Final Noveling Projects and End-of-Semester Reminders

End of Semester reminders: 

**Please return any books from our class library, including Of Mice and Men, Fahrenheit 451, and Feed.**

Complete THREE Written Annotations on Independent Reading books by 12/10. See post on Independent Reading or purple handout for guidelines on written annotations: http://stemmroots.blogspot.com/2014/08/independent-reading-annotated.html


National Novel Writing Month Culminating assignments
Entering the Homestretch:

**Total Word Count GOAL UPDATING Deadline: The site will “lock you in” at the goal you have set on November 24, so if you need to up your goal to something more ambitious and want the site to reflect that, be sure to do so before Monday, November 24.

Last day to enter your word count and have your word count validated and be celebrated as a “Winner” is November 30, at 11:59pm, but PLEASE do not wait until the last minute!!

**Monday, 12.1.14: 100% Word Count Check (you MUST bring your file on your flash drive or email document to Ms. Witham by 7:00am 12.1.14) (150 points)

10th Grade: Opening Pages workshop: Tuesday, 12.2: Bring in opening pages polished and edited as best you can, at least 300-500 words, printed. 
9th Grade: Opening Pages workshop: Wednesday 12.3: Bring in opening pages polished and edited as best you can, at least 300-500 words, printed. 

M-F, 12.1-12.5: Novel Finalization Week

Book Jacket Creation: Book jackets can be 8.5” x 11” or smaller if you choose to format like a small book

Excerpt revision, both individual and peer workshopping, using Cleanup/Editing Handout, NaNoWriMo Rubric, and workshop protocol. See rubric link below, under excerpt section.

About the Author/Book Summary writing.

Monday 12.8: Book Jackets due; Gallery walk. Book Jackets include:

☐ Creative cover [Title, Author, Image that conveys tone/plot/theme-should avoid simple clipart and go for more original, creative visuals] (30 points)

☐ Three Excerpts [See requirements below] (150 points)

☐ About the Author [At least two paragraphs, with interesting details, in third person—May work with a partner to write each others] (30 points)

☐ Back-of-Book Summary [at least three paragraphs, vivid character, setting, and conflict description, cliffhanger-ending] (40 points)

Excerpts should be at least 300-500 words each, typed, polished, revised for word choice and detail, and error-free.

See Rubric for Character, Plot, Setting, Dialogue, Voice, and Conventions at http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/files/ywp/nano_ywp_10_suggested_rubric.pdf

1.     Opening pages (required)

2.     [Choose two of the following]:

a.     STEMM-inspired/Research-inspired (research can include an interview you did, with a footnote at the bottom as to your source)

b.     A “call-to-action, stand against injustice” scene, where a character makes a persuasive argument about a societal ill/issue. (Remember Sherman Alexie’s Ode to Tolerance from ATDOAPTI)

c.      A scene that goes into the “lyric register,” slowing down time to convey strong emotion/turning point/conflict. The “Lyric register” involves a shift into poetic language, unusual syntax, or significant figurative language to convey the intensity of a character’s experience.

d.     A pivotal scene for your character that captures an essential moment from the plot rollercoaster (Inciting Incident/Plot Point 1, Plot Twist/Climax).

12.9-12.11: In-class Readings, mandatory. Option to sign up for After School NaNoWriMo Author reading. (practice reading excerpt at least 15-20 times out loud. Seriously. No, Seriously. Read it again. Trust me.) (50 points)

Author Reading in VHS Library:  Wednesday 12/10, 3:15-5pm:  Students sign up to read in front of a diverse audience and show off the incredible work they have done in a 3-4 minute reading. Students will have a fellow novelist introduce them. Invite parents, teachers, and friends. 

What We've Learned about Writing Novels

Period 1

The second time doesn't make it any easier or fun.

Cliches are okay~Don't stress out about originally.

The "crappy first draft" doesn't always make sense.

Time management is critical.

Sometimes music is distracting. Try finding music that can inspire your novel. Try nature sounds like rain, ocean, whale song.

Going back over your novel midway through the month. Allows for flashbacks, scene expansion, character development.

Let the world outside your novel enter into your novel.

Write everyday.

Novel before…[fill in the break] napping,

Tell yourself you will just novel for 10 minutes. Once you are there, you will probably get into "the flow" and keep going.

Period 5

Have multiple writing sessions throughout the day.

Steal traits from other characters (movies, books, real life).

Reward yourself with _______ (large and small rewards).

Write first thing in the morning. 

Write at night. 

Snack as you write.

The story never unfolds as you initially planned. 

Get descriptive, go into detail. 

Period 6

Use current events/yahoo news to give inspiration.

