Misery (conclusion); Stephen King: On Writing (part 3)

EQ: How does plot contribute to the narrative of Stephen King's Misery? What advice does Stephen King give to young writers & how can you use it to improve your writing?

After screening Misery, take a moment to choose a partner or two (up to a maximum of 3!) to discuss the effective use of suspense in the story. Using the index cards provided to create a major plot sequence from what you remember about the film and story. Choose either Annie Wilkes or Paul Sheldon. Try to come up with 3-5 plot events detailing how either Annie Wilkes or Paul Sheldon face a problem and what happens to complicate the situation (a BUT,  Oops, WHEN, or SUDDENLY, etc.) and whether or not they succeed. Turn in your cards for participation credit at the end of this lesson.

For example:

• Paul Sheldon leaves his hotel during a snow storm because he finished his new novel, BUT (or SUDDENLY) he crashes his car.
• Annie Wilkes rescues Paul Sheldon, BUT she doesn't take him to the hospital because of the storm.

Read Stephen King's section on "On Writing" together. Complete the writing exercises as instructed in your journal. When instructed, use the scenario King sets out for you and write a draft of that story. This is a writing exercise, so flex those creative muscles. We'll finish your draft next class. 

HOMEWORK: Read the packet "On Writing" by Stephen King. As you read, annotate and take note of the key ideas he advises writers to accomplish. Bring your packet back with you next class with your annotations so we can discuss key ideas (there may even be a quiz on the material!) Complete the reading of this section. You may also continue to write your story draft as well. 

Stephen King: Toolbox

This morning we will read and discuss Stephen King's third section of his autobiographical novel On Writing. This is the part he talks about how to be a better writer. We'll read and stop occasionally to write a few prompts/exercises in our journals.


Sometime during second period we will stop reading/writing and begin to watch Misery, one of Stephen King's favorite novels that he wrote. He mentions Misery in the first section of his memoir. Details about the film are here:


Misery (1990) was directed by Rob Reiner. William Goldman (the author who wrote The Princess Bride) wrote the screenplay based on Stephen King's novel.


Paul Sheldon (the protagonist) is played by James Caan.
Annie Wilkes (the antagonist) is played by Kathy Bates.
More cast/crew information about the film can be found at IMDB.com at this link.


WRITING EXERCISES:

• Write a "what if..." speculative idea as a basis for a short story you might write.
• Write a single paragraph in which you describe an object, room (place), or person.
• Write a long, long sentence. Try to write the longest complete sentence (not a run-on) in our class. Count how many words your sentence is. A run-on has two or more independent clauses (often with two or more subjects and two or more predicates and a lot of commas or semi-colons)
• Ex. It is nearly half past five we cannot reach town before dark and eat at that restaurant with Annie and Paul because there is a snow storm and we might run off the road and die and that would be a bad thing to happen since its my birthday today.
•  Rewrite your paragraph using only short SUBJECT + PREDICATE sentences. Remove conjunctions, for example. How does that change your style?

HOMEWORK: Complete "Toolbox" if you did not complete it in class.

Blogging Assignments: Check; Stephen King on Writing

Welcome back from break! I hope you had a restful one.

After our quiz this morning on Stephen King's memoir, please attend to any missing blog posts (I'll be checking these this week for your grade). So far this is the minimum requirement for the blog project so far from my class (you should as of this date have at least 10 posts written):

Blog Post Assignments (with date of original assignment/post):

1. Welcome (Jan. 31)
2. Fences review (Jan. 31)
3. Passionate response (Jan. 31)
4.  Reflection on Writing Response: top 10 writing rules, publishers, how much do I make publishing? (Jan. 31, homework)
5. Response to any of these writers' comments: Walter Mosely, Robert McKee, Isabel Allende (Feb. 3)
6. Writing career response (Feb. 5)
7. Favorite story, poem, film, text, etc. (Feb. 5)
8. Share a link/video (Feb. 5)
9. Response to any of these writers: Neil Gaiman, Ceridwen Dovey, Elizabeth Gilbert, Margaret Atwood (Feb. 5)
10. Writing Inspiration Quote & Writing Article summary (Feb. 8)
11. What inspires you to write? (Feb. 8)
12. Others* (you could publish anything you've written including short stories, the love poem assignment, or other ideas as you deem fit or necessary)

