Article on David Wojnarowicz, author of Close to the Knives

for 11/30-12/2

Read and come prepared to discuss Essay Packet 2 available on myemich files

Goldberg chapters on syllabus

Keep working on your creative 'word' essay (writing nonfiction exercise posted on myemich); bring a typed copy to class to share

Group book publishing project, keep working on this

Final portfolio assignment on myemich files

Blog response of essay packet 2 (only 2 blog responses left, make the most of these)

for next week 11/9-11

Tue: Julie Patton Interview: http://home.jps.net/~nada/patton.htm

eavesdropping exercise: bring it with you to discuss/share on Tue


Thur: Essay Packet 1 (on myemich); read/print/bring to discuss
Blog on Essay Packet; choose 1-2 of the essays to discuss using specific examples

All Bathhouse responses due BY / NO LATER THAN 11/18

this week 11/2-11/4

Today:

Fiction Packet 3 available on myemich: read it and be prepared to discuss a few of the stories.


Thur: bring 1-2 stories (2 copies) to share/workshop/turn in

Blog post on fiction packet 3 or on something you're reading outside of this class

Keep working on writing exercises from handout (on myemich: 3 ficition writing exercises)

for this week 10/26, 28

check the syllabus

do the reading and be prepared to discuss: Gladman's To After That (continued discussion), Burroway, Goldberg

Midterm Portfolio Due Thur + terms

writing assignment: choose a line/sentence from Gladman's To After That and use this as the first line of your own story. Copy the sentence, and then continue how you would like the story to go. Do this 2-3 times using different sentences from Gladman.

Blog response on any of the reading for the week due Thur

*if you haven't given me any bathhouse reading responses (hard copy) you should do so and/or talk to me about it.

for next week 10/19, 21

For Tue:
come prepared to discuss Proulx's "People in Hell Just Want a Drink of Water" in fiction packet 2

Read/listen to work by Christian Bok:
http://www.arras.net/RNG/flash/eunoia/eunoia_final.html
http://writing.upenn.edu/pennsound/x/Bok.php
http://epc.buffalo.edu/authors/bok/

Thur: Come prepared to discuss Renee Gladman's Book To After That
Blog response: on Gladman's Book To After That

fiction writing exercises:

*Make a list of four qualities/characteristics that describe a character real or imagined. Place that character in a scene and write the scene so that the qualities are conveyed through significant detail. Use no generalizations and no judgments. No word on your list should appear in the scene. Use detail and description to SHOW the qualities through the scene and the actions of the character.

*Write a 200-word description of a place. You can use any and all sensory descriptions but sight: you can describe what it feels like, sounds like, smells like and even tastes like. Try to write the description in such a way that people will not miss the visual details. Put a character in that place and have her/him do something.

great revision of a sonnet

Mara Geiger
J Darling
CRTW 201



Update of Shakespeare’s sonnet 115

the tweets i have tweeted u r not accurate
even that time i commented on ur wall that i luved u a million
and i couldn’t imagine luving u more than at that moment
yet i luv u so much more!
time changes everything
creating false promises, deceitful politicians,
wrinkles, ruining the most sincere intentions,
even making hard asses lighten up a bit
so even tho time may change these feelings
why shouldn’t i txt u every minute of the day how i <3 u infinity
i was sure as hell when i tweeted u and even though things change
my luv for u has not yet matured
so how can i profess infinite luv when it grows infinitely more

This Week 10/12, 10/14

Follow the syllabus and come prepared to discuss stories from the fiction packets (1 and 2), and Goldberg.

Keep working on the writing assignment from last week: write a series of poems based on, in response to, using in some way a news event/story. Use/find an article or articles from newspapers/magazines so that you have language and material to work with. Write as many poems as you like in any style(s), using Blood Dazzler as an example of the possibilities.

great response to Blood Dazzler: http://jazzdarchelle.blogspot.com/

check this out!

Rap Haiku

poetic forms used in Blood Dazzler

Sestina info and formal constraints

Ghazal info and formal constraints

Tankas info and form

for next week 10/5, 10/7

see syllabus

Read all of Blood Dazzler and be prepared to share/discuss some of the poems specifically, in class.

Keep working on your writing/poems from the exercises.

Remember to do your blog reading response. The responses should be 3-4 paragraphs and include specific examples and discussion. Half credit will be given for inadequate responses.

Bathhouse Online Journal-check it out

Dear Peers,

A brief note to invite you to peruse the website of BathHouse, a hybrid arts journal published by the Creative Writing Program at EMU. Issue 7.1 just went live this weekend, and we're eager to share its cornucopia of hybrid goodness. Inside you'll find visual art by Andrew Abbott and Sarah Walko, a sound piece by Meghan Lamb, plus text-based creations by Emileigh Barnes, Rebecca Mertz, and Felicia Shenker.

Additionally, we would be thrilled for you to "join" BathHouse on the student orgs web portal. Joining doesn't lead to any commitments on your part; it simply shows support and gives you access to news and events on our student orgs page. Just go to the web portal, login using your normal e-mich name and password, click "organizations," and search for Bathhouse. If you're interested in becoming more involved, e-mail eic@bhjournal.com.

We recently set up a facebook page, which is another way to find out about BathHouse and other hybrid arts events. Please consider visiting and clicking "Like."

Thanks so much for your time,

Joe Sacksteder

Editor-in-chief
BathHouse Hybrid Arts Journal
bhjournal.com

This week 9/28 & 9/30

Always check the syllabus for assignments current and upcoming.

This week: be prepared to discuss poems of your choosing from the poetry packet.

Wed: Please attend the faculty reading (Carla Harryman, Christine Hume, Rob Halpern) at the Sponberg Theater at 6:30.

Thur: Goldberg chapters, 3 poems due (typed); these can be any 3 poems from any of the exercises we've done so far.

Next week we'll be discussing Smith's Blood Dazzler so make sure you have the book!

And remember that blog reading responses are due every Thur by class time.

an interesting article on poetry and teaching poetry

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/21878

really great resding response

http://mgeiger3.blogspot.com/

for next week Tue and Thur

Read the whole poetry packet and come prepared to discuss 1-2 poems of your choosing.
Bring Goldberg (book or pdf from my emich) to discuss first few chapters.
Bring 2-3 poems to share/exchange for feedback.
Blog post due next Thur by class time. You can write about any of the poems we've talked about (and Goldberg too if you like).

Writing Assignment:
revise 2 of Shakespeare's sonnets (other than #130) and turn it into your own poem. (see Mullen's Dim Lady as an example of a contemporary revision of a Shakespeare Sonnet)

Keep working on your own poems. I'll collect them the week of Oct 1 and also in the portfolios.

Welcome to Creative Writing

This is the class blog page for crtw 201. I will post announcements, links, and assignments here. Also, you will find links to the other class blogs in the blog roll menu.

Weekly reading response assignments will begin next week. Responses should be posted to your blog by class time on Thursdays. You are responsible for writing a response every week.

Your responses should include specific details, clear examples, explanation, and discussion. Please write 3-4 comprehensive and thoughtful paragraphs. If your responses don't meet this criteria you will receive half, or no, credit, and I will post this as a comment on the blog.