Thursday, 17 September 2009

Tomorrow Ms. Margolis will be guest teaching.

HOMEWORK: On Monday, each writer is to bring at least three (I said 2 in 5th period, but 3 is better) different writing implements to class.

I introduced the blog.

Writers read the Introduction to Writing Down the Bones, and extracted writing prompts from it, and talked about what the phrase "writing down the bones, the essential awake talk of my mind" meant.

Writers read "Beginner's Mind, Pen, and Paper" in Writing Down the Bones.

Writers considered their favorite stories, and what they liked about the stories.

Writers discussed what made a story (beginning, middle, & end; character+conflict=resolution)

and what made a complete piece of writing: either issue&insight; question&answer; or story.

Rules for Writing Pracitce

Writers have been challenged to follow these rules suggested by Natalie Goldberg. Natalie has written Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, a class text and Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life from which this version of her rules is taken.

1. Keep Your Hand Moving
2. lose Control
3. Be Specific
4. Don't Think
5. Don't Worry About Punctuation, Spelling, Grammar
6. You Are Free to Write the Worst Junk in America
7. Go for the Jugular

(Of course these rules are for writing practice (generative writing) some may not apply to final drafts!)

Review of the First Week

During the first week, writers were encouraged to develop a "Writing Practice." Writers were required to get a spiral or other notebook dedicated to their writing. This journal will be turned in every few weeks and graded on volume of writing. Writers may put a Post-itTM that says "Don't Read" on something private, or may cover something with another page, but in general the spirals will just be glanced through.

Writers have: made lists of things they love and hate; written from the prompt "I Believe"; written from the prompt of listening to another person's "This I believe Essay: You Should Always Go to the Funeral."

Writers have read and discussed and written about Natalie Goldberg's views on creative writing and writing practice.

Welcome to the Blog!

I'm very happy to be teaching a Senior Creative Writing Class at Grant for the sixth year.

This blog is a place for you to review or to find out what happened in class. Not every idea discussed will be posted here (far from it -- there is NO SUBSTITUTE for being in class), but you will be able to get a general idea of what was missed, or a reminder of your homework.

If you need to contact me a great way to do so is through email: jzartler@pps.k12.or.us

James Zartler
Grant H.S. Room #200

The phone at Grant is 503.916.5160, but email messages generally get to me more quickly.

There are certain to be twelve day this year when I am difficult to reach. The dates are: 23-25 September; 9-11 December; 10-12 February; and 28-30 April. During these periods I will be working in Washington DC to represent educators. I strive to be as responsive as possible, but please be aware of the long hours, and time zone changes during these dates.