Stephen King: On Writing Post Ideas

Stephen King invites us as readers into his life. He says of his memoir that it is his attempt to "show how one writer was formed...snapshots, most out of focus" (page 4, On Writing). For your next few blog posts, you will be asked to reflect on your OWN life as to how YOU were formed. These 'snapshots' will be collected together for your own mini-autobiography/memoir.

Please use any of the following prompts to write your posts. You may write as many of these as you can or want. Remember: our goal is to approach writing fluency. You can't get better at writing by avoiding it. Use these prompts to give your ideas a good jumping off point for your inspiration and reflection. Above all, try to tell as much of the truth as possible. Where you don't recall a detail, it is fine to make something up. Feel free to use dialogue, imagery, or other effective writing techniques to tell your story or communicate your ideas.

PROMPTS (with chapter models from On Writing by Stephen King):

• Chapter One: Write about your earliest memory.
• Chapter One: Write about an injury you suffered when you were young.
• Chapter Two: Write about one of your babysitters (or one of your babysitting jobs, if you'd like)
• Chapter Two: Write about a time when you were sick or violently ill
• Chapter Three: Write about a crazy stunt your brother, sister, or you did
• Chapter Four: Write about your experience or first memory of death (if you can't think of one, ask your parents, or a sibling)
• Chapter Five/Six: Write about getting a childhood sickness (the measles, chickenpox, pneumonia, ear aches, stomach viruses, etc.) or operation (even your first shot at the doctor's office...)
• Chapter Five/Six: Write about a doctor's visit (include some dialogue...)
• Chapter Seven/Eight: Write about your first story you ever wrote
• Chapter Nine: Write about your first crush, kiss, or date
• Chapter Nine: Write about an embarrassing moment (how did you survive?)
• Chapter Ten: Write about one of your siblings (or a friend, if you are an only child)
• Chapter Ten: Write about your first "scientific experiment"; or write about your first experience with a "blackout" or when the electricity (or internet) went out
• Chapter Eleven: Write about a favorite t.v. show when you were growing up
• Chapter Twelve: Write about your first 'rejection'
• Chapter Thirteen/Fourteen: write about your best story idea
• Chapter Fifteen: Write about your first submission to a magazine; or write about your first idea you wrote when you were younger--Try to reconstruct the plot
• Chapter Sixteen: Write about a grandparent; or a memory you have of living in your house
• Chapter Seventeen: Write about your sibling, or parent, and describe one of their pastimes or hobbies
• Chapter Eighteen: Write about your first experience at a movie theater--or write about your favorite author/or short story--describe its impact on you
• Chapter Nineteen: Write about a time you got into trouble (at school, church, or your own home)
• Chapter Twenty: Write about your favorite teacher. What did you learn from this person?
• Chapter Twenty-One/Twenty-Two: Write about your first job; or write about a memorable summer vacation
• Chapter Twenty-Three: Write about your first relationship; or write about your first poem or the first poem or song you remember had an impact on you
• Chapter Twenty-Four, Twenty-Five, Twenty-Six: Write about advice you took from someone you know (your parents, a relative, a teacher, or friend...) and what happened to you because of that advice?
• Chapter Twenty-Six, Twenty-Seven, Twenty-Eight: Write about your first job, or write about a person you met at that job; or write about someone you remember from your early life
• Chapter Twenty-Nine: Write about a peer in your classes who was an outcast or outsider--someone the group didn't like
• Chapter Thirty: Write about something you are proud of accomplishing
• Chapter Thirty-One through Chapter Thirty-Eight: Write about something you want to write about (it could be as simple as writing about your bedroom or workspace, or confessing an addiction or problem you've been having, or something you've realized about yourself...anything is fair game--as long as you make it interesting by 'telling the truth' as you see it.

