<![CDATA[Mr. M.'s Website - Creative Writing Journals]]>Thu, 06 Apr 2023 20:02:44 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Script Doctor]]>Mon, 27 Apr 2015 15:42:57 GMThttps://www.mathiashse.com/creative-writing-journals/script-doctor
Pick a section of the play, Quarreling and Making Up, that you read today and rewrite it in a way that:

  a. avoids clichés — in both dialogue and situations

      and

  b. adds details that raise the stakes for the characters — underline these.
NOTE: 
Because of dialogue formatting, this journal should be at least one page in length, front and back.
]]><![CDATA[To Whom It May Concern...]]>Thu, 02 Apr 2015 12:04:47 GMThttps://www.mathiashse.com/creative-writing-journals/to-whom-it-may-concern

A man opens his mailbox to find a set of instructions.

What do they say?

Record this moment, alternating between excerpts from the text of the letter and his reaction to it—either spoken aloud or as an inner monologue.

The journal should end with a decision or action on his part after he finishes reading.
]]><![CDATA[Dramatic Situation #21: Self-Sacrifice]]>Tue, 31 Mar 2015 12:48:03 GMThttps://www.mathiashse.com/creative-writing-journals/dramatic-situation-21-self-sacrifice

from georges polti's
36 Dramatic Situations:

SELF-SACRIFICE FOR FAMILY OR FRIENDS
Write a dialogue in which one character sacrifices themselves for family or friend(s). The context and relationships of the situation are entirely up to you.
Variations on this theme, according to Polti, include the following (paraphrased)
  • life sacrificed for relative/loved one
  • life sacrificed for happiness of relative/loved one
  • ambition/goals sacrificed for happiness/life of parent or child
  • self-sacrifice due to unjust laws
  • self-sacrifice for the honor of a loved one.
These are just extensions of the overall situation to help get you thinking.
This journal should be at least
ONE PAGE, FRONT AND BACK, using script format: character names only, no dialogue tags, etc.

You may include a brief paragraph explaining the circumstances at the beginning.
]]><![CDATA[Dialogue at the Doorstep]]>Mon, 30 Mar 2015 12:50:28 GMThttps://www.mathiashse.com/creative-writing-journals/dialogue-at-the-doorstep
A suburban couple finds a handsome, young man asleep on their doormat.

Write the dialogue between the couple in which they react and discuss how to handle the situation. Do NOT use dialogue tags,narration or description; this is not in a prose fiction format.

Wait until the end of the scene for the stranger to wake up (or to be awakened).

NOTE: Because each line in your journal should be the opposite character speaking (or an extension of the first character’s previous line) the length of this journal entry should be one page front and back.
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(click for a closer look)
]]><![CDATA[Character Horoscopes]]>Mon, 23 Mar 2015 11:31:07 GMThttps://www.mathiashse.com/creative-writing-journals/character-horoscopesUsing one of the characters in your short story, look up his/her horoscope for March 23 and write a scene (separate from your story, at least for now) in which he/she:
  • is affected by reading the prediction (character modifies his/her actions based on the information) or
  • experiences some aspect of the prediction

Click here to read today’s horoscopes.
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]]><![CDATA[Figurative Language Fusion]]>Mon, 02 Mar 2015 13:47:48 GMThttps://www.mathiashse.com/creative-writing-journals/figurative-language-fusionClick through the slideshow below to go through the steps for today’s journal. You will need to complete this prior to doing the “I heard it through the grapevine” rewrite
(due tomorrow)
]]><![CDATA[Magazine Mixup]]>Fri, 27 Feb 2015 13:17:18 GMThttps://www.mathiashse.com/creative-writing-journals/magazine-mixup
Neighbors A and B have each received the other's magazine by mistake.

Create a scene in which they meet to correct the mailman’s error. Use the magazines as the basis to make choices about each character, but you should AVOID relying on stereotypes.

Circumstances such familiarity (how well they know each other), location (where they live), time (what day/month it is, what time of the day they are meeting), and so on are entirely up to you.
Picture
(click for a closer look)
]]><![CDATA[Your Choice]]>Thu, 26 Feb 2015 13:18:31 GMThttps://www.mathiashse.com/creative-writing-journals/your-choice2
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]]><![CDATA[Point of View]]>Wed, 25 Feb 2015 13:07:42 GMThttps://www.mathiashse.com/creative-writing-journals/point-of-view*The in-class prompt involved instructions specific to that lesson. What follows is an alternate point of view journal prompt to be completed by those absent.*
We all know the familiar fairy tale…
Goldilocks finds the three bears’ house, wanders in, tries their chairs, porridge, and beds, they find her asleep with half of their porridge eaten.

Consider how this tale might be told differently if told using one of the following points of view:
  1. 1st Person, Major Character (Goldilocks)
  2. 1st Person Peripheral (Mama)
  3. 1st Person Peripheral (Papa)
  4. 1st Person Unreliable (Baby Bear)
  5. 3rd Person, Single Vision/Limited Omniscience (Mama or Papa)
Choose one of the above options and write an account of the story’s events from that point of view.

Be sure to write which viewpoint you have selected at the top of the page.
]]><![CDATA[scene]]>Mon, 23 Feb 2015 14:44:03 GMThttps://www.mathiashse.com/creative-writing-journals/scene
Write the scene of this  photograph that begins with a line of dialogue spoken by one of the people in the photo to someone else in the photo.
Picture
(click for a closer look)
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