Mama Blog, Spring 2003

2003-03-25T10:16:00.000-06:00

''They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.'' -- Ben Franklin

(Can't recall where this source was qtd.)

2003-03-22T08:29:00.000-06:00

Found another war blog. This one, called Stand Down, is I think much more honest about its position on the war (adamantly oppositional). I.e., unlike Defense Tech, the last one I filtered, this one doesn't present itself as transparently objective. I wish I had time to read more of these blogs--I'm sure there are many bloggers out there commenting right now on the war--but between work and just trying to catch CNN from time to time, I can't get to all the reading I'd like to!

2003-03-21T08:32:00.000-06:00

Just thought I'd share an interesting blog I found. It's kept by a defense reporter, who appears to be blogging minute-by-minute coverage of the war. It presents itself as "objective" but reads a bit like a State or Defense Department blog (meaning: it obviously leans toward the official line in its interpretation of all events).

In any case--another intriguing use for blogs.

Here are the guy's credentials.

And here's his actual blog.

2003-02-24T11:21:00.000-06:00

Hi all,

On the advice of everyone from my doctor to my cats, I'm taking this week off for further recuperation. (Maybe when I get back, I'll let you know what's actually wrong with me! Maybe you could write a story about your teacher's mysterious illness. . . ).

I am available for consultations of all kinds through email, so let's use this technology as best we can to keep the course running smoothly, ok? You can email questions to me, attach copies of your work for feedback, talk to me about what you're working on, etc. etc. and I'll get back to you shortly. Please feel free to do this--I'll help you in any way I can.

What you should have done over the last 2 weeks:

1) Paragraph web log report on class visit by group of English Dept. writers, with at least one mention of how the discussion was useful to your own writing;

2) 2-4 paragraph web log report on research conducted for Fiction Project. This should be more than just a reflection on what your project might be--you should tell me about what you've looked up and read. Also: keep in mind that, if you do something OTHER than one of the options on the assignment, you need to clearly articulate to me what specific formal task you are hoping to practice.

3) Paragraph report on Kevin Brooks' visit to class, with mention of at least one connection to your own writing;

4) Work on your Fiction Project, and anything else you've got cooking.

What you need to do for this week:

Tues. 25th: No regular class. Instead, do some Web surfing to explore examples of the new media which Kevin Brooks talked about the previous week. (You may not be wildly interested in these new types of writing, but it's important that you have at least some familiarity with what's coming. Some of this stuff is *really* interesting.) Write a thoughtful, 2-4 paragraph report in your blog of what you observed in your web surfing, and address some or all of these questions: What innovations might this new writing prompt in your own work? What specific benefits or hazards might result by going electronic and mixing the written word with graphics, audio, animation? What elements of new media writing, in your view, should be embraced, and which ones avoided?

You're free to explore all over, but a good place to start would be Kevin Brooks' excellent page of links:

http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/kbrooks/anthology/

And here are some I highly recommend:

http://www.ubu.com/contemp_frames.html
(This is one of the premiere sites for New Media writing experiments now underway. Weird, funny, smart, occasionally irritating, inventive, silly. Navigation around the site is a bit tricky--mostly through pop-up boxes which sometimes get squished down in the lower part of your screen. Be patient and curious.)

http://www.tcm.rmit.edu.au/EDIMBAM/streaming/streaming.html

http://www.tcm.rmit.edu.au/EDIMBAM/streaming/edim/nsimon/index.html
(Interactive, dark comic! Alan Kubick: you have to see this one!!!)

http://www.tcm.rmit.edu.au/EDIMBAM/streaming/edim/sjacinta/index.html
(This one is a scream.)

http://www.eastgate.com/ReadingRoom.html

http://www.eastgate.com/TwelveBlue/Welcome.html

http://www.eastgate.com/malloy/welcome.html

http://www.eastgate.com/LastingImage/Welcome.html

Thurs. 27th: Class will meet, though I won't be there. Bring 2 copies of your Fiction Project draft. You should complete critiques for 2 of your classmates' drafts (and likewise have 2 critiques completed on your own draft). Use the critique sheet at this link, and follow the instructions on the sheet. (Everyone will swap drafts, fill out the critique form, then simply swap drafts again and complete an additional critique form. At the end of the period, everyone should leave class with 2 critiques completed on their own story.)

