LITR 3731: Creative
Writing 
Lecture Notes
5th class meeting
| equinox > solstice midterm / assignments poetry: Alicia, instructor quiz poetry: J J Torres, Christy reading discussion: Amanda |
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Thursday, 24 September: Fourth poetry workshop class + discussion of reading assignments
Reading assignment: Three Genres, ch. 11 (pp. 138-144)
Reading highlight: Amanda Pruett
1st Poetry Author: Alicia Costello
1st Author’s Discussion Leader: Veronica Nadalin
2nd Poetry Author: J J Torres
2nd Author’s Discussion Leader: Christi Wood
3 September-1 October: The following students are required to do Draft Exchanges for their poetry manuscripts: Paul Acevedo, Jackie Baker, Peter Becnel, Jeff Derrickson, Naomi Gonzales, Jennifer M. Leonard, Amanda Pruett, Karina Ramos, Hillary Roth, Faron Samford, Ryan Smith, Natalie Walker, Christi Wood
Models of poetry draft exchanges
Final email submissions for poetry + revision accounts due by noon Saturday 3 October (email anytime b/w 28 Sept. & 3 Oct.)
models of poetry submissions & revision accounts (2009)
Thursday, 1 October: first fiction workshop (presenters get extra time for poetry submissions)
1st Fiction Author: Faron Samford
1st fiction author’s Discussion Leader: Niki Bippen
2nd Fiction Author: Natalie Walker
2nd fiction author’s Discussion Leader: Jeff Derrickson
ch. 11 (pp. 138-144) Poetry: From Craft to Art
138 craft = body of techniques—images, sound & rhythm, structure & order of material
art < own voice; depth, freshness, resonance
138 reading regularly and critically
139 > imitative? > read widely
139 x-how to books > poetry itself
139 record poems, play as drive
140 x-lengthy work sessions, > spare half-hour
regularity x waiting for ideal working time
140 explore new themes
141 try different forms
142 revise!
142 x-myth of inspiration [objectives]
142 x-tinkering > big questions
143 creative less inspiration than process
143 cliched image of writer in garret [objective]
143 support group; 7 ideal number
144 “That’s the way I intended it” > make a note
Leftover notes from previous classes
poetry submissions and replies
poetry submissions with either draft exchange reports or accounts due by email within 36 hours of this class meeting
that is, by Wednesday morning.
Review process:
I'll read your poem(s) and your reports or accounts, write a 1-3 paragraph response with a grade, and email this to you, probably before next class.
Welcome to reply to email. As questions, follow up, etc.
I try not to write too much, but if you want more feedback, I can usually offer it on request.
problems so far:
Your poem needs to have a title!
You are submitting at least one poem +
either a draft exchange report (if you didn't present a poem in class)
or a revision account (if you did present a poem in class)
(Either way, you're submitting a poem with some account of its development and revision)
upcoming schedule--fiction workshops
(notes from 2005)
review reading
145 experiences, details > reshape: divide , mix, alter, transform
145 select what we need and
invent the rest
146 x “untrue” > “seems true”
146 real life: jumble of
unconnected events and repetitious activities
147 edit unconsciously
147 fictional totally liberated from experience as it happened
ch. 13 (pp. 155-166) Where
Stories Come From
155 fresh material < own life, original, unique
what we know well + invent
160 one foot in circle of familiar + one foot reaching
out
163 transformation: from facts to fiction
163 conscious transformation
164 transformation = psychic liberation
165 “Not even your best friend would read it”
165 junk details
165 fuse 2 people into single fictional charcter
Also, I intend to follow up on our previous workshop discussion . . . .
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How intensify the workshop critique? . . .
Can or should Discussion Leaders’ questions be suggested or formalized?
How many drafts?
What was your biggest problem? What do you want to improve?
Have some standard questions plus discussion leader free to ask questions
required questions
generic question / prompt that can be varied for the particular poem
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I intend to draft an outline of generic questions for discussion leaders to follow and vary
If finish in time, send to next week's discussion leaders (Rachel Barton and Amber Buitron) for try-out
If promising, will adapt for fiction workshops