Give yourself a soundtrack to capture the mood of your scene.

Get outside for new inspiration. Especially helpful for setting. 

Watch a movie for inspiration.

Add new layers to a character. Use interesting details, don't restrict them. 

Talk to yourself to get realistic dialogue. 

Try to capture a gesture by acting it out. 

Writing in Honor and a Poetry Contest

Around this time of NaNoWriMo, perhaps your momentum is slowing. Your perfectly imagined story is starting to show a few cracks. You're behind on your word count. Maybe you have even gone a day or two without writing, and your story seems far away. 

With Veterans Day tomorrow, I think it is a great time to consider the idea of writing in honor of someone you love or someone you've lost. Whether they are a veteran, whether they are dead or alive, sometimes writing for something greater than yourself can help you going when the writing gets slow.

So tomorrow, when you have a little extra time, consider who you might honor with your story. Perhaps you weave some of their story into your own. Perhaps you create a character who captures something of their spirit. Perhaps you listen to some stories at StoryCorps about veterans who have served in post-9/11 wars: http://www.npr.org/series/4516989/storycorps

Perhaps you just write like crazy for all those who can't tell their own stories anymore. 

Today I think of Mr. Johnny Cash, the country musician who was so vocal about the injustices faced by so many people in our society. His song, "Man in Black," explains who he was honoring in so many of his songs: the poor, the prisoners, the veterans, the downtrodden. No matter what you think of country music, this is a great example of honoring others though art:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t51MHUENlAQ

Also, an opportunity for all you young poets that are sophomores: 
The Kenyon Review, a prestigious literary magazine is hosting the "Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers" during the month of November. If selected your poem will be published in the literary journal and the winner receives a full scholarship to the 2015 Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop in Gambier, Ohio next summer.

This is a great opportunity to get your work out there, and it will look fantastic on your college application, especially if you are a winner! Submission is free, go to:
kenyonreview.org/groddprize

Check out last year's winner, it is stunning: 
http://www.kenyonreview.org/wp-content/uploads/jenkins_michaela.pdf

NaNoWriMo 20% Check In and First Excerpts

Congratulations, Novelists, you have reached the 20% mark in your noveling journey!

By now your protagonist has been introduced, the setting established, and you are swiftly approaching Plot Point #1 (sometimes known as the inciting incident). There is probably a good amount of foreshadowing happening to hint at upcoming conflict, and you definitely have introduced an antagonist, either in the form of another character or an abstract force. 

The most important thing in these first chapters is to establish what is AT STAKE for your Character. 

To get even more words, introduce a significant subplot that connects thematically to your main plot. 

AND NOW…(From the Larry Brooks article, "Storytelling in Chunks…"):

"At Plot Point #1, you change everything. 

The hero’s quest – the thing this story is all about – really begins here.  Because right here, at the First Plot Point, you throw something into the story mix that challenges, that defines and/or gets in the way of what the hero needs or wants, that threatens the hero, that puts the hero’s pre-PP1 life on hold until they can conquer this obstacle, or at least defines what they must do in the near term to continue that journey.

All that happens in one chapter.  It should be at about the 20^th percentile of your story."

Go big. Try listing all the awful, tragic, horrible things that can befall your character--betrayal by an ally/friend/love interest, accident, death, etc, and see what seems the most interesting to turn your character's world upside down.

Homework for all: 

1. Make your 20% Goal by midnight on Thursday, 11/6, and update your word count accurately. You will get credit for your progress for this first week's worth of noveling. Make sure you update the site, because that is where Ms. W is checking. 

Hold mini-marathons with your writing buddy, either in person or with text challenges to get to 20% (3,000 for 15,000 novelists, 2,000 for 10,000 word novelists)

2. By end of day Friday: Choose a 200-300 word excerpt from your opening pages (anywhere you like) that capture your character, setting, or conflict. Post your excerpt in your class-specific forum on the ywp.nanowrimo.org site. This is part of building your digital literacy skills by being a contributing member to our virtual classroom. More importantly, it's a great chance for you to show off your work and make people want to read your novel. Make sure your excerpt is polished and error free. Use spell check, read out loud, and run it past your writing buddy first. 

Be sure to read at least 3 other classmate's excerpts over the weekend. You will be inspired!

3. Do a word-count marathon for an extended period of time over the weekend, either in-person or virtually. Compete with your fellow novelists for how much you can write in a sustained session. 

Ms. Witham will host a writing session at the Venice Grind (12224 Venice Blvd, Mar Vista, CA 90066) on Saturday morning from 8:30am-?? First five novelists will get treated to their choice of caffeinated or uncaffeinated beverages, and others will have their pick of Gray's Halloween candy.