Extra Credit Opportunity

To all whom are interested:


The Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA) will be presenting the "Laramie Project": Moisés Kaufman's landmark play examines intolerance, community, and healing in a small Wyoming town following the real-life murder of gay teenager Matthew Shepard.

January 7-8 and 14-15 at 7:00 p.m. and January 9 at 2:00 p.m. in the main theatre. Tickets will be available at the door and online beginning next week.

More info. and questions can be obtained at: www.cosafoundation.org/

Other than Said

Dialogue is important to a story; however, the conversations you allow your characters to have need to have a purpose.

Good dialogue should do the following:
1. show relationships between characters
2. move the story forward
3. create tension or increase tension

There are also a variety of words one can use instead of "said." Here is a short list. I am sure you can find more.

acknowledged, admitted, agreed, answered, argued, asked, barked, begged, bellowed, blustered, bragged, complained, confessed, cried, demanded, denied, giggled, hinted, hissed, howled, interrupted, laughed, lied, mumbled, muttered, nagged, pleaded, promised, questioned, remembered, replied, requested, roared, sang, screamed, screeched, shouted, sighed, snarled, sobbed, threatened, warned, whimpered, whined, whispered, wondered, yelled

SFDs

Hi there. So, the torture has started. You are all cursing me under your breath - and I understand. As I join the writing journey with you, I am cursing myself under my breath.

While, I absolutely love writing, I hate it at the same time because it is such A LOT of work. And, to be quite honest, sometimes it is a lot of work for a pile of garbage. I have written so many stories only to throw them out the window or set them aside until I can figure out how to reshape them into something readable.

I have found that there is joy in writing garbage though as it frees the mind.

Read the attached essay and feel free to leave any comments!

SFDs (click here for the reading)

If you are interested in leanring more about Anne Lamont click below.

First Quarter Reading - Others and Ourselves

So, the first two weeks have passed. Now it is time for us to choose the book we will read for 1st quarter. I havea some selections chosen. You have until September 27 to cast your vote in class. Make sure you do your own research in regards to the books.

 

Reflections on Anna Quindlen

You read three pieces this week in class. I am interested to know what your thoughts are in regards to the piece by Anna Quindlen. What were your first impressions? Were there any facts or opinions you found interesting or disturbing?

Quindlen states in the text that homelessness is one of the major problems in the world today. What do you think is a major problem in the world today? How do you think you contribute to the problem and how could you contribute to a solution?

Summer Reading - Yeah, Fun...

Hopefully you have received the letter in the mail that details the summer reading. If not, look at the class links on the side bar. There is a link to the document. Please take the time to follow the instructions as I will need your Gmail account by August 1 so that you may begin to leave your comments on the blog. Also, EMAIL me if you have any questions. Really - I will respond. If you think your question is too silly or I might think it is stupid (I highly doubt it will be!), then leave a question on the questionnaire for me without your contact info. I will answer all questions on the class website and/or here on the blog.

Enjoy your summer. The readings are interesting - I promise. Remember, you can always read with a group of people over the summer!

PS - If you subscribe to the blog, then you will updated anytime there is a change (i.e. anytime someone leaves a comment or I write a new post).

For the non-fiction:

  

  

And for the fiction options: