First day of CW at NDGS

1. Creative Writing: Fine
Arts
ND Governor’s School
2016
Instructor: Jessica Jorgenson

2. What we are going to do
tonight
 Introductions
 Class information
 Myths about creative writing
 …and revising these myths
 A writing prompt about place
 …and sharing the prompt with the class
 Homework for Thursday night

3. Introductions
 Briefly, I want you to introduce yourself by sharing the
following:
 Name
 Hometown + something unique or memorable about your
hometown, family, or yourself
 Share something you would like to learn or gain from this
course. You can share more than one thing.
 I’ll give you 15 minutes to write.
We will all share and discuss our responses

4. Keeping/sharing your writing
 You have some options:
 MS Word with a flash drive
 Google Docs
 A blog
 Or whatever way you can save your writing. Please note
you will have to print off writing for workshop days and
you will all sign up for at least one large group workshop
in class.
 Please remember that you cannot save documents on
these computers (memory is wiped each day)

5. What to expect
 How class will be structured
 Classroom rules
 Be here. If not, let me know or let a classmate know so
that I can know.
 Be respectful and be on task
 Course website: http://cwgovschool2014.weebly.com
 Site includes first three readings (more may be added,
but I’ll always hand out copies the class day before we
discuss a reading) plus classroom rules, course structure,
and requirements.

6. Myths about writing
Read the article “10 Myths about Creative Writing” that I
have handed out.
Answer the following prompts
1. Do you agree? Are there any you disagree with and
why?
2. What other myths have you heard?
3. Why do you think myths like these are harmful to
writers?

7. Revising the Myths
 First, writing, any kind of writing, is about revision.
 What are 10 things (or maybe 6-7, since that is how
many of us that are here) that we think we know or that
we believe about creative writing?
 I’ll give you 5-7 minutes to talk to each other and/ or
write on your own on this topic
 We’ll come up with a list as a class

8. What are our 10 facts about
creative writing?
1. Creative writers must read creative writing
2. Creative writers must write a little each day
3. Creative writers are not born, they are made
4. Creative Writers need practice
5. Creative writers need to know their craft
6. Creative writers need feedback from others
7. Creative writers need editors
8. Creative writers need to know their audience
9. Creative writers need to have fun
10. Creative writers need encouragement and critique

9. Writing prompt
 Take 20-25 minutes to describe a significant place,
allowing the details to reveal the place. Be as detailed
as possible about the place.
 I’m going to ask that you share your writing, so be
prepared for this.
 When you share, tell me the following
 One thing you like about what you wrote
 One thing you want to work on improving about this draft
 Others may comment, if they have something to share.

10. What to do for Thursday’s
class
1. Email me! I need all of your contact emails. In this
email, also tell me your name and share some more
things you might want to learn or do in this class. My
email: jessica.r.jorgenson@ndsu.edu
2. Read Lorrie Moore’s story “How to be a writer.” When
reading it, think about how does one become a writer
and how can we all be writers. I handed this out, but I
also have it linked on the course site.

11. Thank you!
 I was honored to be your instructor this evening. Thank
you for your cooperation.
 If we have ended early, you may leave early OR stick
around and use the time to write, but be aware that you
must leave by 8:30 to be back at the dorm in time.