Author Archives: sdgibson
3420 and complicating characters
Write no more than twenty words in response to these characterization prompts; then write the word “unless” and add twenty more words. What does the character think is funny? How does he or she feel about authority? Describe one meal … Continue reading
2010 and literacy narratives
Here is another useful example of a literacy narrative.
2250 and Starkey 71-73
Here is a PDF of a few pages of our English 2250 textbook. We will talk about them in class.
A map of genres (with examples)
From Mentalfloss, a plotting of genres.
On loving what you’ve made too much
Be willing to revise. Don’t fall in love with your own snowballs. Or writing.
First lines
According to the American Book Review, these are the best first lines of novel-length books. Do you agree? What do the best of these have in common?
The centrality of characterization
When people come together—let’s say they come to a little party or something—you always hear them discuss character. They will say this one has a bad character, this one has a good character, this one is a fool, this one … Continue reading
How Kazoo Ishiguro drafted The Remains of the Day in one month
Kazuo Ishiguro describes his process in interesting detail in this link.
From character to plot
Consider this quotation: “Plot is about the word so, not the word and. It’s about because of the reason given; consequently; with the result that; in order that. . . . ‘When a character does something, he becomes that character; … Continue reading
English 4420 pre-writing samples
This is a link to one excellent example of the pre-writing assignment and here is another.
Metaphor by Metaphor 