An update from our forty-seventh Writing Workshop A summary of the workshop held on Saturday September 18, plus some of the output published below At this writing workshop, we looked at some classic art: grotesques by Leonardo da Vinci and portraits by Vermeer and Rembrandt. With these art pieces in mind, William asked the participants to think about the concept of an outline or sketch for characters, and how we might flesh them out later in the writing process. William emphasized how the choices that authors make in describing characters impact the story as a whole and how the reader understands a character. The Challenge: Write a description of a character, beginning with an outline of their face. Then you can move on to other physical characteristics or clothing descriptions. Lastly, if you have time, you may build a story around this character. The Participants: Faiz, Peri, Aditi, Lena D, Nami, Jonathan L, Tilly M, Rachael L, Madeline K, Elbert P, Sierra E, Marissa L, Kate P, Kina S, Liam Peri Gordon, 11(Sherman Oaks, CA) Defined by Suffering by Peri Gordon, 11 What to do with such terrible eyes? They were wide, wet, bloodshot things that stood out even in a crowd of a hundred, and the right one was black and swollen. Below the eyes, the man’s nose, pale and slender, rose from his face, then dipped back down into it only a few centimeters below, unnoticed. The lips were cut up, chapped, and ruined, as the man felt like his heart was. The chin was small and pointed, and the rest of the face was only a bit wider. Around his shoulders was a tiny cloth, which had once been a large rag, which had once been a ripped coat, which had once been a fine coat. What were once smooth, silken pants had had a similar fate. The man was barefoot and gloveless, and his hands and feet were a deep shade of purple from the punishing cold of winter. His fingernails were reduced to nothing, for the man had bitten them anxiously day after day. A once successful businessman, now injured, rejected, and homeless, he thought about standing up straight but no longer had the will even to accomplish this simple task.
writing workshop
How Stories Work-Writing Workshop #12: Metaphor
An update from our twelfth Writing Workshop with Conner Bassett A summary of the workshop held on Saturday September 11, plus some of the output published below Conner Bassett began our fall session of writing workshops with a question: what does it mean to write fiction or poetry? His answer? To put into language what is inherently nonlinguistic. This definition, he realized, could be simplified into one word—metaphor. From there we defined metaphor (a comparison between two things), using famous phrases such as “Life is a highway” & “All the world is a stage” as examples. Through a reading of Emily Dickinson’s “Hope is the Thing with Feathers,” we learned how metaphors can help us make abstract concepts into concrete images. To further this point, we looked at two works of art published in the September 2021 Issue of Stone Soup—I Feel Music by Serena Li & The Hidden World by Sabrina Lu. Next, we learned how metaphors can help us understand complex ideas and emotions through a discussion surrounding the line “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!” from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This concept was strengthened by visual metaphors seen in the Egyptian Icon The Ladder of Divine Ascent and Wyeth’s Christina’s World. Finally, we learned how metaphors transform one thing into something completely different so that we can see it in a new way. Examples used to back up this concept were a sentence from John Green’s The Fault in our Stars, a few lines from Sylvia Plath’s poem “Metaphors,” and an advertisement for sunglasses in which lenses were transformed into lemon slices. The Challenge: Two part prompt. First, write a one sentence metaphor about this painting: Norham Castle, Sunrise. Then, write a story or a poem that begins and ends with the same metaphor. The Participants: Emma, Simran, Clara, Sinan, Olivia, Lina, Josh, Ellie, Alice B, Audrey, and Svitra Svitra Rajkumar, 13(Fremont, CA) Free as a Bird Svitra Rajkumar, 13 Feathers flap, determined. Wings glide, graceful. “You can’t be a bird If you don’t fly,” they say. You can’t be a bird if you don’t try. So I watch each baby bird Flap its wings and grow. Soon it flies away But I have no choice But to stay. “Why don’t I go Towards the sky,” they ask. Why can’t I be the bird that Doesn’t Fly.
Writing Workshop #46: Monologues
An update from our forty-sixth Writing Workshop A summary of the workshop held on Saturday September 11, plus some of the output published below For the first writing workshop of the Fall term, William presented on the concept of monologues, citing famous examples, like Mark Antony’s speech at the end of Shakespeare’s play Julius Ceasar. William went over the many ways monologues can reveal a character’s emotional state, as well as their motivations. The class also took a look at examples from Alice in Wonderland and watched a crucial Snape monologue from Harry Potter. After 5 minutes to sketch a quick character outline, the class launched into 30 minutes of creating their own monologue delivered by the character they created. Below is some of the work that the young writers in this workshop crafted in this session. The Challenge: Write a character sketch for 5 minutes and then write a monologue delivered by the character. The Participants: Peri G, Aditi N, Nami G, Elbert P, Jonathan, Nova M.C., Iago M.C., Peri Gordon, 11(Sherman Oaks, CA) Life Gone Awry Peri Gordon, 11 “Is it just me, or does it seem like aliens invaded our planet and convinced everyone to add to my workload? What do I even start with? The bank is a priority, I guess; yes, my job has to come first. But if I don’t make more music, I’ll lose my studio…I guess I should head there. What am I thinking? I can’t miss work. I’ll have to quit writing songs once and for all…and yet I always told Bonnie she could intern for me in the studio when she turned 15. Oh, yes, the birthday gift for Bonnie—what was it again? Did we decide? What is wrong with my memory? Let me call Dave. Where is my phone? If I can just get to my office, I can make sure I have it…hey, you, stop honking, sir! None of this is my fault, don’t you understand? Is it just me, or does it seem like the whole world is turning against me? Please, someone, help! Where do I go? Why doesn’t Dave get a job? Right, as if he would want all this work after my stress reports. To work, then. But first, coffee. At least that I have…stop the honking! And, excuse me, ma’am, but that was my coffee you just knocked over…onto my…papers. Right, well, I can’t go to work now. Mr. Burns will be furious. Oh, yes, the video game for Bonnie! Right over there, I promised Dave I would buy it. Right, open 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Let’s see, what time is it? 11:10, of course. I don’t think I’ve made it to a store on time in five years. What is wrong with me? Well, I know exactly what’s wrong with me: I’m overloaded. How is it that every person on the street seems so… normal? How uncommon is it to be this unlucky when it’s all I am? Oh, and yes, I’m already late to work because of the coffee spill on my papers, thanks to that inconsiderate jogger. And because Bonnie has a birthday, such a ridiculous little thing. And because Dave won’t get a job! Is it just me, or does it seem like aliens invaded our planet and convinced everyone to add to my workload?”
