ENG 221 30069
Creative Writing
Spring 2008
Bruce Beckum
(O) 870.4433
Office: B231
Office Hours: M-R 12-1, T 2:30-5
Email: bbeckum@coloradomtn.edu
Begin: 1/15 End: 5/1
Refund: 2/1 Withdraw: 4/5
Texts and materials:
Writing Down the Bones, Goldberg
The Practice of Poetry, Behn and Twichell
What If?, 2nd ed.,Bernays and Painter
Additional readings provided by instructor
-A flat pocket folder (no rings) for turning in exercises and extra work for A or B
-A standard-sized (8x11) spiral notebook (no ring binders) for writer’s notebook and in-class writing
How your grade is earned:
To earn a C for the course, you must meet ALL these criteria:
a. complete ALL 14 exercises, and turn them in on time
b. put effort into each exercise
c. finish 30 pages in your writer’s notebook
d. participate in group work and class discussion
If you do not meet ALL the above criteria for a C, your final grade will be a D or an F. To earn an A or a B, you will also need to complete a variety of optional exercises beyond what is required of a C. See attached Extra Work for a Grade of A or B.
Creative Writing exercises and revisions:
You will be completing 14 writing exercises this semester, in two batches of seven exercises. Of the seven poetry exercises (#1-7), you will revise two, of your choosing, before handing in the batch on the due date. Of the seven fiction exercises, (#8-14), you will revise #12, 13, or 14 into a complete short story, before handing in the entire batch on the due date. Turn these exercises in to me in a flat pocket folder. Label each exercise clearly, and place each rewrite directly behind the first version, so that I can read the original and the revision back-to-back.
Reading assignments:
You are responsible for following the Class Schedule and reading all assignments before the designated class. We will discuss the material in class, and I expect each of you to participate in these discussions. Additionally, I will provide additional poems and stories for you to read and which we will also discuss.
Writer’s Notebook:
Most writers keep a journal and you’ll do the same this semester. Choose a standard-size spiral notebook in which you continue your creative writing practice. You are free to write anything: free writing, descriptions, observations, character sketches, poems, stories, story ideas, overheard conversations and any exercise from our text of your own making. Try to avoid diary-type writing, though, in favor of creative exercises.
Format of work to be handed in (take note!)
-These you may handwrite: writing exercises done in and out of class, and your writer’s notebook. Be sure your work is legible.
-These must be typed: your three required revisions, your poem for workshop and your extra grade for A or B.
-Assignments may be Emailed, but they must be sent as attachments to an Email in Microsoft Word format. Any other format may be impossible for me to open and may result in a “zero” for that assignment.
Note: I probably come across as an autocrat in this handout. Don’t be alarmed. It simply means that in order for our class to be fun, playful, creative, and worth you while, you need to take the course as seriously as I do--by showing up, giving the exercises your best playful efforts, and by being prepared and participating in class. Without that, this will not be the experience it can be.
Course Policies:
Class Schedule: (Note: because of the size of the class, the instructor reserves the right to make changes as needed. Also, instructor will provide additional readings, copies available at circulation desk in library.)
Bones = Writing Down the Bones
POP = Practice of Poetry
WI = What If
Bring Writing Down the Bones and
T 1/15 Intro
R 1/17 Bones 1-30; Practice Exercise A
T 1/22 Bones 30-44, Practice Exercise B
R 1/24 Bones 50-54, 59-60, 68-71, 74-89; Practice ex. C
T 1/29 Bones 157-70; Discuss free verse; do line break exercise; Ex. # 1: Opposite model of a poem.
R 1/31 Bones 55-100; Ex #2: Ten Minute Spill (POP 13); Bring an object to next class
T 2/5 Bones 101-156; Ex #3: (POP 35) Intriguing Object Show & Tell--using object you brought
R 2/7 Ex #4: (POP 37) Breaking the sentence (listing poem)
T 2/12 Ex #5: (POP 40) Five Easy Pieces
R 2/14 Ex#6: (POP 63) Dramatic Monologue, or the Voice Poem, discuss revision, hand out my revisions.
T 2/19 Ex#7: 15-sentence prompt; Bring typed copies (enough for everyone in class) of your revised, typed poem.
R 2/21 Begin work shopping poems
T 2/26 Workshop
R 2/28 Workshop
T 3/4 Finish Workshop; Read 20/20, Girl, Confirmation Names (WI)
R 3/6 Read WI: 1-28 & Atwood 301; Ex#8: (WI 9-14)
T 3/11 DUE: Ex’s 1-7 with two typed revisions; Read WI: 59-86 & Carver: 338; Ex#9: (WI 64) 34-part sketch
R 3/13 No Class
3/18-20 Spring Break
T 3/25 Read WI: Munro:426: Ex.#10: (WI 60) Motives
R 3/27 Read WI: 161-172 & Cunningham: 349; Ex #11: WI (1st Ed. Pp 141) Provided by Instructor
T 4/1 Read WI: 87-100 & McNeely: 410; Ex#12: Describe a scene twice, once in 1st person, once in 3rd (two developed paragraphs)
R 4/3 Read WI 221-242 & Baxter: 317, Ex#13: (WI 232) A Fiction Stew
T 4/8 WI: 101-118 & Mason: 399; Ex#14: (WI 134) The Story Machine
R 4/10 WI 414: How to Talk to a Hunter; Guided Imagery Exercise (# 15)
T 4/15 WI: 121-138 & Wheeler: 462; DUE: Writer’s Notebooks; Ex#16: Class picks last fiction exercise; discuss revision
R 4/17 DUE: Extra Work for grade of A or B; Bring typed copies (enough for everyone in class) of a complete story, based on one or more of fiction ex#’s 11-14; distribute stories
T 4/22 Begin fiction workshop
R 4/24 Workshop
T 4/29 Workshop
R 5/1 Workshop