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.