Sunday, October 31, 2010

Paired Writing


As I have the privilege to work with Dr. Will Hochman this semester, I've picked up a few creative writing tip gems, like "paired writing." It's usually done in groups of two, sometimes three people. There are five steps. Each person starts their own story at the first step. People have only about two or three minutes for each step before switching stories with their partner. The end result can be hilarious!

1. Describe a setting

2. Insert a character (speech, action, description, etc.)

3. Insert conflict (more characters, action, etc.)

4. Insert crisis

5. Create a resolution. No "just a dream" endings

If you want a fuller description of the exercise, go to http://www.daedalus.com/wings/wings52.pdf
(Hochman, Will (1997-8). Transactional Dynamics of Paired Fiction Writing. Wings, 5(2), 7-9)

Sunday, October 17, 2010

The First Bards


Poor neglected little blog, grad school has funneled all my brain cells into midterms! But I find it hard to lament about anything during the Autumn. The air is too noisy with jeweled colors, and I must listen. After all, trees were signing to the heavens and writing poems with fallen pages of chlorophyll millennia before I picked up the quill.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Tintinnabulous



"Tintinnabulous."

I adore this word. It refers to the peal of ringing bells. Now if I can only find a way to interject this gem of an adjective into normal conversation. It's practically a tongue twister. Try saying it fast three times in a row!