Monday, July 12, 2004
Chapter 5 and Chapter 6
Chapter 5: Language and Storytelling:
WRITER BASED PROSE:
Tends to be more spontaneous, less structured. If this is private writing, it doesn’t even need to make sense to anyone else. For example, when I write my grocery list I often use short hand words. The well used TP for toilet paper; HB M for hamburger meat; and plenty more short hand words I use for my own personal list. You might also use short hand and codes when writing in your journal or diary. No one has to understand this writing but yourself.
LANGUAGE AND LINEAR READING:
Writing is linear in that one sentence follows the next.
We speak one word at a time. It is impossible to get an overview of the entire page while reading or while speaking. Contrast this to looking at a picture. You may view the picture one item at a time, but it is also possible to look at the picture as a whole. This is not as possible with writing.
We tend to think of things in clusters. Seeing one thing may make us think of something else, which in turn leads our thoughts into other directions. Seeing a child in the supermarket may make me think of my kids. I may then start remembering what they did last night. I may compare their childhood to my own, which leads me to think of my family of origin. I may then go on to think about my grandparents and wonder what their childhood was like. This is called thinking in clusters. Clustering has also been mentioned here as a way to come up with new ideas.
STORYTELLING – SHAPING IMPRESSIONS:
What is a story? If you call someone up and say, “I got up and brushed my teeth this morning,” you are likely to say either, “So,” or “And then what happened?” Getting up and brushing your teeth is something that happened to you, but it is not a story.
A story is more than something that happened.
What is a story?
A story is a piece of life. A segment that we believe has significance and meaning.
Something must take place in a story. The something must be eventful. Many things happen, and are happening to you constantly but all things that happen are not stories.
An experience that is deemed eventful (whether fiction or not) can then be shaped into a story. The key word is shaped. There must be a beginning and ending. The story must begin at the appropriate place. The ending must leave readers feeling the story was tied up. They should have no questions remaining. Don’t start long before the real beginning and bore the reader and don’t stop too soon and leave them hanging; neither should you go on and on after the action is final.
The beginning and buildup to the climax should be at least twice as long as the conclusion. The conclusion should be wrapped up quickly, not dragged out. Once the tension in the story is over, the reader will become tired of reading on.
GENERAL STORY FORM:
The beginning in the appropriate place.
Complication which create rising tension and action (the main character should act on what is complicating his life at the moment. Don’t just let things happen to him).
Gradually build toward a climax.
Finish with an appropriate conclusion.
Writing Book I’m reading:
Crafting Prose by Don Richard Cox and Elizabeth Giddens
CHAPTER 6 Options for Expressive Prose:
FREE ASSOCIATION & CLUSTERING:
Mentioned before, how one thought leads naturally into others. Focus on a subject and record the cluster of subjects related to that subject. The final product may be a spider web of relationships.
TRANSFORMING TECHNIQUES:
The web of relationships may not be easily communicated to others.
Stream of Consciousness: This is easily my favorite form of writing. This is also a way to transform the web of ideas into a linear form.
The Reporter’s Questions: Who, what, why, where and when; ask these questions and then extract the appropriate answers from what you have so far. You may also pair up these questions to create new angles for a story.
Identity – Particle, Wave, or Field: I don’t quite get this concept. Sorry! If anyone can shed light on this, let me know! Particle means you see an event as a complete unit, separate and distinct from others. Wave means the event is dynamic rather than static, like ocean waves. Seeing it as a field means you can look at the even two ways; one big thing composed of smaller subsystems. Yes, I see all this as a general idea, but have no idea how to put it to use, or how it relates to writing. I think, in my humble opinion, this may be making the job harder than it has to be. Others may find such a theory extremely helpful. To me it just adds confusion.
FOCUS/SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING:
Review your journal for ideas you can return to. Are there emotions or ideas contained in it that suggest they might be described further? (Yes) Do you have several entries describing the same experience or even? (Yes) What is it about the event that caused you to return to it in your journal more than once? (It was something I struggled with or felt passionately about) Can you express your feelings about this event to others? (Yes, because the things I feel strongly about are often the same things others feel strongly about, have gone through themselves, or struggle with as well.)
