Please save your ten Lambent pages to the flash drive.
Then read Raymond Carver's "Little Things", which is posted here:
http://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/cms/lib/NC01001395/Centricity/Domain/796/little_things.pdf
When you are done reading, please have a short discussion about Carver and this story.
We will discuss literary magazines/journals during the second half of class.
If you finish early, please explore the concept of a professional literary magazine. You should be able to answer these questions: Please type the answers to these questions and print for a grade.
What is it?
How does one get published in a lit mag?
What are the benefits to having your work published in a lit mag?
Is it important to find a magazine that is a good fit for you?
What is a query letter? A SASE?
Homework: Find three literary magazines that you would like to submit your work to. Make sure you do your research. I would like you to write an explanation about why these magazines are a good fit for your writing. How often does the magazine put out an issue? I would also like you to find the submission requirements and deadlines for each magazine. Extra credit if you get your hands on a copy of a back issue of a magazine. Extra extra credit if you subscribe to one of the magazines you choose.
This website is awesome:
http://www.newpages.com/literary-magazines/
Write a Query Letter
These links are pretty good. The third one has a sample!
http://www.agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx
http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/query-letters-and-examples/
http://www.jamesrussellpublishing.biz/queryletterbk.html
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
3 Requirements for the Week Ahead...
1. Choose 3 lit mags that you would like to subscribe/submit to.
2. Write something! A memory prompt was posted Tuesday.
3. Lambent pages... are they still the same?
2. Write something! A memory prompt was posted Tuesday.
3. Lambent pages... are they still the same?
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Tapping into Memory
Memory is an essential part of ourselves. Without it we cannot find our bearings in time and place, make connections with other people, and understand ourselves. The experience of childhood is so potent it is not surprising that it is often the source of literature. Our lives are so shaped by childhood that recalling its detail and other memories is an important part of writing.
Exercise One
Try using photographs as triggers for writing. These might be old pictures of yourself or others which bring up memories of events on your life. They could be images of your first class in school, yourself outside a home you no longer live in, a family pet you loved, etc. Perhaps you want to consider pictures of places you once loved visiting or enjoyed travelling to a s a child. Begin by describing the photograph and the person/people in it in detail. Write about everything you remember about yourself at that time--the sort of things you did, wore, who you knew, what you felt, incidents relating to that time. One memory is very likely to set off others you want to write about.
*You can modify this prompt by describing an object, place, person, etc. as a memory trigger.
Exercise Two
Sometimes sense impressions--smells, sounds, textures, tastes, sights-- take us back to the past more powerfully than anything else. Make a list of smells that bring back your childhood or some time in your past. Here are some possibilities: bonfire smoke, lavender, the smell of clothes fresh out of the dryer, cocoa, etc. Describe one of the smell memories and write about what it brings up. Then explore your other senses in the same way. Examples could include pieces of music or textures such as clothes you remember.
Exercise One
Try using photographs as triggers for writing. These might be old pictures of yourself or others which bring up memories of events on your life. They could be images of your first class in school, yourself outside a home you no longer live in, a family pet you loved, etc. Perhaps you want to consider pictures of places you once loved visiting or enjoyed travelling to a s a child. Begin by describing the photograph and the person/people in it in detail. Write about everything you remember about yourself at that time--the sort of things you did, wore, who you knew, what you felt, incidents relating to that time. One memory is very likely to set off others you want to write about.
*You can modify this prompt by describing an object, place, person, etc. as a memory trigger.
Exercise Two
Sometimes sense impressions--smells, sounds, textures, tastes, sights-- take us back to the past more powerfully than anything else. Make a list of smells that bring back your childhood or some time in your past. Here are some possibilities: bonfire smoke, lavender, the smell of clothes fresh out of the dryer, cocoa, etc. Describe one of the smell memories and write about what it brings up. Then explore your other senses in the same way. Examples could include pieces of music or textures such as clothes you remember.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Marking Period 5 Portfolio
I hope you all enjoyed "Rappin' for Jesus"...
As far as portfolios go, here is what you need to remember:
1. Please include at least 3 workshopped and polished pieces of writing.
2. Write a reflection that gives insight to more than just the assignments given. Remember while you were given a few prompts and ideas, but you were asked to start thinking of yourself as the generator of your own thoughts, ideas and style. Has this class given you an opportunity to write more of what you want to write? Or has it just given you a chance to procrastinate?
3. I also want you to consider how soon you will be walking across the stage next month... It is so soon.
4. This is your last marking period portfolio, as our final portfolio exercise will be on a larger scale (including a look back at past years...)
I hope these pointers help. If you need more prompts, ideas, questions for reflection, etc. please let me know.
Also- please continue to read Atwood. We will have a circle on Friday, so portfolios are due Wednesday and/or at the beginning of class Friday (i.e. you can use some time first period to add finishing touches, but you may not have the whole block of time.)
Questions? Please ask!
As far as portfolios go, here is what you need to remember:
1. Please include at least 3 workshopped and polished pieces of writing.
2. Write a reflection that gives insight to more than just the assignments given. Remember while you were given a few prompts and ideas, but you were asked to start thinking of yourself as the generator of your own thoughts, ideas and style. Has this class given you an opportunity to write more of what you want to write? Or has it just given you a chance to procrastinate?
3. I also want you to consider how soon you will be walking across the stage next month... It is so soon.
4. This is your last marking period portfolio, as our final portfolio exercise will be on a larger scale (including a look back at past years...)
I hope these pointers help. If you need more prompts, ideas, questions for reflection, etc. please let me know.
Also- please continue to read Atwood. We will have a circle on Friday, so portfolios are due Wednesday and/or at the beginning of class Friday (i.e. you can use some time first period to add finishing touches, but you may not have the whole block of time.)
Questions? Please ask!
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