The Course
explores methods in creative writing
Books added may be helpful, but are not essential
The 9 Lessons
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1
On Writing Well, 25th Anniversary : The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction (On Writing Well) (320 pages)By William K. Zinsser. Whether you write an occasional professional letter or a daily newspaper column, William Zinsser's _On Writing Well_ should be required reading. Simplicity is Zinsser's mantra: he preaches a stripped-down writing style, strong and clear. He has no patience for excess (most use of adjectives and ...
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2
Lesson 1: getting started (80 words)Brainstorm about what you think creative writing IS in essence http://www.suite101.com/lesson.cfm/16712/257/2 , http://www.suite101.com/lesson.cfm/16712/257/3 and http://www.suite101.com/lesson.cfm/16712/257/4 These should be read and the ‘gist’ of the subgenres copied into note form for ... -
3
Lesson 2: genre (140 words)This lesson is all about learning more about genre. (The way that they are used, how they are identified etc.) Define genre Read http://www.suite101.com/lesson.cfm/16712/258 (Pages 1 to 5) Making detailed notes long the way. Make a list of any genres you find specifically interesting and ...
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4
Lesson 3: ideas, plots and themes (104 words)Read http://www.suite101.com/lesson.cfm/16712/259 and take detailed notes on plot structure. Write a paragraph saying what you think an idea is. http://www.suite101.com/lesson.cfm/16712/259/2 should be read. Use the sentencing techniques described to look beyond the mundane and try and ...
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5
Lesson 4: plot building (85 words)Brainstorm about how a plot affects a story and how the a situation could become a plot. Read all of pages 1 to 4 beginning on page 1 http://www.suite101.com/lesson.cfm/16712/260/1 taking detailed notes along the way of advantages, disadvantages and methods of plot making. Choose the type ...
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6
Lesson 5: character building (91 words)Introduction: this lesson focuses on really exploring how characters are developed and how the reader can be manipulated through the characters to take different views on a story. Write a paragraph reviewing your grapha nd high concept http://www.suite101.com/lesson.cfm/16712/261 read ...
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7
Lesson 6: Dialogue (92 words)Think about the characters previously created and how they might talk, with a prim and proper voice, dropped consonants etc. Explore this via some quick, free, rough writing. •Now put a polar type of speech to the one that you instinctively think best fits your character and explore, again ...
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8
Lesson 7: Style (55 words)Read through all the information, taking notes http://www.suite101.com/lesson.cfm/16712/263/5 (this starts on the last page, redirect) Write half a page about a child's visit to the park in your own natural style. Now, try rewriting the passage in simple style. Look through your book ...
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9
THE PROJECT- Creative Writing (132 words)This project should take up at least 3 hours or so, more or less dependent on how far you wish to pursue this and how much time you have First explore writing prompts (found here: http://www.writersdigest.com/WritingPrompts/) for ideas, these should be the beginning, not the end so you cannot ...