Cluster technique for “Fourth of July” (I’m choosing this one because it’s almost here)
Fourth of July-hot, fireworks, parade, picnic, grilling, shorts, suntan/sunburn, water hose, staying home, day off, relaxing
Hot-sunshine, sunglasses, air-conditioning, cold drinks, sweating, bees, flowers, bird feeders, humming birds, lawn chairs, the slip and slide, a pool, fishing
Fireworks-night, loud, popping, bright, brilliant, colorful, whistling, pop rocks, sparklers, Star - Spangled Banner, bottle rockets
Parade- band, marching, floats, batons, musical instruments, fire trucks, police cars, throwing candy, kids, high school
Picnic-basket, paper plates, red checkered table cloth, grilled meat, potato salad, home made ice-cream, salads, beer, slushies, shaved ice, lemonade, fresh veggies, fresh tomatoes
Grilling-hot coals, smoke, grilling utensils, kiss-the-cook apron, steaks, chicken, hot dogs, corn on the cob
Shorts-t-shirts, sandals, flip-flops, swim suits, pony tails
Suntan/sunburn-hot sun, sunscreen, coconut oil, squinting in the sun, aloe, coppertone kid, tan lines, burn relief spray
Water hose-spraying the kids, cooling off, squeals, water the plants, water the grass, put out the grill fire, wash the car
Staying home-too much traffic for travel, r&r, marathon movie watching, marathons on sci-fi and lifetime, hubby getting mad when I watch marathons, sleeping on the couch
Writing Book I’m reading:
Crafting Prose by Don Richard Cox and Elizabeth Giddens
Chapter 7: Structures for Expressive Writing:
Reflexive Prose, Narrative Prose, and Descriptive Prose:
Reflexive prose talks about your feelings. Example: A letter.
Our more complicated feelings are affected when we verbalize them… such as talking things over with a friend. Even if the problem isn’t solved, we often feel better about the situation.
Principal behind freewriting: Presumably, your thoughts have a natural direction and coherence, and it is this natural coherence you try to generate.
Narrative Prose
Narrative is the most common form of storytelling. Portrays a sequence of events through time.
Narrative doesn’t need to begin at the “beginning.” It may begin at the middle or at the climax of the story and then the story told through a series of flashbacks. This can help grasp the reader’s interest. (Remember most readers decide early on, in the first paragraph or page whether or not they want to continue reading.) Remember when flashing back or forward, make sure the relationship to the overall narrative is clear. Never digress from the original story.
Narrative should make a point.
Descriptive Prose
Descriptive prose is frequently encountered… It may be literal (realistic) or figurative or metaphorical.
Literal description tries to depict a person, place, or thing as accurately as possible. These are the kind of descriptions found in encyclopedias.
Descriptions should include not only the visual but also touch, smell, taste, and sound.
When describing a person, you should describe their most noticeable feature. This helps make the character memorable.
FOCUS/SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING
Think about the last time you were frightened…
What was frightening you? I was in the hospital and I was all alone.
Have there been other times when you were nearly as frightened? Sometimes when I hear things at night, I have been nearly that afraid. Once I got sick and nearly passed out, that was pretty scary.
What are the similarities in those events? They involved sickness and the fear of possibly dying.
How are the events different? When I was in the hospital, I knew there was help around. When I got sick at home and nearly passed out, I was alone. I didn’t know if I could call for help, of if help would get there in time. Of course, when I heard the sound in the darkness, I could try and convince myself that it was my imagination, or some harmless reason for the night noises I’d hear.
EXPRESSIVE PROSE
Invasive Procedures by Mark Kramer
I’m choosing this essay to read first since it relates to my answer to the focus/suggestions answers from Chapter 7.
