Under Construction
Class
Journal
6/2/11
I
missed the workshop due to a short trip to the mountains.
5/26/11
I
have started a “chronicle” called “Legacy” for my writing assignment. This story calls for a trip to
Plans
have changed. I have decided to
incorporate the trip to Norris Dam with another trip along the same path to
Save
some money on gas! Here is a link to
what I have so far………Legacy
Copy
of our orientation mail from Maureen
. Hello Under Construction-ers,
I’m writing this email so that those of you who were in class last week and those of you who weren’t (namely Langley and Carol) each has all the information you need. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY SO THAT YOU’LL BE ABLE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE CLASS.
I know there’s a lot here, as we embark on our writing journey. Think of it as gathering provisions and equipment! Bullets are easy to read, so here goes:
·
In the
first class, the ten class members who were there shared a short piece of
writing so we could get acquainted with each other. We all enjoyed hearing
these pieces so much! If any of you would like to share your pieces with Carol
and Langley, send them on to me (yes, even if you emailed them earlier; this
email will serve as my go-ahead to forward them). Langley and Carol, please
feel free to forward a piece of yours as well.
·
I passed
around a “permission to share email address, etc.” form last week; this week
·
You will
have an opportunity to get feedback (whatever kind you request J) on up to 750 words of writing each week. Please email me a copy of
what you’ll be bringing by midnight each Wednesday and bring 6 copies of your writing to
class with you, unless you want to have us just listen and give you general
comments.
Depending on how many of you bring work each week, we will likely break into
groups for critique, but first we’ll hear everyone’s pieces aloud.
·
A number of
you will want feedback on more than 750 words. I think the best way to handle
this is to determine who is willing and able to read work outside of class.
We’ll arrange to get copies to readers ahead of time so that, after an excerpt
is read to the whole class, you can get feedback about a larger work from a
small group. If you are willing to read outside class, shoot me an email to let
me know that.
· Also, please send me your filled-out
“Writing Dreams Inventory” (attached) if you
didn’t give it to me already.
·
For homework, I gave the reading
assignment of pages 66 – 69, about creating a writing future for yourself.
Powerful stuff! You may also want to write me a “How I Earned My A in Under
Construction” letter. This exercise, from the book The Art of Possibility by
Rosamund and Ben Zander, is a wonderful way to throw yourself into the future
(specifically the last day of class, April 28th) and invent what you
will create and accomplish in your writing, and in your life, through our
class. I scanned much of the “Giving an A” chapter from this book into a PDF
for you to read (attached) so that you can see examples and understand the
context of this exercise.
·
If finding
time to write is one of your bugaboos, also read and do the exercises on
pages 60 – 64.
·
We talked
about the power of desire, as well, considering this quote by Kurt Vonnegut:
“I would tell students to make their characters want something right away
even if it’s only a glass of water.” You may also want to try the exercise on
page 39, “Why Write?” If I do say so myself, I love the whole “Why” chapter; if
you have time, you may enjoy reading pages 37 – 42.
·
In order to
support your goals and dreams, we are going to be stressing accountability. Each
one of you present shared a writing promise for this week with a partner, and I
invited you to share it with me. Congratulations to Ellyssia, who did that!
It’s not too late for the rest of you! We’ll practice this practice J; this Thursday we’ll look at the attached handout on
“Accountability Equals Dreams Come True.”
Let me know if you have any questions, or if there is anything that I forgot to mention. How great to have the energy and talents of all 12 of you – what a contribution you will be to each other, and to me!
With gratitude,
Maureen
Cheryl Keller (kcskeller@aol.com );
Dave Malicoat (dmalicoat@usa.com );
Eileen A. Schwartz (eileenschwartzusa@yahoo.com );
Ellyssia Massey (cltrunner1@gmail.com );
Graham Hamilton (dhamilton19@carolina.rr.com );
Laura McLeod (laura@lauramacleod.com );
Lisa Lysholm (lalysholm@yahoo.com ); Savannah Maynard (smaynard@caudlespears.com );
Sherree Mcsherry (Sherree_Mcsherry@hotmail.com );
Vivia Mighty (Msvivia@aol.com )
5/19/11
Our
inaugural meeting. Get acquainted and
set some goals. I read an excerpt from
one of my early chronicles, “The Threshold”