Hemingway: Day 2; Time Management for Writers

Please turn in any late work that may have been missing. We are 1/2 way through the marking period. Try to keep up with our writing/assignments!

YOUR BLOG: Writing 5-10 minute post.

• Choose 1 of the following 2 prompts and write a blog post on YOUR blog in the next 5-10 minutes.
• 1. Post Option #1: Write a post discussing the two short stories you read from the Hemingway collection of short stories: "Fathers and Sons" and "The Gambler, The Nun, and the Radio". What were these stories (what was their premise)? What did you notice about the writing style (tense, syntax, diction, sentence structure, use of literary elements like imagery or metaphor or symbol)? Hemingway's characters and characterization? Hemingway's plotting or themes or message? Hemingway's use of dialogue or POV? What questions do you have if you could ask Hemingway a question about these two stories? What connections can you make after learning a little about the author (how are the stories taken from Hemingway's own life experiences or seem similar to his life...)?
• 2. Post Option #2: Write about your own struggle with procrastination as a writer or artist. What is keeping you from focusing on your work? How might you overcome procrastination issues? How might you manage your time better?
• If you finish one post in the time given to you in class, you can always write a second post as extra credit.

• 5 Time-Management Skills of Successful Writers

Today we'll read "A Clean, Well Lighted Place" (the second story in the collection), and the first part of "The Snows of Kilimanjaro". After reading a bit, we'll discuss the author's style and use of stream of consciousness. 

Consider these key narrative concepts: (write notes in your physical journal...)

Stream of consciousness: a narrative device or technique a writer uses to develop character (characterization). The writer does this by presenting the THOUGHTS of a character as they would occur in the mind. It is similar to an internal monologue that a character has about his/her situation in the narrative of the story. The character is speaking to him/herself in stream of consciousness. This technique is unique to fiction or poetry. It is similar to the voice over (VO) in film or the soliloquy in plays. It is useful to:

• Provide characterization or develop character
• Explains the attitude or POV of the character's mind or thought process

Flashback: a narrative technique useful in plotting. Usually, stories are written in chronological time (i.e., a story is told from the beginning to the end of an event). A flashback, however, allows the writer to insert a scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point (present). Flashbacks are used to:

• Provide important background or story details
• Develop details about a character (characterization)
• It helps to develop setting
• It can be used to create suspense

Then, let's read the short story, "A Day's Wait" from your collection (story #3), and with time back to another section of "The Snows of Kilimanjaro." Complete this longer short story for homework. See homework below...

Advanced Time Management; let's see if there's more to learn...

Most of Hemingway’s stories have simple plots revolving around the theme of death or alienation. Two characters usually do not have the same world view (or opinion) and their conversation or relationship is strained by miscommunication (or the fact that a character cannot explain him/herself to another human being.) This is a typical trope in 20th-century literature, and in particular of writers of the Lost Generation. [Take a couple of minutes to learn about the Lost Generation--see link]!

In your first draft you should have chosen a situation, written a story that focused on the here and now--a single moment or a limited time period in one location. You were instructed not to get into the minds of the characters yet, but focus on the dialogue between the two or three characters. For further details, please refer to the assignment below this post.

By now you should have a completed draft #1. If you do not have a complete draft #1, please complete draft #1 and label it as such before you continue.

Complete? Then go on to these instructions:

Draft Two: Flashback

1. After you complete the basic story. Write a second draft including the following:

a. Find moments in the story for your character to think about or refer to his/her past. Select these moments and for each one, develop the inner dialogue of your protagonist.
b. This “flashback” should reveal personal opinions, reflect on the situation, and/or connect ideas and people with your character’s past. Your character’s past should be detailed with much verisimilitude.
c. You may cover years or many days or a great length of time for your flashbacks. You may also change scenery or setting.
2. Separate your flashbacks for now by italicizing them.

Write your draft #2. Please label this draft, draft #2!

HOMEWORK: Finish the first story in the collection: "The Snows of Kilimanjaro", and the two stories "In Another Country" and "The Killers" for next class. Feel free to work on your second draft (flashbacks). Bring your books back with you to next class.