23-27 April

It's been kind of a strange week. ACT testing, etc.

So, just to review.
A Childrens' book is:
Written for a specific age child.
Written specifically to be read TO a child; to be read BY a child; (or to be read WITH a child).
Has utility to a parent or adult; including teaching children something that they should know.

All thesis rough drafts that were turned in ON TIME have been returned. Late drafts will be returned on Monday of next week.

Mr. Zartler will be in DC next Wednesday through Friday, and Ms. Margolis will be teaching for him

20 / 23 April

All writers had due two pieces of very short fiction.

Seniors worked on this self-evaluation

While Juniors completed paper work for the ACT testing next Tuesday.

18/19 April

Writers received instructions in how to put illustrations and text boxes into their thesis final drafts.

Writers received a rubric to help them ensure that their finals drafts are excellent.

Monday/ Tuesday 17 /18 April

End of the Year Due Dates: Creative Writing

Senior Finals dates are: May 22-25 Seniors will have a reflective piece due during this time.

Submission to the Grant Literary Magazine by emailing your piece to grantlitmag@gmail.com is due on or before the 19th of April.

Thesis Due Dates:

Your Thesis is due one week (7 days) after you get the rough draft back from me. If this date is the same date as one of the two other major assignments listed below, you will have two (2) additional days to revise your thesis and turn in your final draft of the thesis.

Bound and Illustrated Children’s Book: Due 9/10 May.

Bound and Illustrated “Not Quite” Children’s Book: Due 21/22 May.

Juniors remaining after the Seniors’ last day will have one additional major writing project and a reflective piece due during finals.

Class on Wednesday and Thursday of this week will be devoted to turning your rough thesis into you final; lessons will include putting illustrations into your piece; inserting text boxes (in order to include ghazal); common editing problems, etc.

Monday / Tuesday & Wednesday / Thursday 9-12 April

New Assignments and Due Dates

Writers already have a piece of Micro-Fiction (exactly 55 words, etc) due on Monday/ Tuesday 16/17 April.

Writers must also write either a Sudden Fiction (exactly 100 words) or short, short story (under 250 words). This second short piece and a self-evaluation is due on 19/20 of April.

All writers are required to submit a piece to the Grant Literary Magazine. Submissions must be emailed to grantlitmag@gmail.com between April 12th and 19th. This is a required assignment.

Writers developed lists of locations and situations to use as writing prompts in class.

Mr. Zartler has been turning back rough drafts of the thesis with comments.

Friday / Monday 7 / 10 April

Class was focused on analyzing two additional short, short fiction forms. Writers should get a hand out from Mr. Zartler or copy the handout of a classmate.

Monday / Tuesday 2/3 April

Rough drafts of the thesis were due today. Finals are going to be due no earlier than 23/24 April.

We began the next unit in which writers will be writing forms of very short fiction.

In class we analyzed "Micro Fiction" examples in order to deduce the rules of the format. Those rules are:

Is a story.

Exactly 55 words long.

Plus a title.

Has an ironic or surprising twist.

Includes dialogue.

It was noted that Micro-Fiction is almost entirely "scene" as opposed to summary.

Writers are to bring a complete rough draft of one or more Micro Fiction pieces to the next class.