Taking on a Challenge

Last week, when I was talking to one of my students, Kara, about a writing exercise that starts with, "I remember," and then shifts to "I don't remember," she tweaked the assignment and challenged me to write a poem that began with "I don't remember."  So I wrote a poem.  In its earliest draft, the poem began with the suggested line.  But, as it underwent revision, the beginning moved to the middle and became the crux, or turning point, of the poem.

BETWEEN THE LINES

I like to be the first one asleep

and the second one awake;

I like knowing someone else is in charge

of keeping the clocks ticking.

And I like to prop my door just so,

not quite open,

not quite closed,

as though I will be more likely to know

when the future scurries past

like a rat in search of yesterday’s cheese.

I don’t remember a day when I wasn’t afraid,

when I didn’t wake with a start,

shocked to find myself

still part of this planet,

still breathing yet still,

and I always have to stop myself

from imagining the worst.

If I were a flower, I would be a thorn.

If I were a coin, I would land on my face.

If I were a mirror, I would reflect beauty,

unable to capture it for myself.

If I were a chorus, much loved and often sung,

I would long to be a forgotten verse. 

Creative Writing: Day Three

I.  Free-writing topic:  Think of a friend or relative and then focus on something that always reminds you of them (like their perfume, their sense of style, maybe something they love to do) and then write an entry that centers around that.

II.  Exercise:  Find a photograph that seems to have the main subject stopped in the act of doing something.  Animate the photo in your mind and write a one page story about what is happening to the character you create.  Write it in third person.

III.  Revising and Editing:  Discuss your results with the "I Remember" prompt and the "Hands" exercise.  

IV.  Discuss list poems and the process for creating one.
Characteristics of a list poem:

A list poem can be a list or inventory of items, people, places or ideas.
It often involves repetition.
It can include rhyme or not.
The list poem is usually not a random list.  It is well thought out.
The last entry in the list is usually a strong, funny, or important item or event.

Links to List Poem pages:

Write an Instant List Poem:  http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/listpoem.htm

How to Write a Funny List Poem:  http://www.poetry4kids.com/blog/lessons/how-to-write-a-funny-list-poem/

Some good examples of List Poems: http://www.rcowen.com/PDFs/Franco%20Ch%2020%20for%20web.pdf

V. Discuss number symbolism, and a hint of numerology.

http://mmdelrosario.hubpages.com/hub/numbers
http://www.2012-spiritual-growth-prophecies.com/numerology-meanings.html

VI.  Critique:  "Numbers" poem

http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/008.html 

VII.  Write an instant phone number poem.

http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/phonenumpoem.htm

VIII. Work on covering journal, collecting titles, etc.

IX.  HOMEWORK:  The Cut-up Poem:  http://www.languageisavirus.com/articles/articles.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1099111044&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

Be sure to bring a copy of the original poem so we can see what it looked like before you cut it up!

MORE HOMEWORK:  Look at Duotrope and find a possible home for your "I Remember" poem.

MORE HOMEWORK:  Take a look at the two following websites.  "The First Line" and "THEMA."  Both of these magazines give you the first line or theme of your poem or short fiction, etc.  This is a great way to jumpstart your writing when you get blocked.

 

Creative Writing:  Day Two

I.
"Hands" Assignment
Instructions:  Read and execute each prompt in the order it is presented.
1.  Describe a specific person's hands.
2.  Describe something he or she is doing with his or her hands.
3.  Use a metaphor to say something about an exotic place.
4.  Ask this person a question related to step two or three.
5.  The person looks up, notices you there, and gives an answer that shows he or she only got part of what you were asking.
6.  Now spend some time shaping your responses into a poem or short story.  Or, if you prefer, use this as a jumping off point for a free-writing session.

II.  Look back over your journal and highlight parts that intrigue you.

III.  Look back at your exercise, "I Remember."  Turn it into a completed poem. (Try starting with "I Don't Remember."

IV.  Look back at your exercise on "Hands."  Turn it into a completed poem.

V.  Research "How to Write a List Poem