Category Archives: Assignments

The final exam is worth fifteen points. The late paper policy as described by the syllabus applies to the final exam. Turn the exam in by emailing it to me before it is due. It is due by the end … Continue reading →

This final exam is worth fifteen points. As we’ve discussed, the exam consists of you identifying three potential markets for your novella. Each potential market should have a brief paragraph devoted to it, explaining why it is a good fit … Continue reading →

This final exam is worth fifteen points. As we’ve discussed during the semester, the exam consists of you sending your final proposal to your audience. To demonstrate that you have sent it, either CC or BCC me on an email … Continue reading →

Consider these opening strategies for the beginnings of stories, but consider them as ways of revising the beginnings of chapters or sections within your novella. They are part of the ever excellent Metro: Journeys in Writing Creatively.

From David Starkey’s excellent Creative Writing, Read published poems . . . and respond to them with poems of your own. It doesn’t matter whether you respond to the subject of the other person’s poem or just a single line … Continue reading →

From David Starkey’s excellent Creative Writing, Write a poem in the form of a letter. Richard Hugo’s book 31 Letters and 13 Dreams is a great source for these types of poems. Hugo addresses poems to close old friends and to … Continue reading →

From Benjamin Percy’s outstanding collection of essays, Thrill Me, here are “Designing Suspense” and “Modulation.” Read them carefully. We will talk about them in class. In addition, here is “Home Improvement.”

Let’s workshop this poem together before we look at each other’s work.   Snow came down February 15th feeling bad I’d slept on the couch the night before and suddenly the next morning cold was thick on the ground, white, heavy … Continue reading →

Give a general reaction to what you’ve read. Which scenes are interesting? Why? Is there a character that wants something? How do you know? What action does the character take to get what they want? Describe one of the characters … Continue reading →

Here is a found paragraph. The garage door had been up all day. The neighborhood was quiet. I came out to run to the store and saw a rattlesnake crawl behind a paper bag. Trash in the cooler garage. I’ve a … Continue reading →