On creative writing

You do not write because you want to say something. You write because you have
something to say.

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on the broken glass.” –
Checov

BE SPECIFIC
Don’t say you saw a bird:
You saw swallow, Or a great horned owl, a hawk, or oriole.
Don’t just tell me that he flew;
That’s what any bird can do;
Say he darted, circled, swooped or lifted in the blue.

PROBLEM?
Poverty of Stimulus
Exposure
Critical Period Hypothesis

Why do we need to teach Creative Writing? (for teachers)

Teaching creative writing in senior high schools is the gift of giving students a new
way to look at themselves.
Writing creatively helps inform people of who they really are and what they’re
capable of in a way that most pedagogical courses, don’t.
It is in creative writing courses where students unearth who they are and it is in
creative writing courses where students look anew at the world around them, aware of the
sacred little details that eluded them before.

BEAR IN MIND
“You can’t use up CREATIVITY. The more you use, the more you have.” -Maya
Angelou

 Meter
 Metrical Lines
 Stanzas
 Rhyme
 Elements of Fiction

What is limerick?
 A five-line poem written with one couplet and a triplet.
 The rhyme pattern is a b b a with lines 1, 2 and 5 containing 3 beats and rhyming,
and lines 3 and 4 having two beats and rhyming.
 Limericks are meant to be FUNNY
 The last line of a good limerick contains the punch line.

Example of LIMERICK
St. Patrick’s Day Limerick
There once was a shamrock named Shawn,
Whose leaves first unfurled in the dawn,
He is easily seen,
With his bright leaves of green,
Right up ‘til the day he was gone.

What is shape poetry?

EPIC
Characteristics:
 The hero, generally male, is of noble birth or high position
 The hero’s character traits reflect important ideals of his society
 The hero performs courageous deeds that reflect the values of the times
  His actions determine the fate of many
 The setting is vast
 Written in formal diction with a serious tone
 Characters have lone, formal speeches
 Hero’s journey
 Poem reflects timeless values (courage, etc.)
 Treats universal themes (good vs. evil, etc.)
Examples: “Biag ni Lam-ang”, “The Prowess of Aliguyon”

ELEMENTS OF FICTION
1. Plot
2. Theme
3. Characterization
4. Narration
5. Setting

PLOT
Simply put, plot is what happens in the story. Some call it storyline.
The overall storyline and sequence of events.
 When doing an Elements of fiction hand, describe the plot in ten word or less
without revealing the plot’s climax or resolution.
ELEMENTS OF PLOT/ PLOTLINE
 Exposition –introduces the characters, setting and basic situation
 Rising Action –presents the central conflict, complications, suspense and
crisis
 Climax –the point of greatest tension
 Falling Action –subsiding intensity
 Denouement/ Aftermath –the resolution which ties up loose ends and
concludes the action

THEME
It’s the moral or main idea of the story. Themes do not provide any plot developments and
apply to many types or stories in almost any genre.
 When doing an elements of fiction, state the theme in five words or less. Often it can
be stated in one word.

CHARACTERIZATION
The main character in a story is called the protagonist. She or he is always involved in the
main conflict and its resolution.
The person against/ contradicting the protagonist is called antagonist/ villain.
 When doing an Elements of Fiction hand, use the methods of characterization (flat,
round, dynamic, or static) to describe the protagonists in the sotry.

NARRATION

First Person Point of View

The narrator tells the story. (Pronouns I, me, us, we, our, etc.)
Example:
In the middle of class, I began to feel paint. It wasn’t that I hadn’t had breakfast or that
the room was stuffy; in fact, at first I felt quite comfortable. Suddenly, my ears began to spin.
The air felt heavy and my eyes began to close. I stopped hearing the teacher’s voice.

Third Person Omniscient

The narrator is not a character in the story but can tell you the thoughts and actions of all
characters at all times. (Pronouns: he, she, him, her, they, them, etc.)
Example:
Lisa came to her class her usual self –bright and cheerful. She sat down, opened her
notebook, and was following the class discussion. In the middle of class, however, she began
to feel faint. It wasn’t that she hadn’t had breakfast or that the room was stuffy, for she had
come in school feeling quite well that morning. But suddenly her eyes began to close. She
stopped hearing the teacher’s voice. At her slight gasps, her classmates and her teacher
glanced around the room, saw her slumped over the desk, and rushed to her aid. One of her
friends left the room to get the school nurse; there was nothing for the others to do but wait
expectantly.

Third Person Limited

The narrator is not a character in the story but can tell you the thoughts and actions of a
few key characters at all times. (Pronouns: he, she, him, they, them, etc.)
Example:
Lisa came into class her usual self –bright and cheerful. She sat down, opened her
notebook, and was following the class discussion. Then we heard gasps and, glancing around
the room, saw she was slumped over her desk. One of her friends rushed from the room to
get the nurse; the rest of us waited expectantly.

SETTING
The setting provides us with the when and where the story took place. In addition, the
context or historical background in which the story is set provides us with additional plot
information.
 When doing an Elements of Fiction Hand, use the three W’s of setting WHEN =the time
frame, WHERE =place or location, and WHY =the context in which the story is set

DRAMA/PLAY
 Unlike short stories or novels, plays are written for the express purpose of
performance.
 Actors play roles and present the storyline through dialogue, action, and gestures.
 For the most part, plays have no narrators. (There are a few notable exceptions to this
rule.)
 The audience must glean critical information from the action on stage.

Dealing with Details

 Unlike novels or short stories, plays have special features:
o Plays are divided into acts and scenes
o Scripts feature lists of characters and stage directions which require the
reader to pause and visualize the set up
o Readers and actors must pay close attention to the dialogue in order to
understand the characters and action.

Important Terms:
 Monologue –an extended speech by one character
 Soliloquy –an extended speech by one character, alone on stage. Soliloquies are used
to express the private thoughts of one character.
 Aside –a character’s direct address to the audience, which is not heard by the other
characters.
*Monologues, soliloquies, and asides are dramatic techniques that provide direct insight into
motives, attitudes, and overall tone. These techniques function like fictional narrator.

Two Basic Flavors:

 Comedy –comedies are dramatic works which use humor to explore various themes
and characters. Comedies usually end on a happy note.
 Tragedy –Tragedies treat serious subjects and often focus on the tragic hero’s
character. Tragedies usually end with death.

More Terms:
 Dramatic Irony –playwrights use dramatic irony when they allow the audience to
know more than the characters do about a specific situation or incident.
 Melodrama –this nineteenth century view of drama appeals to the emotions. Based
on stock characters who are either villainous or virtuous, these sensational plays have
happy endings. Like many contemporary television shows, melodramas feature static
 characters who deal with the world but fail to experience real growth, development,
or insight.
 Realism –realistic drama deals frankly with social issues and contemporary life.
Instead of focusing on the lives of king or great heroes, these dramas present a look
at ordinary people and everyday problems.
o Effects of Realism:
-realism requires a shift away from painted backdrops and scenery
-the result is the “box set” which utilizes three, more or less, solid walls. The
fourth “wall” remains open to the audience
-Sets are decorated with real furniture
-new methods make changing scenery faster
 Naturalism –like realism, naturalism developed in response to the sentimental and
sensational melodramas that were popular in the nineteenth century. Using realistic
plots, naturalism explores the forces that influence the human condition.
 Satire –the term satire refers to social criticism that is cloaked in comedy and used to
ridicule social institutions and figureheads.
 Farce –the term farce refers to comedy that lapses into ludicrous, improbable plots,
mockery, and even slapstick.