Reading Homework

Amy Hemphel Aimee Bender Selections from Sudden Fiction p. 1-19 (All the stories available in the preview of google docs through The Twirler)

Three Elements

A stolen ring, fear of spiders, and a sinister stranger. A taxi, an old enemy, and Valentine's Day. Identical twins, a party invitation, and a locked closet. A broken wristwatch, peppermints, and a hug that goes too far. Aerobics, a secret diary, and something unpleasant under the bed. An ex-boyfriend, a pair of binoculars, and a good-luck charm. An annoying boss, a bikini, and a fake illness. The first day of school, a love note, and a recipe with a significant mistake. A horoscope, makeup, and a missing tooth. A campfire, a scream, and a small lie that gets bigger and bigger.

WRITING FICTION READINGS

Week One Monday: Introduction. In-class writing from paint swatch phrases. Tension discussion: story vs. incident. HOMEWORK: Readings: Girl by Jamaica Kinkaid Hills Like White Elephants Ernest Hemingway What we Talk About When we Talk About Love Raymond Carver How to Become a Writer Lorrie Moore Lust Susan Minot Polish your in-class story/scene/start and bring in a minimum of 250 words to discuss in class. For anyone who needs to catch up, here is a version of what we did in class: For the writing portion, we used words/phrases off paint swatches and began with the line: We stepped into -------, then ------------- and then Begin a story by filling in those blanks and continuing to write from there using as many of the phrases from the paint swatch "word bank" as possible. Word bank: Fine Wine, Tidal, Stormfront, Decanting, Graphite, Sailor's Bay, Ink-Dark Moonscape, Pink Damask, Fire Alarm, Plum jam, Madeline steps, January sea, Dune, Licorice Twist, Coldwater Rose, Midnight sidewalk, Orion's belt, Biscuit, Baby blanket, Sunwashed Coast, Buttery.