Friday, May 2, 2008
Final post for this year
Okay, guys. Thanks for being responsible and letting me know about your posts. Blogging is no longer an assignment. We are in the homestretch, and with the Multi-Genre paper, you are excused from blogging, or journaling, or whatever. I hope you keep it up, though. It's a great outlet for your writing. I can guess that there are a few of you who won't continue once this class is over, but maybe the rest of you have found pleasure in writing and responding to others. Anyway, I will post here occasionally, and you are always welcome to blog stalk me (except for Michael...your stalker story scared me a little :) ).
Monday, March 17, 2008
Time to Grade...Again!
I need those of you with a blog to leave a comment and tell me three blogs you would like me to look at and grade. Thanks, and YAY for term four!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Sara Bareilles Concert
So by popular demand (of one person...) I am posting some pictures I took of the wonderfulness of the Sara Bareilles concert I went to on the 16th of February. I tried to put some video I took on here, but alas, I am not that far technologicially advanced. Sorry.
So this is a picture of the one time Sara didn't sing with her piano. She sang a stellar version of the Beatles "Oh, Darlin," one of my favorites from Abby Road. Very cool, indeed.
Sara singing. With her eyes closed.
The people behind me in line. I was really discouraged when I noticed how many people were ahead of me, but then I felt better when I saw how many were behind me.
This is a freaking awesome picture of Sara (yes, I am on a first-name basis) wailing away. I'm not sure what song, but you can bet it was good.
This is the very tasty Javier. He was the guitar player in the band, and he opened for Sara. He has a pretty good Jack-Johnson rip-off. But he was hot. And he helped Sara write "Love on the Rocks." Kudos to Javier.
This was the line in front of me. The cheesy guy on the far right was super annoying, and I wanted to tell him to shut up and to put away his cell phone. Once a teacher, always a teacher.
This is Sara. Of course. But it's a great shot.
Sar. Singing. Again. But I have to say, she is much prettier in person than in any picture I have seen (a professional picture, I mean). I just don't think she's photogenic. But you can see here that she is actually a really pretty girl.
Well, I will have to bring my camera to show the video I took. Unless I can figure out how to get it uploaded... Nope. I'll work on it.
So this is a picture of the one time Sara didn't sing with her piano. She sang a stellar version of the Beatles "Oh, Darlin," one of my favorites from Abby Road. Very cool, indeed.
Sara singing. With her eyes closed.
The people behind me in line. I was really discouraged when I noticed how many people were ahead of me, but then I felt better when I saw how many were behind me.
This is a freaking awesome picture of Sara (yes, I am on a first-name basis) wailing away. I'm not sure what song, but you can bet it was good.
This is the very tasty Javier. He was the guitar player in the band, and he opened for Sara. He has a pretty good Jack-Johnson rip-off. But he was hot. And he helped Sara write "Love on the Rocks." Kudos to Javier.
This was the line in front of me. The cheesy guy on the far right was super annoying, and I wanted to tell him to shut up and to put away his cell phone. Once a teacher, always a teacher.
This is Sara. Of course. But it's a great shot.
Sar. Singing. Again. But I have to say, she is much prettier in person than in any picture I have seen (a professional picture, I mean). I just don't think she's photogenic. But you can see here that she is actually a really pretty girl.
Well, I will have to bring my camera to show the video I took. Unless I can figure out how to get it uploaded... Nope. I'll work on it.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Time to be Graded!
All right, kiddles. It is time to be graded on your blog. You should have at least 5 of the 10 blogs that are required of you for this term--but have no fear! I'm not going to go and count. What I need you to do is leave a comment telling me the three (3) titles of the blogs that you would like me to read, if you haven't already. A few of you have already told me, so if you have, don't worry about it.
And, sorry about the mean substitute. I would hope that you all behaved yourselves with dignity, but I am afraid that is too much to ask. So, if you were mean, or sassed back, just know I am very disappointed in you, even though I understand. BTW: I am keeping up my classroom web page with all the assignments on them again. You can link to it under my heading "Take a Look" Good luck! Don't forget: Three of the blogs you want me to read!
