Writing Tasks; Suspense & Stephen King's Writing Prompt Exercise

TASK #1: Write a short (200-300 word) scene that involves a specific character involved in a specific conflict. Keep your scene tight--in other words, just focus on the now of the character in the conflict.
For now, just write that scene...you will be adding to this scene in future classes. To get you started, use one of the hooks in the writing practice today. You may also use the material from your journal as to character, situation, and setting.

Please turn in a draft of your 200-300 word story by the end of the class.

While are not going to read Stephen King's first section of his book On Writing due to length and time. But, we can still use what he wrote to spur us on to greatness and a bunch of ideas for our own writing.

TASK #2: In chapter 5 of his book, Stephen King provides writing students with an exercise. He provides the detailed backstory for two characters. Then asks you to alter the story a bit, and write a 6 page story. Do that. Except, instead of 6 pages, write 6 paragraphs. Try to add some of the suspense techniques we covered in our last class (see previous post for details!)

Turn in this draft by the end of the class period as well. 

Stephen King: On Writing Post Ideas for YOUR blog

TASK #3: 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 that will be collected on YOUR BLOG as part of your final journal. I will be adding to this list as the days wane.

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'

HOMEWORK: Read Stephen King's On Writing, chapters 6-8. There will likely be a test on what important advice Stephen King gives novice writers from chapters 1-8. Please take notes and study what he says is important for a writer to remember.