I think that's it for now. Good luck, and let me hear from you.
C

2003-02-19T11:15:00.000-06:00

Just a note to say hello and touch base with my students. I'm getting cabin fever! Also feeling frustrated to be away from my classes so long. How are you all doing? I dreamed last night that I was trying to teach in this humongous, multi-leveled building full of curves and corners and with dim lighting--couldn't see most of my students, they couldn't hear me, I wasn't sure if I was in the right class. . .One of those lovely anxiety dreams. Must say something about my current levels of frustration!

Anyway, I've posted some new Harmonious Confusion exercises. Remember that these are optional; just to help jump-start you. Try some--they might lead to bigger things!

What else--don't forget to follow the schedule carefully. You need to be entering reports into your web logs for various events.

Let me know how you're doing!

There's a tiny chance that I won't make it back by the 25th. I feel pretty good, but am having some trouble with my war wounds (surgical incisions). In any case, be sure to stay on top of email and Mama Blog for any possible announcements or updates.

Take care,
C

2003-02-05T21:41:00.000-06:00

To my students:

This is just to reaffirm what I announced in class recently and also emailed to all of you. I'll be having surgery this week, which includes a hospital stay of a few days and then several weeks recovery at home. So I've set up a good 2 weeks of special events and schedule tweaks for our class.

Here are the things you need to do:

1) Print out the new, updated schedule. After each date is some fairly detailed info.; please read it carefully.

2) After Thursday the 6th, I won't be able to take email until the following Tues. or Wed., so please hold any questions till then (or try contacting some of your classmates for info.)

3) Be sure to be checking your email and also Mama Blog regularly (starting early next week), in case I need to make any further announcements or give you any more special instructions.

Even though I'll be out, some interesting stuff is planned, including class visits by several writers and other teachers. I think you'll enjoy them. Don't bring any workshop material to class until after I'm back, but you should be working on your Fiction Projects.

I hope to be back on the 25th. So sorry for the bother, hope you're all working on some interesting stuff, and have a good couple weeks!

2003-01-29T12:28:00.000-06:00

Just A Funny Site

I happened onto this site recently, and thought it was mildly interesting/funny in light of our recent class discussions about art: Surreal Torture in Modern Art

On another note: you might all want to check my list of your web log links to be sure they are working. Go to "My Students' Web Logs" (the link is in red, immedately to your left on this screen), find your name on the list at that page, and check your site to be sure all is ok. Also: feel free throughout the semester to read each other's stuff. These logs are public; that's just part of what a web log is. (Of course, most of you don't have much up yet. One of your classmates, Adam Hass, however, was in my English 110 class last semester and kept a blog. He's using the same one for Creative Writing this semester, so you might check his for now, just to get a sense of what they can be used for. Keep in mind, though, that these are OPEN: you can do with them anything you like. Be creative. Post stuff you would like your classmates to check out in their free time. Use the blog as a reading journal. Use it to talk back and forth with each other. Whatever. . .)

Eating Snow Exercise (2 pts.)

Remember that, at the end of the period on Tues, I asked you to fiddle a bit more with your "Eating Snow" exercise. This time I'd like you to "find the story" in the event you described originally. That is, find or create a plot, and remember that a traditional plot line usually includes some exposition (scene setting), a narrative hook or initial question, a series of complicating actions that build suspense, and a crisis or climax at which maximum tension is both achieved and resolved, and the initial narrative question is answered. (Not all stories have this kind of plot by any means; we'll be talking more about that soon.) You're free to write out a whole story, or you can just summarize the plot in a paragraph, or you can chart it in graphic form. Enter your work in your web log.

The aim of this exercise: 1) to help you commit to memory what got discussed in class; 2) to help you practice "seeing stories" in everyday events; 3) to get you writing.

I'll be giving you lots of small exercises during the term, usually just worth a couple points. If they aren't to your liking, it's like the weather in North Dakota: wait 5 minutes and things will change. I try to get you experimenting with stuff you might not otherwise try, and I want you to practice a variety of skills. BUT MOST OF ALL I WANT YOU TO FIND TOPICS AND FORMS THAT SUIT YOU AND THAT YOU WANT TO EXPLORE FURTHER. If you miss one of these small exercises or find it not to your liking, it's no disaster. The only "disaster" would be if you never try anything or don't give most of the exercises a good-faith shot. Also: I'm open to individualizing course work for you. If you have ideas that run counter to the course structure and assignments, speak to me and I'll see what we can work out. (I can't guarantee perfect satisfaction, but I'll try.)

Take care, see you all in class Thurs., and WRITE!

2003-01-08T20:37:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my creative writing teacher's blog. I previously used this site for my English 110 course, but will use it throughout the Spring of 2003 for English 323.