Creative Writing Station Week 5
If your station requires a written response, save your response in a Writer's Notebook or Word file.
Do not throw away your responses. They are proof of your effort at this station.
Do not throw away your responses. They are proof of your effort at this station.
Monday (9/18)
Day 1 of 4 (begin writing)
How do I start?!
PoetryYour 1st Benchmark is this Friday (9/22)
To reach that benchmark you MUST have completed:
After viewing this short (2 minute) discussion on how to get started writing poetry. Check out the poetry collection at the links below to hear some of what is considered to be the "greatest poetry" of all time.
This can be done during multiple 15 minute stations.
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ScriptYour 1st Benchmark is this Friday (9/22)
To reach that benchmark you MUST have completed:
After viewing this short video (3 min) on screenplay formatting, watch the opening to Batman: The Dark Knight and read the script for the film.
Pay attention to the structure of the script as you watch. Notice how the words written by the script writer have translated to the screen. A link to the entire screenplay is below the video.
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Fiction/NFYour 1st Benchmark is this Friday (9/22)
To reach that benchmark you MUST have completed:
After viewing this short video (4 min) on what makes a heroic character, watch this video on the "8 point story arc" and take a look at the worksheet below, designed to help you get started (or continue writing).
P.S. Ignore the screams in the background, this video must have been recorded above a daycare or something ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Tuesday (9/19)
Day 2 of 4 (Refining your focus)
Why am I writing this?
Work in your chosen final path
PoetryWhy am I writing this?
Well, Robin Williams says it best. As you work today, to write your poems and your poetry responses, consider what you are trying to "contribute" to other people's understanding of the world in your writing.
How are you teaching other people about being human with what you are writing? |
Script WritingWhy am I writing this?
Who are you writing for? Who is your audience? Why do these questions matter? As a script writer, you should ask yourself some important questions while writing. The video below is a great rundown of some of the important questions you should ask yourself as a script writer. As you work today, to write your script.
Focus on producing natural sounding dialogue, and on following script writing formatting rules. The video below is a discussion of "dialogue writing" for all types of writers. |
Fiction / NFWhy am I writing this?
Who are you writing for? Who is your audience? As you work today, to write your short story, consider "who your audience is," what kind of reader are you writing for?
Also, consider the lessons from Vonnegut (the dude in the video above). The video below is an AWESOME explanation of some of the most common writing mistakes. Take it to heart, and consider looking at the links she posts if you recognize a problem you have in your own writing. |
Wednesday (9/20)
To write, you gotta write.
Today, focus on production.
PoetryIf you are struggling to start writing, here is a link to a list of poetry writing prompts that are really random and good.
And here are a few links to good background music for poetry writing that I have used personally. Good luck in production day!
Remember. If you are worried about writing something awful. Write it. The next thing may well be the best thing you've ever written. Write THROUGH the crap, to get them tomatoes! |
ScreenplayIf you are struggling to start writing, here is a link to a list of screenplays that are free to read.
Read a screenplay for a film that you like and get a feeling for how your favorite movie looked before it was on the screen. NOTE: The ones titled "transcript" don't count as screenplay format, that's just the dialogue. Look at the ones titled "draft" for the correct formatting. And here are a few links to good background music for Screenplay writing that I have used personally. Good luck in production day!
Remember. If you are worried about writing something awful. Write it. The next thing may well be the best thing you've ever written. Write THROUGH the crap, to get them tomatoes! |
Fiction / Non-FictionIf you are struggling to start writing, here is a link to a list of great short stories being read aloud.
Edgar Allen Poe: The Cask of Amontillado
A revenge story
H.P. Lovecraft: The Music of Eric Zahn
A supernatural horror story
Shirley Jackson: The Lottery
A sci-fi classic
Ray Bradbury: There Will Come Soft Rains
A sci-fi story on a house that has survived a nuclear Armageddon
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Thursday (9/21)
1st Benchmark DUE TOMORROW
Editing day
(hopefully you have been writing a lot this week, and now it is time to edit a bit before turning in your 1st Benchmark)
PoetryEditing Poetry is fidgety stuff.
You have almost complete freedom of structure and form with poetry. Here are a couple of different ways to approach editing your work before you turn it in tomorrow Good luck cutting the fat!
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ScreenplayScripts and Screenplays have a very specific format that must be followed closely for the script to be correct.
As you go back through your script, today, pay extra close attention to your formatting, and fix any issues that make your work incorrectly formatted. |
Fiction / Non-FictionYour short fiction or Non-fiction piece requires the same kind of editing that teachers have tried to teach you for your entire school career.
This is probably the easiest editing assignment of the three IF you are comfortable with those lessons that you've been working on up to this point. |