Your stories are due, obvi. So, I want those.
As an appropriate topic, we're going to talk briefly about endings. We've been storytelling in one form or another since I've started here. I've read some awesome stuff and have thoroughly enjoyed being here, teaching y'all over the last 8 weeks. Omg it's been 8 weeks. As we reach the end of our own story together, do you have any questions? That was a terribly lame joke, but whatever. Seriously, any questions?
Check this out:
For 3rd period, blog about your experience over the past 8 weeks. Think about all of the things we've done. Free write and really think about how you felt. I want you to do this because it'll help me gauge where your heads are at as my own experience comes to a close and allows your voices to be heard. Sometimes the greatest advice that never gets heard or asked for is from the students. Since I'm a student myself, I'm all ears. So, as your last assignment, do this. Give me a full blog post. By now y'all know what that is. Do it, blog it. Boom. Kthx.
Homework:
I'll be back with your stories after the break. I'll do my best to get through them all and give the greatest comments ever.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
2nd to Last Class and Story Endings
Hi.
Your stories are due Thursday morning. Before class. Not after class. If you give me a story late, you'll lose points. It's pretty simple, but you already knew that. Recall the requirements from the blog last class. If you can't remember, scroll down and check.
Today is the last day you'll have to draft in class. You should have a fairly complete story. A few of you gave me copies for review. Check out my comments. I'm available for individual writing help, so don't hesitate to ask.
If you're struggling with ending your story, check out these tips:
1) Your ending should definitely be related to the rest of your story, it should tie it together. It can be however you want it to be, as long as it brings everything back together.
2) If you have no idea what to do, write several endings. Free write, brainstorm again, re-read your work.
3) Write in concise sentences. Remember, this isn't a beginning. It's an ending. Avoid going into great detail while trying to end. The end should be final, even if the story is to be continued.
4) Go back and proofread your entire story. I cannot stress this enough. It is likely that most of you will end up losing points for punctuation, spelling, grammar, usage, and mechanical mistakes. They're easy to miss, so you must read through your work. This is an incredibly important part of the writing process.
Clearly, you have until Thursday to finish your stories outside of class. Thursday (before class) they're due. By then you will have a published piece of work for me to read! If you're at all curious as to what I'm going to use to grade your stories, click here. Hint: it's a rubric.
Now write!
Your stories are due Thursday morning. Before class. Not after class. If you give me a story late, you'll lose points. It's pretty simple, but you already knew that. Recall the requirements from the blog last class. If you can't remember, scroll down and check.
Today is the last day you'll have to draft in class. You should have a fairly complete story. A few of you gave me copies for review. Check out my comments. I'm available for individual writing help, so don't hesitate to ask.
If you're struggling with ending your story, check out these tips:
1) Your ending should definitely be related to the rest of your story, it should tie it together. It can be however you want it to be, as long as it brings everything back together.
2) If you have no idea what to do, write several endings. Free write, brainstorm again, re-read your work.
3) Write in concise sentences. Remember, this isn't a beginning. It's an ending. Avoid going into great detail while trying to end. The end should be final, even if the story is to be continued.
4) Go back and proofread your entire story. I cannot stress this enough. It is likely that most of you will end up losing points for punctuation, spelling, grammar, usage, and mechanical mistakes. They're easy to miss, so you must read through your work. This is an incredibly important part of the writing process.
Clearly, you have until Thursday to finish your stories outside of class. Thursday (before class) they're due. By then you will have a published piece of work for me to read! If you're at all curious as to what I'm going to use to grade your stories, click here. Hint: it's a rubric.
Now write!
Friday, April 4, 2014
Struggle City for Writers
Pause.
Happy Friday.
With a neighbor, I want you to talk about what you personally are having trouble with regarding the writing of your story. Don't act like there isn't at least one thing that's giving you a hard time. It can be something small.
For instance, when I practice creative writing, I always struggle with starting and continuing. I'll doubt my work and start over. Several times. It's a terrible habit that eventually leads to producing something mediocre at the last minute.
Everyone in the room is going to share a struggle with their story. So, don't be shy (as if). This is full class discussion. Prepare yourselves.
Of course, we'll talk about ways to get through those struggles and you'll have a good deal of writing time. Remember that these stories are due on Thursday and that really, you only have this class and Tuesday's class to get them finished and perfected. I hate last-second stuff, it's uncomfortable and makes me late for dinner. I don't like being late for dinner. I don't like being uncomfortable.
Important notes:
You're not done. Don't hand me your story and tell me it's done. If you want me to go over it and shred it with my pen, that's fine. The feedback I give you is going to turn up as the drafting process continues, so be ye warned.