And, sorry about the mean substitute. I would hope that you all behaved yourselves with dignity, but I am afraid that is too much to ask. So, if you were mean, or sassed back, just know I am very disappointed in you, even though I understand. BTW: I am keeping up my classroom web page with all the assignments on them again. You can link to it under my heading "Take a Look" Good luck! Don't forget: Three of the blogs you want me to read!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
In Defense
It has recently come to my attention that certain people or persons feel that this class (creative writing) is a farce because I have, how was it? "a fascination for non-fiction creative writing," and that non-fiction isn't creative writing because if we write about things that already exist, how could we be creating?
Valid point. But think about this: the perception you have about things that have happened is not the same perception others have about things that have happened, so by writing in such a way to help a person see your perception, well, isn't that creating a moment? And isn't that writing? Can't we call that "creative writing"?
Also, what about your own life? We go through life, and we all have experiences good or bad. We all have pain, some more than others, and we all have joy, again, some more than others. The human race has a fascination with things that happen in their lives, myself included. For generations, the biggest question on the collective human mind is this: "What does all of this mean?" And humans go to the greatest length to find meaning. Don't believe me? Let's just look at a few examples of people who have dedicated their lives to find meaning:
1. Scientists
2. Theologists
3. Teenagers
4. Song writers
5. Poets
6. Dr Phil
The process of looking at our lives, of writing them out in beautiful ways for ourselves, or others to observe and think about is a process practiced for hundreds ofyears. It is an effort to create sense of life, to create meaning in life, and to create the sense of self that is critical to becomming a productive and happy adult. This is creating. And when you use writing as an outlet for these creations, it is then called creative writing.
Besides, if you have a problem with non-fiction being a field of creative writing, don't take it up with me. Jog on over to Harvard or Yale and have a chat with the big wigs there.
Also, 90% of the students in this class are students that had creative writing last semester. We covered fiction (which, I am assuming this person is looking for, since his narrow interpretation of "creative" involves only things that are made up.) What we are doing is learning higher level writing skills (Grammar B), and I am simply using non-fiction as the vehicle so some students would at least be exposed to that type of writing.
That being said, my final shot is this: If you don't like, get out. I'll help you!
Valid point. But think about this: the perception you have about things that have happened is not the same perception others have about things that have happened, so by writing in such a way to help a person see your perception, well, isn't that creating a moment? And isn't that writing? Can't we call that "creative writing"?
Also, what about your own life? We go through life, and we all have experiences good or bad. We all have pain, some more than others, and we all have joy, again, some more than others. The human race has a fascination with things that happen in their lives, myself included. For generations, the biggest question on the collective human mind is this: "What does all of this mean?" And humans go to the greatest length to find meaning. Don't believe me? Let's just look at a few examples of people who have dedicated their lives to find meaning:
1. Scientists
2. Theologists
3. Teenagers
4. Song writers
5. Poets
6. Dr Phil
The process of looking at our lives, of writing them out in beautiful ways for ourselves, or others to observe and think about is a process practiced for hundreds ofyears. It is an effort to create sense of life, to create meaning in life, and to create the sense of self that is critical to becomming a productive and happy adult. This is creating. And when you use writing as an outlet for these creations, it is then called creative writing.
Besides, if you have a problem with non-fiction being a field of creative writing, don't take it up with me. Jog on over to Harvard or Yale and have a chat with the big wigs there.
Also, 90% of the students in this class are students that had creative writing last semester. We covered fiction (which, I am assuming this person is looking for, since his narrow interpretation of "creative" involves only things that are made up.) What we are doing is learning higher level writing skills (Grammar B), and I am simply using non-fiction as the vehicle so some students would at least be exposed to that type of writing.
That being said, my final shot is this: If you don't like, get out. I'll help you!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Welcome to Creative Writing!
Hey all of you wonderful students o' mine! I thought it might be a good idea to link all of the blogs in the class to this page, so if you found mine, then you found the rest of the class! In the immortal words of Kip, "I love technology." So, kids, if you have anything to say, any comments to make, feel free.
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