Elements of Creative Writing
J.D. Schraffenberger, University of Northern Iowa
Rachel Morgan, University of Northern Iowa
Grant Tracey, University of Northern Iowa
Copyright Year: 2023
ISBN 13: 9780915996179
Publisher: University of Northern Iowa
Language: English
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Reviewed by Robert Moreira, Lecturer III, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on 3/21/24
Unlike Starkey's CREATIVE WRITING: FOUR GENRES IN BRIEF, this textbook does not include a section on drama. read more
Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less
Unlike Starkey's CREATIVE WRITING: FOUR GENRES IN BRIEF, this textbook does not include a section on drama.
Content Accuracy rating: 5
As far as I can tell, content is accurate, error free and unbiased.
Relevance/Longevity rating: 5
The book is relevant and up-to-date.
Clarity rating: 5
The text is clear and easy to understand.
Consistency rating: 5
I would agree that the text is consistent in terms of terminology and framework.
Modularity rating: 5
Text is modular, yes, but I would like to see the addition of a section on dramatic writing.
Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5
Topics are presented in logical, clear fashion.
Interface rating: 5
Navigation is good.
Grammatical Errors rating: 5
No grammatical issues that I could see.
Cultural Relevance rating: 3
I'd like to see more diverse creative writing examples.
As I stated above, textbook is good except that it does not include a section on dramatic writing.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter One: One Great Way to Write a Short Story
- Chapter Two: Plotting
- Chapter Three: Counterpointed Plotting
- Chapter Four: Show and Tell
- Chapter Five: Characterization and Method Writing
- Chapter Six: Character and Dialouge
- Chapter Seven: Setting, Stillness, and Voice
- Chapter Eight: Point of View
- Chapter Nine: Learning the Unwritten Rules
- Chapter One: A Poetry State of Mind
- Chapter Two: The Architecture of a Poem
- Chapter Three: Sound
- Chapter Four: Inspiration and Risk
- Chapter Five: Endings and Beginnings
- Chapter Six: Figurative Language
- Chapter Seven: Forms, Forms, Forms
- Chapter Eight: Go to the Image
- Chapter Nine: The Difficult Simplicity of Short Poems and Killing Darlings
Creative Nonfiction
- Chapter One: Creative Nonfiction and the Essay
- Chapter Two: Truth and Memory, Truth in Memory
- Chapter Three: Research and History
- Chapter Four: Writing Environments
- Chapter Five: Notes on Style
- Chapter Seven: Imagery and the Senses
- Chapter Eight: Writing the Body
- Chapter Nine: Forms
Back Matter
- Contributors
- North American Review Staff
Ancillary Material
- University of Northern Iowa
About the Book
This free and open access textbook introduces new writers to some basic elements of the craft of creative writing in the genres of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. The authors—Rachel Morgan, Jeremy Schraffenberger, and Grant Tracey—are editors of the North American Review, the oldest and one of the most well-regarded literary magazines in the United States. They’ve selected nearly all of the readings and examples (more than 60) from writing that has appeared in NAR pages over the years. Because they had a hand in publishing these pieces originally, their perspective as editors permeates this book. As such, they hope that even seasoned writers might gain insight into the aesthetics of the magazine as they analyze and discuss some reasons this work is so remarkable—and therefore teachable. This project was supported by NAR staff and funded via the UNI Textbook Equity Mini-Grant Program.
About the Contributors
J.D. Schraffenberger is a professor of English at the University of Northern Iowa. He is the author of two books of poems, Saint Joe's Passion and The Waxen Poor , and co-author with Martín Espada and Lauren Schmidt of The Necessary Poetics of Atheism . His other work has appeared in Best of Brevity , Best Creative Nonfiction , Notre Dame Review , Poetry East , Prairie Schooner , and elsewhere.
Rachel Morgan is an instructor of English at the University of Northern Iowa. She is the author of the chapbook Honey & Blood , Blood & Honey . Her work is included in the anthology Fracture: Essays, Poems, and Stories on Fracking in American and has appeared in the Journal of American Medical Association , Boulevard , Prairie Schooner , and elsewhere.
Grant Tracey author of three novels in the Hayden Fuller Mysteries ; the chapbook Winsome featuring cab driver Eddie Sands; and the story collection Final Stanzas , is fiction editor of the North American Review and an English professor at the University of Northern Iowa, where he teaches film, modern drama, and creative writing. Nominated four times for a Pushcart Prize, he has published nearly fifty short stories and three previous collections. He has acted in over forty community theater productions and has published critical work on Samuel Fuller and James Cagney. He lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
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Unit 1: Creative Process Subject: Creative Writing Grade: 11-12 Name of Unit: Introduction to Creative Writing Length of Unit: 2 Weeks Overview of Unit: This is the beginning unit for this class and requires time to establish comfort, boundaries, and one's writing and speaking voice. These activities and others, coupled
This Informative and Explanatory Paragraph Writing freebie is a sample of my 300+ paged Informative and Explanatory Paragraph Writing unit. It is a great way to introduce and give your students practice writing informative and explanatory paragraphs. The unit is aligned with the Common Core Standards grades K-3.