HOMEWORK: Write, write, write. Complete as many blog posts as you can. Next class we'll continue learning about writing from Stephen King.

Spotlight on: Stephen King

Love/Anti-Love poem exercise.

This morning we will begin reading Stephen King's writing memoir: On Writing (2002), but before we do that, please watch the following short video interview with the author.

Stephen King on Writing (short interview)

Let's dive into the book. Please complete the packet by the time we return from Feb. break (2/22). As you read, please continue to annotate or highlight important of interesting passages, lines, or words.

After reading today, please move back to the lab. In the lab take a look here for Stephen King's official website. You can find information about the author and his books there.

Some tips about writing by Stephen King.

With the rest of the time today, please fill your time doing one or more of the following:

• Write on your blog
• Read your homework (On Writing by Stephen King)
• Read a peer's blog and leave a response/comment
• Write or continue to write--use your time in the lab to further a project or writing assignment

HOMEWORK: Have a nice break! Complete On Writing and continue to annotate and work on your writing. Be prepared for a quiz on King's memoir when we return from break on 2/22.

Blogging; Creative Writing Inspiration!

This morning please read the following:

Inspiration is often defined as "the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions." As writers and artists, we know when we have inspiration, and we certainly know when we are lacking it! 

While all artists seek inspiration, the job of a writer is not only to gain enough inspiration to write, but to share his or her inspiration with others. This is often done through character, plot, setting, theme, various literary devices, dialogue, and the diction that communicates ideas.

Here is what some writers have said to inspire us to write: 

• "Any [person] who keeps working is not a failure. He may not be a great writer, but if he applies the old-fashioned virtues of hard, constant labor, he’ll eventually make some kind of career for himself as writer." - Ray Bradbury
• "A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it to be God." - Sidney Sheldon
• "Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer." - Barbara Kingsolver
• "If you have other things in your life—family, friends, good productive day work—these can interact with your writing and the sum will be all the richer." - David Brin
• "Most of the basic material a writer works with is acquired before the age of fifteen." - Willa Cather
• "Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good." - William Faulkner
• "Fiction is about stuff that’s screwed up." - Nancy Kress
• "Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up." - Jane Yolen

Inspiration is a gift as precious as gold. Sometimes you strike it rich, other times its absence makes you starve. As you move through this course, decide to find inspiration to try your best. Sometimes this will be easy. Sometimes this will be hard. If you ever feel like giving up, come back to this assignment and fill up your cup with inspiration.

How to Find Inspiration:

• Take a walk, get some fresh air or get out into nature when you are feeling stressed.
• Take a hot shower or bath. Find daily ways to relax.
• Get some sleep. Stress is more likely to occur when we are tired.
• Read a book. Watch a movie. Listen to a friend read a poem. The more we interact with the written word, the more inspiration we find to try it ourselves.
• Create a space for yourself where you can write.
• Enjoy silence. Sitting and breathing deeply in silence can help us relax.
• Interact with the arts: listen to music, dance, memorize a speech, doodle or paint, play a game.
• Find inspiration in the last place anyone might look for it: look for it in yourself!

Today, write. Write what you want. Just write. You have 30 full minutes. Do it. Do it now! Please note: I will be wandering about and telling those of you who want to talk to be quiet. Please honor your writing time.

Period 4: Blogging

Inspiration Resources Assignment:

For this assignment, please take a look at the website: Writer's Relief. After taking a moment to peruse the site, spend some time here to do the following:

1. Find one inspirational quote (click on the link or choose 'quotes' for writers from the drop down menu) that you like or that you can connect with.

