Both Scholars' Academy classes have two Columbia University graduate students working with us on our poetry and prose. The 10th graders have Carmen and Kate and the 11th graders are working with Natalie and Adam. Don't forget to submit the work we do to In Print! Let's use this post to communicate with each other, share the pieces we are working on, and encourage each other to keep writing...
33 comments:
Woo-hoo! The first to comment dont really know what to say but I enjoyed the activity about describing our characters and how they fit into a scene. It was fun and interestng to see how everybody protrayed their charcters in their own little ways.
I really enjoy the assignments given from the Columbia University students, they basically touch on the basics of writing fiction and poetry which some of us have forgotten how to do, meaning that we forget to include a time or setting in a simple story. I also think that by the end of their visits @ Brandeis, I'll be somewhat interested in writing poetry again :)
ME LIKEY.! Hay Natalie I'm still iffy about whether I did it right still.! =| But anyways if it is a must I will do one over.! I like the poems they always have a part that catches my attention.
Okay so Natalie and the rest of the poetry group is awesomeeee! I have to say in just the two monday's Natalie has come my interest in poetry has definitely increased. I'm not much of a poetry person but with the different poems Natalie has brought in for us they've definitely caught my attention and I actually want to understand them. =)
That is so great to hear! This is Natalie by the way. I'm loving this blog. I'm so glad you've enjoyed those poems. They mean a lot to me and have taught me much about how we experience language. I loved the poems from Monday that you guys handed in. Would really love to see more poems! And from now on, while yes, it is technically an assignment, I want you to think of them as "prompts"—I feel stronger about this word, as it suggests that your creative minds are being stimulated. I'm cooking up some poems to give you guys next week.
Looking forward!
Also, here are some really excellent poetry resources:
www.poets.org
www.poetryfoundation.org
Both of these sites have tons and tons and tons of poets and sample poems. Poets.org always has a "Poem of the Week." Poetry Foundation has a lot more poets than poets.org, but both are phenomenal databases.
And let me remind you guys about my "prompt" for this week:
Write a descriptive poem that captures your mood without actually using that word (i.e. if you feel sad, don't write "I feel sad." Write something like "The clouds were heavier than ever..." but you all can do much better than that). At least ten lines!
Remember how James Wright conveys his feelings, compare that to Sylvia Plath. Check out the two websites above. You'll find a whole world of inspiration.
Dear Adam, I'm not in your group but HI.! How's your group doing.? It seems like you guys have a lot of fun. THEN suddenly awkward silence in which my group is being loud. =] (but not in a bad way.!) Ysabel. =]
I would like to say Hi to everyone..especially the poets. *If your a poet say whoot whoot!!* All jokes aside my interest in poetry has certainly deepened with the past two Mondays. Natalie, I'm trying to aim for 14 lines this time...but having a bit of writers block..poets block..OK let's call it Deja's block. I went to the website and looked up some poems and I'm started to get inspired. Thanks for the reference and can't wait til' Monday.
THE ASSIGHNMENTS GIVEN TO US FROM THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ARE VERY INTRESTING. IT REALLY GIVES US A MOMENT TO LOOK AT OUR OWN WRITING AND SEE HOW FAR WE HAVE COME
LESLIE GONZALEZ
The experience of writing the different descriptions of our characters was actually really fun. The way metaphors and smiles can really show how a character can relate to their environment. Before this writing workshop I didn’t know that the way someone looks can affect their surroundings. It’s so amazing to have these types of opportunities.
Thanks!
Hey all!
Thanks Ruhala for kicking this post off. It's great to hear your responses to the stuff we've been working on in class.
Re: Ysabel - Our group prides itself on those pauses so we can eavesdrop on your poetry while we write. Don't get too comfortable, though. We're going to be switching the groups up soon!
Hey guys, it's Kate. I missed you last week but I'm super excited to catch up with you this week. I've been poem hunting all weekend trying to find some good stuff to bring in. If anyone has any requests I'd love to hear them.
Lucky, I'm glad you like having us there and I hope by the end of our time together you won't be interested in writing poetry again, you'll be addicted to it =)
Adam:*Gasp*
I knew you guys planned it.!
Natalie:
Natalie I love the poems.!I liked poetry before but now I'm even more addicted.!
P.S.
WOOT WOOT. =]
Reference to Deja's comment.!
laugh out loud. "Go Poems!" well actually, i guess i should say go flash fiction. I'm so happy to be able to participate in both groups because now we all can share experiences, stories, and poems. I will miss poetry but am happy about the assignment Adam gave us. (it will be about porkchops) Its great the sophmore scholars get CATS too. *hahaha cats* I want to meet them soon. The more cats the better. MEOW!