Due: The beginning of class on April 10th, 2014. That's a Thursday. At the beginning of class.
Heading:
Your Name
My Name (Mr. Ludwig)
Class Name (Performance, Word, and Text)
Due Date (4/10/2014)
Other than that...
Have a fab weekend.
Happy Friday.
With a neighbor, I want you to talk about what you personally are having trouble with regarding the writing of your story. Don't act like there isn't at least one thing that's giving you a hard time. It can be something small.
For instance, when I practice creative writing, I always struggle with starting and continuing. I'll doubt my work and start over. Several times. It's a terrible habit that eventually leads to producing something mediocre at the last minute.
Everyone in the room is going to share a struggle with their story. So, don't be shy (as if). This is full class discussion. Prepare yourselves.
Of course, we'll talk about ways to get through those struggles and you'll have a good deal of writing time. Remember that these stories are due on Thursday and that really, you only have this class and Tuesday's class to get them finished and perfected. I hate last-second stuff, it's uncomfortable and makes me late for dinner. I don't like being late for dinner. I don't like being uncomfortable.
Important notes:
You're not done. Don't hand me your story and tell me it's done. If you want me to go over it and shred it with my pen, that's fine. The feedback I give you is going to turn up as the drafting process continues, so be ye warned.
Due: The beginning of class on April 10th, 2014. That's a Thursday. At the beginning of class.
Heading:
Your Name
My Name (Mr. Ludwig)
Class Name (Performance, Word, and Text)
Due Date (4/10/2014)
Other than that...
Have a fab weekend.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Continued Writing Workshop
Some things:
A final copy of your stories are due on Thursday, 4/10. That day just so happens to be my last day teaching your class. Super #sadface. I'd much rather spend that last day with minimal writing and more celebrating, etc. However, that's a week away and in the meantime we'll have a great deal of writing time for you to sharpen your stories into portfolio worthy pieces of creative literature!
I've read through your drafts. They're good, but there's still work to be done. Some specific problematic areas:
1) Use of excessive, unimportant details. These things will slow you down and make your writing a task to read. Keep only the most important stuff there! However, you decide what's most important. Decide carefully!
2) Dialogue punctuation is a very specific thing. Many of you don't punctuate dialogue correctly. You have Google at your finger tips. Also, you could open just about any book with dialogue to see how it's properly punctuated. Or try this spot, too. Learn it.
3) Some stories barely have beginnings. Let me remind you that these stories are due (no exceptions) on Thursday, April 10th. Today, if your story is still lacking, you're writing. Go through any comments that I've made (and comments your peers have made) and address them. Keep writing!
Now, you're writing. You can conference with me individually and we can talk about your stories. P.S. Write. Kthx
Requirements:
Length - at least 10-12 pages, double spaced. That's 5-6 single spaced. A reasonable 10-12 point legible font.
MLA Heading - Top left of page
Your Name
My Name (Mr. Ludwig)
Class Name (Performance, Word, and Text)
Due Date (4/10/14)
Homework:
Keep writing. Don't forget the due date! Prepare yourselves to miss me :(
A final copy of your stories are due on Thursday, 4/10. That day just so happens to be my last day teaching your class. Super #sadface. I'd much rather spend that last day with minimal writing and more celebrating, etc. However, that's a week away and in the meantime we'll have a great deal of writing time for you to sharpen your stories into portfolio worthy pieces of creative literature!
I've read through your drafts. They're good, but there's still work to be done. Some specific problematic areas:
1) Use of excessive, unimportant details. These things will slow you down and make your writing a task to read. Keep only the most important stuff there! However, you decide what's most important. Decide carefully!
2) Dialogue punctuation is a very specific thing. Many of you don't punctuate dialogue correctly. You have Google at your finger tips. Also, you could open just about any book with dialogue to see how it's properly punctuated. Or try this spot, too. Learn it.
3) Some stories barely have beginnings. Let me remind you that these stories are due (no exceptions) on Thursday, April 10th. Today, if your story is still lacking, you're writing. Go through any comments that I've made (and comments your peers have made) and address them. Keep writing!
Now, you're writing. You can conference with me individually and we can talk about your stories. P.S. Write. Kthx
Requirements:
Length - at least 10-12 pages, double spaced. That's 5-6 single spaced. A reasonable 10-12 point legible font.
MLA Heading - Top left of page
Your Name
My Name (Mr. Ludwig)
Class Name (Performance, Word, and Text)
Due Date (4/10/14)
Homework:
Keep writing. Don't forget the due date! Prepare yourselves to miss me :(
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