What part of Kramer’s speculations seem familiar to you? The feelings of denial about his illness. He brought a typewriter to the hospital to get work done while he was there and thought this would be a quick thing and soon he could get back to work. I too thought of taking a laptop to the hospital not only to get work done, but to have something to do. After all, I didn’t feel that sick and I thought the doctors just wanted to get all the money they could out of my insurance company or something. I wanted the whole thing to be over so I could get on with my life.
What part seems unfamiliar to you? I didn’t relate to what he said about the time passing while he was under anesthesia. When they put me under, it seemed like I closed my eyes and then opened them. Like only a second passed.
Does Kramer seem to be a typical patient? Yes, I think most of us have our own odd ways of dealing with illness and the possibility of something awful happening to us health wise. Do any seem atypical? The way he didn’t slow down, “except for the hospital food.”
What does Kramer add to this account that detracts from the mystique of surgeons? The visit from the vacationing surgeon.
What evidence suggests that Kramer may be making too much of his experience? He is considering that the surgeons might be lying about the thing they removed not being cancerous. What reaction would you expect? That he be relieved that the tumor is out and that he is out of danger.
Recent trip to the dr/dentist.
I went to the dentist recently to have my checkup and one of my teeth was in such bad shape that the dentist offered to go ahead and work on it. It was a front tooth over to the side and the filling had been loose since my last checkup, which was in November. Since it was right before the holidays, I didn’t want to go through Thanksgiving and Christmas with a temporary crown hanging on my tooth. So I put it off and put it off and next thing I knew it was time for my six-month checkup. I guess during this time the root of the tooth had gotten inflamed because the dentist said I might have to have a root canal done on it. While he drilled, I could feel the drill on my tooth, even after 2 shots. He gave me a third and waited a while and still I managed to feel it. I laid there gripping the side of the chair praying that all the drilling would soon be over. Now I have to wear this thing for six weeks and then go back and have it checked to see if he can put the permanent crown on it or do a root canal on it first. The price of waiting! I keep thinking if I’d gone ahead and had it done then, perhaps it would have been in better shape!
Comments-[ comments.]
WRITER BASED PROSE:
Tends to be more spontaneous, less structured. If this is private writing, it doesn’t even need to make sense to anyone else. For example, when I write my grocery list I often use short hand words. The well used TP for toilet paper; HB M for hamburger meat; and plenty more short hand words I use for my own personal list. You might also use short hand and codes when writing in your journal or diary. No one has to understand this writing but yourself.
LANGUAGE AND LINEAR READING:
Writing is linear in that one sentence follows the next.
We speak one word at a time. It is impossible to get an overview of the entire page while reading or while speaking. Contrast this to looking at a picture. You may view the picture one item at a time, but it is also possible to look at the picture as a whole. This is not as possible with writing.
We tend to think of things in clusters. Seeing one thing may make us think of something else, which in turn leads our thoughts into other directions. Seeing a child in the supermarket may make me think of my kids. I may then start remembering what they did last night. I may compare their childhood to my own, which leads me to think of my family of origin. I may then go on to think about my grandparents and wonder what their childhood was like. This is called thinking in clusters. Clustering has also been mentioned here as a way to come up with new ideas.
STORYTELLING – SHAPING IMPRESSIONS:
What is a story? If you call someone up and say, “I got up and brushed my teeth this morning,” you are likely to say either, “So,” or “And then what happened?” Getting up and brushing your teeth is something that happened to you, but it is not a story.
A story is more than something that happened.
What is a story?
A story is a piece of life. A segment that we believe has significance and meaning.
Something must take place in a story. The something must be eventful. Many things happen, and are happening to you constantly but all things that happen are not stories.
An experience that is deemed eventful (whether fiction or not) can then be shaped into a story. The key word is shaped. There must be a beginning and ending. The story must begin at the appropriate place. The ending must leave readers feeling the story was tied up. They should have no questions remaining. Don’t start long before the real beginning and bore the reader and don’t stop too soon and leave them hanging; neither should you go on and on after the action is final.
