creative writing -- may 5

Today is our last day in the library for this school year. I know. It's sad.

Starting on Wednesday we will be meeting in Ms. Arbuckle's classroom, and we will just have to be squished and cramped and pretend like we love each other. Deal with it.

Today's assignment seems easy, but it's not as easy as it looks. I want you to look back on your writing from this semester and answer the following questions. As you answer each question you need to link to the posting you are referring to and give an explanation of your answer. This explanation should be at least several sentences long per question.

1. Of the pieces you have written this semester, which is your favorite? Why?

2. Which is your least favorite? Why?

3. Which was the easiest to write? Why?

4. Which was the most difficult to write? Why?

5. Which piece was the most personal? Why?

I really want you to think about this. Look back through your writing. Really reflect on what you have done. Have fun. Work.

See you on Wednesday,

Ms. Arbuckle

creative writing -- april 27

Write a story completely in dialogue.

First read the story, "The Hills Like White Elephants" by Earnest Hemmingway.

Now write a story that is almost completely made up of dialogue. Think about how people really talk. Make it seem natural. Reveal the action through the dialogue.

creative writing -- april 23

For your last assignment, you were asked to do some descriptive writing. For this assignment you will be incorporating descriptive writing into a previous assignment. The things you add to the writing must be clearly new.

creative writing -- april 19

Descriptive Writing

All types of writing incorporates some sort of descriptive writing. You assignment today is to pick several things in the library, in your backpack, etc. and describe them in minute detail. Please remember to post these to your blog--we will be referring back to these in a later assignment.

creative writing -- april 13

Choose a genre of story that you normally do not write in (science fiction, realism, fantasy, etc.) and rewrite one of your short stories into that genre.

creative writing -- april 7

You haven't had a poetry writing assignment in a while. Today you need to go find a poem that you like (there are many poetry books in the 800s--on the other side of the library).

In your blog post for today, identify the poem you have chosen. Then write your own poem inspired by this poem.

creative writing - april 5

Writing based on a visual arts.

Many pieces of writing are based on visual arts (paintings, sculptures, photographs). Choose a visual, add it to your blog (remember to cite where you got the visual from), and write something (a story, an essay, a poem, etc.) based on that visual.

If you want an example, there will be one on Ms. Arbuckle's blog (link in the sidebar).

creative writiting - march 25

Last class period you wrote character profiles. How many did you write? You should probably have at least three.

This period you will be incorporating these character (or at least one of the characters) into a story. It doesn't have to be in a specific format--it could be a story, a poem, a play, a script, etc. For now, you may just want to outline a story.

creative writing - march 23

Today you will be writing several character profiles. Look through the following links about how to create believable characters. But remember that in my experience the most believable characters are the ones derived from life. Observe people. Listen in on conversations in public places. I know it seems creepy, but it works. It's always easier to write about what you know, and this includes creating characters.

Also think about some of the characters in your favorite books and movies. What makes them interesting, beleivable, and compelling?

Creating a Character Profile
Creating Interesting and Believable Fictional Characters

creative writing -- march 8

today you will be writing a review. First you need to find something you would like to write a review about. It may be a book you recently finished, a movie, a television show (episode or series), a short story, anything. Then you need to write the review. Remember you aren't telling us the story. You don't want to give away the plot. It is good? Why? Is it terrible? Why?

Here are some examples of reviews you will want to look at before you write your own review:
The best review I've ever read
Another super-awesome, though more complicated, review

creative writing assignment -- march 1

I know that you all have a favorite song (or two or three or five million). Here's your chance to write asong of your own! Look up a few songs you like and even some songs you don't like. What make a good song? What elements do most of these songs have in common?

Now write your own song. Remember it must be school appropriate. You don't have to write the music to go along with it.

Have fun.

creative writing -- february 23

Today you will be writing (well, at least starting) a short story. Remember that a short story has to be fiction and should be under 50 pages (probably a lot shorter than that for right now).

Read through these websites for some guidelines and tips for writing:
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Short-Story
http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative/shortstory/
http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/shortstorywriting/a/shortstoryrules.htm

You should also go to the shelves in this library and read some of the amazing short stories housed here.

Have fun with this assignment. I can't wait to read what you write!

creative writing assignment -- february 2, 2010

Today you will be writing a personal essay.
Here is some information about the personal essay:
http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=5384
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4538138

This is one of the most effective types of writing if you do it well. Spend some time with this. Don't rush through it.

creative writing assignment -- january 27

Today you will be writing a How To Article and posting it on your blog.

Read the articles listed below for directions on how to write a How To. Choose your topic and begin writing! Remember it needs to be school appropriate. And remember this is Creative Writing class so you can be as creative and different as you would like to be!

http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-How-to-Article
http://www.knowledgehound.com/khhow2s/write_how_to.htm
http://forrest.apache.org/docs_0_70/howto/howto-howto.html
http://www.copyblogger.com/how-to-write-a-killer-how-post-that-gets-attention/

Have fun with this assignment!