For interested fiction writers, Twitter has its very own MicroFiction page. Every day or so they post a new story, so if you've got 140 words on your hands, don't be shy about submitting!
http://twitter.com/MicroFiction
Also, some other good flash fiction sites:
http://fiftywords.com/
http://50wordstories.ca/blog/
We'll be stepping up the word count next week, though. Get pumped.
I believe that the Columbia University students helped me in my writing skills, which I am very glad about. Now I feel a bit more confident when i write a story or do poetry. If you're watching this, thanks guys!!
Joshua, I am so excited to hear you say that. I can't wait to see what you turn in next.
awww Natalie we didn't see you because you were sick...i hope you become as healthy as a horse and strong as an ox (see what i did?...Yay similes, perfect components to poems!)...and Ms. Levine asked for the class to do poems for our totally sophisticated Scholars magazine called "Imprint". So hopefully you'll get to check them out...Adam...I think i did an ok job on the story but i feel like it's missing something..hopefully we can figure it out on monday. See ya there!
Yuppie!!! Im the first one!!!
croodle- To cower or cuddle together, as from fear or cold; to lie close and snug together, as pigs in straw
Hey all. For those of you who have yet to turn in your dialogue stories, feel free to send them to me by old fashioned email:
Adam.Z.Levy@Gmail.com
Darn you Ruhala! Will do Adam.
I think that the writing assignments from columbia are cool. I love writing and I
write short stories and poems.Every week I look foward to seeing kate and carmine.The next time they come I will have a poem written for kate about my love for basketball.............Cant wait
Send me poems, to all that owe! Or to all that want criticism.
n.d.eilbert@gmail.com
To all my scholars,
Many apologies. I keep catching a bug, or is it the bug? I am very excited to see what you did with your time poems.
Love & croodles,
Natalie
I just love all the things that we have been working on with the Columbia University students. Its just so fun to see what you can come up with and then later look at it and say "I wrote that?". I started to work on some of my own stuff and if any of you guys feel like checking it out, go to: www.whatyourmindconstructed.blogspot.com.
I think i'll make writing/poetry a hobby for when im bored. It seems that I have sort of a talent for writing, which i haven't done since I was in middle school. The Columbia University students have really inspired me to keep writing, and I will do so, because its fun and keeps me thinking. I'll make sure to post some of my works up soon...
-P.S. i'm gonna miss you guys!
Josh- I'm looking forward to seeing those poems, especially since I didn't get to see your sonnet in class...
P.S. I'll miss you too =)
Hey guys, I emailed Ms. Levine a list of ways to revise your poems but in case you're too excite to wait...I posted them on my blog (you can get to it by clicking on my name). If you guys ever want to email me poems for feedback, my email is on my blog and I'd love to see them =)
Darlings,
I apologize for not being on my A-game today for our last class. But as promised, I'll post my poem on here. You know, the narrative poems we were all supposed to do in class and out of class. I want to see yours too! (This means you Alyssa).
And remember, for those that haven't done them yet and would still like feedback, here's the wordlist:
Wine-skins
Dispensation
Thorn
National Geographic
Sacrifice
Hanging
Wave
Silken
Rivulets
Select six out of the nine words and write a narrative poem, aka a story as told and investigated in verse.
Email me at n.d.eilbert@gmail.com with your poem, or post it here!
Here's mine. I hope to see all of yours!
Under the chair, under boards, they found
a bird hanging, its plumage wrong, torqued
in its dream of sacrifice, the body certain behind
its wine-skin eyes. They swear its death
knew everything about singeing, strangle, the
silken terror of drowning, every last part failing
as if death breathed its cold haunts from the very
porch they talked, smoked, kissed long hours on.
There was the time they examined palms, lips,
the fine of their necks, the road continuing without
them leaving. Now as they turned this lord-body over,
its terrible sleep whispering No hurt, not never,
the world returned to its song of quiet rivulets,
a far-flung voice, of nothing, never.
HEY EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!! this is my first time commenting on this particular subject but i had so much fun with you CATS...laugh out loud...fiction was the BEST what what laugh out loud but i enjoyed poetry too...it was fun and hard trying to find a way to write a poem about time without using the word TIME but i eventually got it...i'm really sad to see you guys go... *tear*..i'm goning to miss u ADAM and NATALIE!!! watching the new family guy (oh my god Meg looks way better in the future..i so love this show.."i enjoyed rocking you last night...hey brian u want to get the rock out of here"laugh out loud)
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