The beginning and buildup to the climax should be at least twice as long as the conclusion. The conclusion should be wrapped up quickly, not dragged out. Once the tension in the story is over, the reader will become tired of reading on.
GENERAL STORY FORM:
The beginning in the appropriate place.
Complication which create rising tension and action (the main character should act on what is complicating his life at the moment. Don’t just let things happen to him).
Gradually build toward a climax.
Finish with an appropriate conclusion.
Writing Book I’m reading:
Crafting Prose by Don Richard Cox and Elizabeth Giddens
CHAPTER 6 Options for Expressive Prose:
FREE ASSOCIATION & CLUSTERING:
Mentioned before, how one thought leads naturally into others. Focus on a subject and record the cluster of subjects related to that subject. The final product may be a spider web of relationships.
TRANSFORMING TECHNIQUES:
The web of relationships may not be easily communicated to others.
Stream of Consciousness: This is easily my favorite form of writing. This is also a way to transform the web of ideas into a linear form.
The Reporter’s Questions: Who, what, why, where and when; ask these questions and then extract the appropriate answers from what you have so far. You may also pair up these questions to create new angles for a story.
Identity – Particle, Wave, or Field: I don’t quite get this concept. Sorry! If anyone can shed light on this, let me know! Particle means you see an event as a complete unit, separate and distinct from others. Wave means the event is dynamic rather than static, like ocean waves. Seeing it as a field means you can look at the even two ways; one big thing composed of smaller subsystems. Yes, I see all this as a general idea, but have no idea how to put it to use, or how it relates to writing. I think, in my humble opinion, this may be making the job harder than it has to be. Others may find such a theory extremely helpful. To me it just adds confusion.
FOCUS/SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING:
Review your journal for ideas you can return to. Are there emotions or ideas contained in it that suggest they might be described further? (Yes) Do you have several entries describing the same experience or even? (Yes) What is it about the event that caused you to return to it in your journal more than once? (It was something I struggled with or felt passionately about) Can you express your feelings about this event to others? (Yes, because the things I feel strongly about are often the same things others feel strongly about, have gone through themselves, or struggle with as well.)
Cluster technique for “Fourth of July” (I’m choosing this one because it’s almost here)
Fourth of July-hot, fireworks, parade, picnic, grilling, shorts, suntan/sunburn, water hose, staying home, day off, relaxing
Hot-sunshine, sunglasses, air-conditioning, cold drinks, sweating, bees, flowers, bird feeders, humming birds, lawn chairs, the slip and slide, a pool, fishing
Fireworks-night, loud, popping, bright, brilliant, colorful, whistling, pop rocks, sparklers, Star - Spangled Banner, bottle rockets
Parade- band, marching, floats, batons, musical instruments, fire trucks, police cars, throwing candy, kids, high school
Picnic-basket, paper plates, red checkered table cloth, grilled meat, potato salad, home made ice-cream, salads, beer, slushies, shaved ice, lemonade, fresh veggies, fresh tomatoes
Grilling-hot coals, smoke, grilling utensils, kiss-the-cook apron, steaks, chicken, hot dogs, corn on the cob
Shorts-t-shirts, sandals, flip-flops, swim suits, pony tails
Suntan/sunburn-hot sun, sunscreen, coconut oil, squinting in the sun, aloe, coppertone kid, tan lines, burn relief spray
Water hose-spraying the kids, cooling off, squeals, water the plants, water the grass, put out the grill fire, wash the car
Staying home-too much traffic for travel, r&r, marathon movie watching, marathons on sci-fi and lifetime, hubby getting mad when I watch marathons, sleeping on the couch
Writing Book I’m reading:
Crafting Prose by Don Richard Cox and Elizabeth Giddens
Chapter 7: Structures for Expressive Writing:
Reflexive Prose, Narrative Prose, and Descriptive Prose:
Reflexive prose talks about your feelings. Example: A letter.
