AP
English Literature Creative Writing Lessons:
FICTION
(Click here for Poetry)
Submit
all assignments by e-mail, preferably on the suggested DUE date. No Credit will
be given after the final DUE date.
Below
is a list of 10 brief assignments, each designed to be completed in a class
period, or about 45min. to an hour of homework time. The goal of each is to
help you write your story, or at the very least to give you some practice. Most
importantly you will write rather than procrastinate.
Due
to the variety of individual needs concerning the senior project, the DUE dates
are merely suggested dates of completion. Be sure that all assignments are
completed by Monday June 10th, so that they can be turned in with
your rough draft. (You will turn in a packet with 6 to 12 pages of rough
draft and 10 pages of brief assignments.)
Final
Product:
Your
final product, DUE on Monday June 17th, will be a 6 to 12 page short
story exhibiting an understanding of the elements of fiction covered below.
(Feel free to take artistic license as long as it contributes to the story and
is not a symptom of laziness.) You will read your story (or an excerpt) during
class Monday or during the final on Wednesday the 19th.
A
Few Overall Notes:
Point of View / The
Narrator (Questions)
Naturally, you will need to settle on a Point of
View (or two or three…) and a Narrator (or Narrators) will appear by default.
You might want to give some thought to which character really ought to be
telling the story and whether or not he or she (or they) is (or are) reliable.
The theme of your story need not be a conscious
goal of yours. It is perhaps best to leave the discovery of the theme to the readers.
Though, when you are done, you may very well have your own opinion, as a
reader, of what the story is about.
These are provided for your general reference.
Many other useful sites are referenced below. Too, a quick trip to google, or
an e-mail to me may help to answer any specific questions that you have.
Lesson
#1: Free Write
Exercise: Write for 20 to 30 Minutes without
stopping. Do not think. Do not edit. Whether or not any of this material winds
up in your final product is unimportant. Enjoy the rhythm of writing. DUE
Monday, May 13th.
Lesson
#2: Exposition
Exercise: Brainstorm what background information
etc,, might be necessary in the exposition of your story. Type up a rough draft of an exposition.
(About 1/2 page to a page.) Whether or not any of this material winds up in
your final product is unimportant. DUE Tuesday, May 14th.
Note:
Foreshadowing
Lesson
#3: Rising Action
Questions (See
Action)
Exercise: Brainstorm some incidences of rising action
that might fit into your story. Type up a rough draft of some rising action.
(About a 1/2 page to a page.) Whether or not any of this material winds up in
your final product is unimportant. DUE Wednesday, May 15th.
Lesson
#4: Climax
Exercise: Brainstorm possibilities for the climax of
your story. Choose one and write a rough draft of the climax. (About a 1/2 page
to a page.) Whether or not any of this material winds up in your final product
is unimportant. DUE Thursday, May 16th.
Lesson
#5: Falling Action
Exercise: Brainstorm some incidences of falling
action that might fit into your story. Type up a rough draft of some falling
action. (About a 1/2 page to a page.) Whether or not any of this material winds
up in your final product is unimportant. DUE Friday, May 17th.
Lesson
#6: Resolution / Dénouement
Exercise: Brainstorm possibilities for the resolution
of your story. Choose one and write a rough draft of the resolution. (About a
1/2 page to a page.) Whether or not any of this material winds up in your final
product is unimportant. DUE Monday, May 20st.
Lesson
#7: Setting
Exercise: Revisit the sections that you have
completed thus far. Considering all five senses, add as many details of setting
(and imagery in general) as come to your mind. They can always be edited out. DUE
Tuesday, May 21nd.
Lesson
#8: Characterization
Questions (See also
Dialogue)
Exercise: Revisit the sections that you have
completed thus far. Concentrating on showing not telling, add as many details
of characterization as come to your mind. They can always be edited out. DUE
Wednesday, May 22nd.
Lesson
#9: Figurative Language etc…
Questions (See
Symbol and Theme)
Exercise: Revisit the sections that you have
completed thus far. Add as much figurative language as comes to your mind. (At
the very least some metaphors and similes, though personification isn't hard…)
These things can always be edited out. DUE Thursday, May 23nd.
Lesson
#10: Editing
& Titles
Exercise: Revisit the sections that you have
completed thus far. After using the spelling and grammar check on the computer,
read them aloud to yourself and correct them for spelling, grammar, and any
awkward phrases. Feel free to cut and/or rewrite the story liberally.
Titles: To borrow a phrase from Dr. Marx at Cal Poly SLO,
"write an apt and snappy title." This is the true hook that will grab
a reader's attention. Here, too, you may wish to hint at the deeper themes of
the story now that it is finished. DUE Friday, May 24th.
Final
Product:
Your
final product, DUE on Monday June 17th, will be a 6 to 12 page short
story exhibiting an understanding of the elements of fiction covered below.
(Feel free to take artistic license as long as it contributes to the story and
is not a symptom of laziness.) You will read your story (or an excerpt) during
class Monday or during the final on Wednesday the 19th.