• Write this quote as part of your assignment, and explain in a sentence or two why you chose it.
• Share the quote you chose with a neighbor and another student peer who you haven't talked to in a while. Write the name of the persons you shared your quote with and write what those persons verbally said about the quote you chose in your blog post today.

2. Read and summarize one article from the drop down menu. Make sure to list the title and author of the article in your response.

Complete these two questions on your blog.



Then ON YOUR BLOG, please list, jot, or freewrite your answer to this question:

What inspires you to write?
When you have finished your list, keep it handy. The next time you need a reason to write or complete an assignment, refer to this journal entry. Good luck!

Finally, check out at least 3 of the following blogs, and read them. Leave a comment for those blogs you read in the comment section. You may also choose to "follow" this peer writer.

Student Blogs:
Kaneil
Mariangelis
Dominique
Asher
Fadumo
Faduma
James
Justice
Jakiya
Jyeshia
Andrea
Delimar
Raina
Karina
Genesis
Laurie



HOMEWORK: Some of you have not yet finished your blogging assignments. Please do that.

Writing Careers: Part 2; Blogging

This morning, please work with the substitute. Begin where we left off last class: presenting information about creative writing careers (the following items should be presented today!):

journalist
reporter  
columnist
lyricist (song writer)
ghostwriter
press secretary
lawyer
communication manager
blogger
researcher
literary agent

After our speeches (remember to record them in your journal!), go back to your blog project and do the following posts today:

1. After hearing about these professions, what might be a career you are interested in pursuing with your writing background? Why does this job appeal to you? What might you (personally) need to do or be willing to do to achieve this goal?

2. Write about a favorite recent novel, short story, poem, play, television episode, or film that you have seen or read and share what you liked about it with the world. You may wish to include a picture or graphic to your blog posts. To do that, select the "picture" icon next to "link" in your blog menu header.

3. Using the "link" function (in the blog menu header) link to a website that you enjoy visiting. Explain in your post why you like to visit this web page. Share your findings with the world! You may also do this assignment with a short video by clicking on the camera-slate next to the picture icon in the blog menu header.

4. After writing the posts above, please watch the following videos on writing:

• Neil Gaiman's Advice for Young Writers
• Ceridwen Dovey's Advice for Writers
• Elizabeth Gilbert Discusses a Writer's Life
• Margaret Atwood's Creative Process

Reflect on what the writers said. Post your observations and talk about what these authors said--what do you think?

HOMEWORK: Complete any blog posts (see post below) that you have not completed yet. Over the weekend, please complete these blog posts (and remember to send me your URL...)

Writing Professions

This morning, please watch the following video(s) and respond to them collectively on your BLOG. Your blog post is due by the end of class.

• Walter Mosely (novelist): What Do You Have to Sacrifice to be a Writer?
• Robert McKee (screenwriter): Bad Writers Have Nothing to Say
• Isabel Allende (novelist): Writing Process

LAB WORK/RESEARCH: Select and sign up for one of the following occupations (while you're watching the videos, I'll be coming around to let you choose your profession randomly). Your job today in class is to use the internet to find out some information to report back to the class on these jobs. Find out:

A. What is the job? (Describe what the job entails or involves)
B. What is the median (average) salary for the job
C. What education and/or requirements are needed to get the job.
D. Anything else you found interesting about the job.

Please record your findings in your journal. Take notes answering questions A-D.

By period 4, please be prepared to share this information with the rest of the class. Some of the categories include: novelist, technical writer, journalist, reporter, copy editor, publisher, advertising/marketing, screenwriter/television writer, columnist, playwright, poet, lyricist (song writer), ghostwriter, press secretary, lawyer, communication manager, reviewer/critic, blogger, researcher, public relations, literary agent, freelance writer, etc.

If you finish early, please continue writing on your blog. You may write any of the previous posts you did not complete, revise your work, or create something new. We'll report out starting period 4 on our professions. Take notes on what others say in your journal.

HOMEWORK: None.