Impulse 2

Remember our discussion on conflict and high stakes.

Click here for notes on scenes.

Write a scene (remember, dialogue only) using the following image:

A busy coffee shop. An afternoon on a winter weekend. We hear the clatter of dishes and cups being cleared. It is cold outside and the windows have steamed over: inside it is warm, a little too warm, steamy and muggy. Coats and sweaters and scarves are draped over the back of chairs and booths, and hang from hooks on the wall. Puddles of dirty water have formed under the tables- the drippings from shoes. Two people are sitting at a table by a window. One of them studies the menu. The other person does not look at the menu. Finally, the person looking at the menu speaks. What does this person say?

Due Sunday, 10/4 @ midnight

+2 comments by Friday, 10/9

Sketch Writing

Your next writing assignment is to write a sketch (of a character, object, or incident).

Click here for notes on sketches.

Some things are easier to inspire than assign. I will say this: no matter what you choose to focus on in your sketch (a character, an object, or an incident), choose only specific details that will contribute to a specific overall impression. In other words, FOCUS on a specific mood you want your sketch to convey.

We will be in the writing lab Friday, 9/25 working on our sketches. It will be due Sunday, 9/27 @ midnight.

+ 2 comments by Friday, 10/2.

Scene

On Tuesday we did a writing activity (The Impulse) designed to get you in touch with your subconscious mind. We spent 15 minutes crafting a dialogue between these two people in the car.

That was your first draft. Thursday, we will be in the writing lab revising those scenes.

Rules:

• Your scene must be written in script format (character name, dialogue). No he said/she said or narrative description.
• Your scene can be as long/short as you need it to be.
• Your scene must be inspired by The Impulse image read in class.
• Click here for notes on scenes

Post your scene on your blog by Sunday, 9/20 @ midnight
+2 comments due by Friday, 9/25

First Page

On Friday we talked about openings and hooking your reader. The goal is to help you revise the opening of your story.

Here's your assignment:
Post the first page of your story on your blog. Your story can be a short story or a novel, as long as it's fiction. Remember the elements: Plot, Character, Conflict, Theme, Setting.

It's up to you how long your first page is. Feel free to end in the middle of a sentence. Just get your reader interested enough that she wants to move on to page two.

Also: read at least two writers' posts and leave a comment on their page. Your comment should include a prediction of what this story is about. (Think plot, character, conflict...and tone/genre. Is this a comedy, romance, fantasy, realistic fiction, what?)

Due Sunday, 9/13 @ midnight.
****NEW****Comments due Friday, 9/18 @ midnight.