the purpose of this unit is to ease us into a writing "habit." some of you may have already developed one, but for this class, one of the goals is for you to structure into your busy day at least 20 minutes of free-writing. this is a personal goal, however--i am not the word police, and will not be "checking up" on this aspect of your writing life.

however, the class is designed to help you create the "habit" of writing--to further that end, there will be, as noted on the syllabus, exercises because, as The Writer's Home Companion (WHC) says, "writing is a solitary sport." i am putting the emphasis on sports in this unit, because like swimming or running or any other sport, writing takes discipline.

August  24 (R)   Introduction
 

Homework for Tuesday: read the Introduction and chapter 1: "where do you get your ideas from?" in WHC

Exercise One: Listening

Write a paragraph of prose narrative that is meant to
be read aloud. Use onomatopoeia, alliteration repetition,
rhythmic effects, made-up words or names, dialect--any kind
of sound-effect that you like EXCEPT rhyme or meter,
because this is a prose exercise.

LOOSEN UP! HAVE FUN! we will read these pieces aloud in class.

All these exercises should be typed, with your name on it because I will collect them.

August 29 (T): We will discuss the reading, and read aloud from our paragraphs.
 

Homework for Thursday: "The Love of Books" and "So you want to be a writer?" in WHC

August 31 (R): Discussion of readings: Le Guin, "The Love of Books," and "So You Want..."
 

Homework for Tuesday: "Still Just Writing" in WHC and "Paul's Case" a short story by Willa Cather, online. Over the weekend, email a critique of "Paul's Case" to me.

Sept  5 (T):  Discuss "Paul's Case" and "Still Just Writing" and in-class online work
 

Homework for Thursday:  Read "Free-writing" in WHC

Exercise Two: Free-Writing

Using Peter Elbow's suggestions as a guide,
free-write for ten minutes without stopping.
Be careless! Be reckless!

Sept. 7 (R):  In-class work on free-writing

Homework for Tuesday: read "Getting Started"--come to class prepared to write.

Homework for Thursday: Read "Sleepy-Eye" by Anton Chekov, online and
read "Model Trains of Thought" in WHC.

Homework for Tuesday: Read Peter Elbow's "Options for Getting Feedback"
Be Prepared to do in-class criticism.