Day 4: November 4, 2011

NaNo Character Challenge due (printed out) by start of class Tuesday, November 8.

Open assignment in MSWord .doc OR Google Doc (Google Doc is view-only, but you can download OR copy/paste to a new G-doc).

If you haven't done so lately, log in and POST your current novel word count to your NaNo Novel Information!

Have fun creating a dazzling, memorable character that could be played by one of your favorite actors/actresses when your novel makes it to the silver screen!

Day 3: November 3, 2011

Day 2: November 2, 2011

Writing Day: Keep your hands moving!

Due by midnight: post your "starting point" to our virtual classroom forum on NaNoWriMo.

Day 1: November 1, 2011

1) Start writing!

2) Check out our "Virtual Classroom" home page. By midnight tomorrow, post a reply to our "starting point" message in the NaNo Forum.

3) Keep writing!

4) Save FREQUENTLY. (Another pitch for gMail...if you use Google Docs, it saves automatically.)

5) Write some more!

6) When you're done for the day, post your word counts to NaNo.

Day 0: October 31, 2011

1) Create your account at the NaNoWriMo Young Writers' Project website. Click the yellow "Sign Up Now" sticky note to begin. Be sure to select the "High School" option and the "Young Writer" account (not Educator).

NOTE: Anyone choosing to do the Full NaNo (50,000 word goal on the regular website), please send an email with your username and message below to me at:

2) Send me a personal message using NaNoMail (left hand menu bar). I can't add you to our classroom without this information!

To: bowenowrimo2011

Subject: Hi from __ Period __ (ex. Hi from Andrea Period 1, Hi from Juan Period 6)

Message: Tell me how you're feeling about this whole NaNo thing!! Maybe even a sneak preview of your story idea/s...

3) Click "Edit Novel Info." Choose whether to share your story idea or summary. Then enter your word count goal--and this better be AT LEAST 5000 words! C'mon, people, you write almost that much in a month of writing practice alone! Pick a goal that would make you feel amazingly good if you achieved it--so that come the end of November you'll be saying, "Mom & Dad, guess what--it's time to take us out for my favorite meal..." THAT good.

What about 10,000? That's like ONE PAGE a day for 30 days, typed and DOUBLE-SPACED.

And for those of you who are feeling pretty well growed up--you know, ready to take on the world, move out of the house, drive your own truck, head off to college--you could try for 25,000 words. That's still only HALF the full all-growed-up NaNo!

4) Optional: add novel title, genre, summary, edit author info, create writing buddies! But you won't be able to enter actual text for word count validation until November 1.

5) Explore the resources at NaNoWriMo. Make note of the ones that will be helpful in your novel project.

6) Take a deep breath, say a poem of thanks to your muse, and open a brand new document in Word, or Google Docs, or another format that can be shared electronically.

CAUTION: When you paste your text into the Word Count Validator, NaNo DOES NOT SAVE IT!! Save your work CONSTANTLY--and backup at least DAILY.

7) Special insider hint from someone who has published more than a quarter million words (and written, erased, and rewritten many times that number): write something you care about. Something from your life, your heart, your imagination, your soul, your sense of humor, your unique, one-in-seven-billion self. Maybe even take a risk and write the Big One. The one that only you can write. You'll never know until you try.

Period 1: Amazing Creativity Finds on the web...Period 1: record your websites HERE!

Period 6: Amazing Creativity Finds on the web...Period 6: record your websites HERE!

FXT: Flathead eXperimental Theatre

FXT: Script Typing Tools

Script Template (Download .doc)

FXT: A few sources of inspiration
Daily Interlake Law Roundup
Archetypes (Author Tami Cowden's page)
Online Story Generators

FXT: Ten Minute Play site (CAUTION: site not written specifically for school audiences; back out if you encounter anything inappropriate!)

FXT: Other Script Tools

Online Scriptwriting Software (use at own risk!)
          Zhura
          ScriptBuddy
          Scripped

Google Docs is also a convenient choice, though it does not have dedicated scriptwriting features.

Poetry Project

2009-10