Our more complicated feelings are affected when we verbalize them… such as talking things over with a friend. Even if the problem isn’t solved, we often feel better about the situation.
Principal behind freewriting: Presumably, your thoughts have a natural direction and coherence, and it is this natural coherence you try to generate.
Narrative Prose
Narrative is the most common form of storytelling. Portrays a sequence of events through time.
Narrative doesn’t need to begin at the “beginning.” It may begin at the middle or at the climax of the story and then the story told through a series of flashbacks. This can help grasp the reader’s interest. (Remember most readers decide early on, in the first paragraph or page whether or not they want to continue reading.) Remember when flashing back or forward, make sure the relationship to the overall narrative is clear. Never digress from the original story.
Narrative should make a point.
Descriptive Prose
Descriptive prose is frequently encountered… It may be literal (realistic) or figurative or metaphorical.
Literal description tries to depict a person, place, or thing as accurately as possible. These are the kind of descriptions found in encyclopedias.
Descriptions should include not only the visual but also touch, smell, taste, and sound.
When describing a person, you should describe their most noticeable feature. This helps make the character memorable.
FOCUS/SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING
Think about the last time you were frightened…
What was frightening you? I was in the hospital and I was all alone.
Have there been other times when you were nearly as frightened? Sometimes when I hear things at night, I have been nearly that afraid. Once I got sick and nearly passed out, that was pretty scary.
What are the similarities in those events? They involved sickness and the fear of possibly dying.
How are the events different? When I was in the hospital, I knew there was help around. When I got sick at home and nearly passed out, I was alone. I didn’t know if I could call for help, of if help would get there in time. Of course, when I heard the sound in the darkness, I could try and convince myself that it was my imagination, or some harmless reason for the night noises I’d hear.
EXPRESSIVE PROSE
Invasive Procedures by Mark Kramer
I’m choosing this essay to read first since it relates to my answer to the focus/suggestions answers from Chapter 7.
What part of Kramer’s speculations seem familiar to you? The feelings of denial about his illness. He brought a typewriter to the hospital to get work done while he was there and thought this would be a quick thing and soon he could get back to work. I too thought of taking a laptop to the hospital not only to get work done, but to have something to do. After all, I didn’t feel that sick and I thought the doctors just wanted to get all the money they could out of my insurance company or something. I wanted the whole thing to be over so I could get on with my life.
What part seems unfamiliar to you? I didn’t relate to what he said about the time passing while he was under anesthesia. When they put me under, it seemed like I closed my eyes and then opened them. Like only a second passed.
Does Kramer seem to be a typical patient? Yes, I think most of us have our own odd ways of dealing with illness and the possibility of something awful happening to us health wise. Do any seem atypical? The way he didn’t slow down, “except for the hospital food.”
What does Kramer add to this account that detracts from the mystique of surgeons? The visit from the vacationing surgeon.
What evidence suggests that Kramer may be making too much of his experience? He is considering that the surgeons might be lying about the thing they removed not being cancerous. What reaction would you expect? That he be relieved that the tumor is out and that he is out of danger.
Recent trip to the dr/dentist.
I went to the dentist recently to have my checkup and one of my teeth was in such bad shape that the dentist offered to go ahead and work on it. It was a front tooth over to the side and the filling had been loose since my last checkup, which was in November. Since it was right before the holidays, I didn’t want to go through Thanksgiving and Christmas with a temporary crown hanging on my tooth. So I put it off and put it off and next thing I knew it was time for my six-month checkup. I guess during this time the root of the tooth had gotten inflamed because the dentist said I might have to have a root canal done on it. While he drilled, I could feel the drill on my tooth, even after 2 shots. He gave me a third and waited a while and still I managed to feel it. I laid there gripping the side of the chair praying that all the drilling would soon be over. Now I have to wear this thing for six weeks and then go back and have it checked to see if he can put the permanent crown on it or do a root canal on it first. The price of waiting! I keep thinking if I’d gone ahead and had it done then, perhaps it would have been in better shape!
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