Introduction to Creative Writing

Besides helping you discover that creative writing can be enjoyable and satisfying, the purpose of this course is to expand your skills and interests in expressing yourself more vividly and descriptively in written English.  Though we will focus on the popular genres of poetry, short story, and drama, you will become more familiar with literary concepts such as symbol, metaphor, plot, and catharsis and writing processes such as brainstorming, drafting, and peer review. You will also learn how these concepts and processes contribute to making you a more creative writer.

Necessary Things

  1. Course packet
  2. File and pages
  3. Courage
  4. Willingness
  5. Enthusiasm

Course Goals

Discover the joy and satisfaction of creative writing
Improve your ability to express yourself in creative writing
Become more familiar with basic creative writing concepts and techniques
Become comfortably genuine
Help create a positive learning/sharing environment

Grading & Assignments: A+ (exceptional), A (great), B (average), C (inferior), S (1/3+ absences).

Evaluation will be based on your creative writing assisnments, attendance, and effort in class. Since assignments are closely related to class activities, it is essential that you come to class on time and participate fully.

  1. Attitude and effort: 20 points
  2. Assignments — poetry (20), short story (20), drama (20): 60 points
  3. Participation (peer comments, presenting, volunteering, etc.): 20 points
  4. NOTE: Minus 5 points for each unexcused absence

Classes & Schedule

Classes will be conducted in English using a mixture of short lecture, discussion, creative writing activities, group sharing, and student recitations related to each of the three genres: poetry, short story, and drama. Because success in writing creatively depends greatly on your ability to remove inhibition and “open up your creative self,” you will be asked to contribute to friendly, relaxed, and supportive atmosphere. After all, it is through the courage to share ideas, experiences, and writings with others that you can discover your own creative voice.

Class, Date & Assignments

1. 4/15 INTRODUCTION, Writing propensities; I. POETRY: Examples; HW: Cinquain, Acrostic
2. 4/22 Poetry: Talking about poetry; Cinquain, Acrostic; Extended metaphor; HW: Haiku; 10 ways...
3. 5/06 Poetry: Talking about poetry; Haiku, 10 ways...; Imagery; Examples; HW: Sense poems
4. 5/13 Poetry: Talking about poetry; Sense poems; Examples; HW: Final poems
5. 5/20 Poetry: Final poems; II. SHORT STORY: HW: Story elements, Story ideas, and Skeleton plot
6. 5/27 Short Story: Talking about short stories; Ideas & skeletons; Examples; HW: Story draft
7. 6/03 Short story: Talking about short stories; Drafts; Examples; HW: Complete draft/finished story
8. 6/10 Short story: Talking about short stories; Drafts; Reading stories 1; HW: Finished story
9. 6/17 Short story: Reading stories 2; III. DRAMA: Examples; HW: Drama ideas & Skeleton
10. 6/24 Drama: Talking about dramas; Comparing ideas & Skeletons; Examples; HW: Drama draft
11. 7/01 Drama: Talking about dramas; Comparing drafts; Examples; HW: Complete draft
12. 7/08 Drama: Comparing drafts; Examples; HW: Complete draft/finished drama
13. 7/15 Drama: Comparing drafts; Performing dramas 1; Examples; HW: Finished drama
14. 7/22 Drama: Performing dramas 2; final comments

Message

"It's really true that we often learn the most when we are outside our 'comfort zone.' What a benefit, then, when we discover how to be comfortable outside our 'zone.'"

Contact

©Duane Kindt, 99-10
Revised last 4/9/10