This seminar is a blend of guided discussions of literature and craft, writing exercises, and zoom workshops. The syllabus is divided into three units — focused respectively on our three genres, fiction, poetry, and drama — each unit concentrating on the elements specific to the relevant genre. Students will complete regular creative exercises,
The Beginning: Creative writing takes its first breath when the writer asks, "What can I create out of a particular feeling, image, experience, or memory?" The Purpose: It carries out a writer's compelling desire to imagine, invent, explore, or share. Writing satisfies the creative soul. It often takes on a life of its own; the writer
7. How to Teach reative Writing to hildren. Start with the Six Traits of Writing. o Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency and Conventions. These six traits provide a way to assess students' writing. When students understand the traits, they know what is expected of their writing.
units of study offered in Creative Writing. The Creative Writing curriculum guide is the product of much diligent work on the part of the following members of the Task Force. Lissa Opolsky This document reflects their efforts to establish a well-defined and organized approach to teaching Creative Writing in the Northwestern Lehigh School District.
The ORIGINAL Paragraph of the Week program on TpT! This daily, scaffolded approach to paragraph writing is perfect to help get your students writing good, solid, detailed paragrap
Creative Writing 1 Unit Title: Discovering Practicality and Fun Through Creative Writing Grade Level: 8 Class Duration: 70 minutes Global Rationale: Writing is not only a basic skill in education, but also an art form. Writing can provide students with a variety of options for artistic outlet and self-expression. By
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to: ULO1:Achieve creative writing and reading skills in relation to concepts, topics, craft, technique and voice. ULO2:Evaluate creative writing processes. ULO3:Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form and poetry.
Creative Writing: Poetry Quarter. Created by. Shawn McKenna. This is a full-quarter plan with all materials for teaching poetry as creative writing. This unit includes a selection of poems, space for notes, and a variety of exercises. All materials are included in this unit.
Our 2020-21 Writing Curriculum for Middle and High School. A flexible, seven-unit program based on the real-world writing found in newspapers, from editorials and reviews to personal narratives ...
This is a creative writing unit, produced with InDesign. It is an interactive PDF that takes Year 7 students through the basics of narrative structure. The idea is to place all of the resources: videos, activities,assessment etc into the one place that students and teachers can easily access. I would be really interested if anybody could help me or give me some tips on how to design an ...
Creative Writing Unit Plan - Free download as Word Doc (.doc), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. This 3-week English unit focuses on developing students' creative writing skills through short stories. It includes four parts: 1) Improving descriptive writing style, 2) Understanding how plot and theme can shape a story, 3) Learning to control descriptions using the five ...
Creative Writing Fundamentals _____ 1 Creative Writing is a very subjective discipline and mode of writing. However, there are some universal elements to consider and strengthen, no matter what genre you wish to write in. This guide will briefly go over images, voice, setting and story, which are central to any kind of Creative Writing you wish ...
The common ground of fiction and non-fiction writing is the creativity the writer uses to express his or her thoughts and emotions. The following examples show that, to some degree, all writing is creative, since it always involves re-creation, ie. the selection of some components, imagined or real, and exclusion of others. 1.
Grade 8 - Unit 3 - Creative Writing Unit Focus This unit serves to take grade eight students' knowledge of effective storytelling and elevate it to the next level. This is a critical skill, as we know that narrative writing is the genre that really gives students their own voice and makes writing meaningful and personal.
1 of 6. Creative Writing: Short Stories. This handout will help you understand and analyze the formal craft elements used by writers in the creation of short stories so that you can effectively employ them in your own. Definition of the Short Story. By its very nature, the short story is difficult to define.
Brief overview of the writing project including how water will play a role. Invite them to explore their story in pictures during creative drawing time. Make a "story pouch" that can be decorated with "water art" to hold all the work leading up to writing the story. LESSON 2. 50 mins.
This free and open access textbook introduces new writers to some basic elements of the craft of creative writing in the genres of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. The authors—Rachel Morgan, Jeremy Schraffenberger, and Grant Tracey—are editors of the North American Review, the oldest and one of the most well-regarded literary magazines in the United States.
Unit 1 Creative Writing (Handouts) - Free download as Word Doc (.doc / .docx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. The document provides an introduction to creative writing. It defines creative writing as original composition that expresses thoughts, feelings, or emotions. Creative writing can be fiction or non-fiction.
genre includes poetry, fiction (novels, short stories), scripts, screenplays, and creative non-fiction. Elements1 Voice: An author's unique style and way of saying things. You should be able to recognize an author's written voice the way you recognize a person's spoken voice. In creative writing, one goal is to develop your written voice.
creative writing unit plan - Free download as Word Doc (.doc / .docx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site.
Note: writing goals may pertain to your craft (" I want to develop a stronger and more consistent writing voice"), your educational aspirations ("I will obtain the creative writing minor at NYU and then apply for an MFA"), and/or a potential career as a prose writer or poet ("I will get published in a literary journal and
The Online Writing Lab (the Purdue OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out ...
From critical thinking and creative problem solving to communication and collaboration, Adobe Creative Cloud helps students build the skills they need to succeed in K-12, higher education, and the modern workforce. Adobe Creative Cloud for education provides educational institutions with industry-leading creative tools and centralized ...
Students and Teachers. Introductory Pricing Terms and Conditions Creative Cloud Introductory Pricing Eligible students 13 and older and teachers can purchase an annual membership to Adobe® Creative Cloud™ for a reduced price of for the first year. At the end of your offer term, your subscription will be automatically billed at the standard subscription rate, currently at (plus applicable ...