Another Wednesday, another writing class.
I like this class because Rick, our instructor, is focused on procedure, not product. Most writing seminars focus on the end-product, which can ultimately be frustrating to amateur writers such as myself. The work we produce just isn't that good, it doesn't hold up well to scrutiny.
Rick is more concerned with the process of writing. He wants to teach us how writers work. It's been revelatory.
Compare the first draft of my second story with the second draft. It's still not a good story, but it has improved (I hope). More to the point, it's been heavily revised and altered. It's moving in a different direction than the one I had initially intended. By using the writing process, I'm learning to produce a different product that I've always done before.
We discussed point-of-view in class last night. Rick noted that the most important question in choosing the story's point of view is: whose truth do you want to tell? I liked that, of course.
Our in-class writing exercise was fun. We did what Rick called an "exquisite corpse", a variation of an old parlor game.
Here's how it works. Each participant takes out a blank piece of paper. Then:
- We write 1-3 sentences introducing a character in media res (in the middle of the action). We pass the page to our left.
- With the page passed to us, we add to the story by writing 1-3 sentences introducing a second character and a conflict. We pass the page to the left.
- With the page passed to us, we add to the story by writing 1-3 sentences escalating the conflict. We pass the page to the left.
- With the page passed to us, we add to the story by writing a single sentence of dialogue with "gestures". (Meaning, "he said, pointing the gun menacingly", etc.) We pass the page to the left.
- With the page passed to us, we add to the story by writing 1-3 sentences of naked dialogue. (Naked dialogue has no gestures, is just "he said", "she said", etc.) We pass the page to the left.
- With the page passed to us, we add to the story by bringing everything to a climax in 1-3 sentences. We pass the page to the left.
- With the page passed to us, we complete the story by writing a two-sentence denouement.
The writing class has been chewing at my free time. It takes several hours to complete the homework every week. Unfortunately, that generally means I'm giving up time I'd normally spend writing here. When I'm finished, though, my story-telling skills ought to have improved some.
On this day at foldedspace.org
2002 — Sunrise I was almost late for work this morning because I stopped on Goods Bridge to photograph the sunrise.
2001 — Computers, Comics, and Classics Thoughts on Internet Explorer, Tintin comics, and on Wuthering Heights.
I think your second draft is a great improvement. It caught my attention much faster, the character is better developed, and I like the overall flow better than the first draft.
Great job, J.D. - keep it up.