Tuesday, September 29, 2015
watching Bleak House
Elisabeth and I started watching the BBC version of Bleak House yesterday. I think that if you're struggling at all with this book, you should go ahead and watch the mini-series. The Davis County Library has multiple copies, so don't pay to watch...unless you want to, in which case you can purchase it on Amazon to stream. Being able to put a face with each character is super helpful with this book.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Week ending October 2
For this week:
Catch up with Bleak House. Many are behind, so if you're caught up, you get a break. If you're not caught up, read through chapter 36 for this Friday's discussion. This will necessitate an extra discussion time outside of our regularly scheduled classes because we'll now be behind and not finish by October 16. I would like to hold a writing marathon and final discussion on the book in the first half of November, so start looking at your calendars to see what will work for you. This will be a great chance for you to have fun getting that rough draft of your writing project going, so if we can get everyone there, that will be awesome!
From our people watching exercise, choose one person you saw and create a back story to explain the things you observed about them. For example, if they looked a little cocky as they walked, is that because they're stuck up or because they're trying to give themselves confidence when they're feeling insecure or is it just they way they look when they're in a hurry? If you missed the people watching exercise, just use someone you notice when you're out and about--maybe at the store or the library or whatever. Post this on the blog for feedback.
Read this article and use the character traits listed to begin creating the characters for your writing project. You may not need to decide on everything on the list for every character, so just use it as a starting point. http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/jun98/how-to-create-a-character-profile-6986 Remember that secondary characters need to be interesting as well as main characters, so be thinking about how to flesh them out. If your characters are well developed, your story will flow much easier. Try to make the characters live off the page--not everything about them will get included in your story, but they will feel more real if the reader can tell that there's more to the character than what is on the page. I will have you show me your three character sheets, make sure you do them!
Catch up with Bleak House. Many are behind, so if you're caught up, you get a break. If you're not caught up, read through chapter 36 for this Friday's discussion. This will necessitate an extra discussion time outside of our regularly scheduled classes because we'll now be behind and not finish by October 16. I would like to hold a writing marathon and final discussion on the book in the first half of November, so start looking at your calendars to see what will work for you. This will be a great chance for you to have fun getting that rough draft of your writing project going, so if we can get everyone there, that will be awesome!
From our people watching exercise, choose one person you saw and create a back story to explain the things you observed about them. For example, if they looked a little cocky as they walked, is that because they're stuck up or because they're trying to give themselves confidence when they're feeling insecure or is it just they way they look when they're in a hurry? If you missed the people watching exercise, just use someone you notice when you're out and about--maybe at the store or the library or whatever. Post this on the blog for feedback.
Read this article and use the character traits listed to begin creating the characters for your writing project. You may not need to decide on everything on the list for every character, so just use it as a starting point. http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/jun98/how-to-create-a-character-profile-6986 Remember that secondary characters need to be interesting as well as main characters, so be thinking about how to flesh them out. If your characters are well developed, your story will flow much easier. Try to make the characters live off the page--not everything about them will get included in your story, but they will feel more real if the reader can tell that there's more to the character than what is on the page. I will have you show me your three character sheets, make sure you do them!
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Monday, September 21, 2015
This week:
- Read through chapter 37 of Bleak House.
- Read the POV posts on the blog. Choose three and leave a positive and a "could be better" comment on all three. Remember to be tactful. :)
- Brainstorm ideas for the plot of your novella. Remember that you'll want a beginning, middle, and end. Do this on paper. Make it messy. Put down everything you think you might want to use, even if you don't use it later.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Fire!
From my point of view at 9 years old:
My parents are leaving me to babysit AGAIN. I swear they're never here at all. What's the point of having parents anyway if they're never around? And Mom expects me to fit all this bread in the oven when it's done rising. It's never going to fit...
There, I knew these loaves of bread wouldn't all fit. Half the time she can't get them to fit with the oven door closed. Well, that's the best I can do. The oven door is just not going to quite close, and they'll just have to bake that way. I'm done messing around with this, and I need to use the bathroom anyway. Where's my book?
Okay, now that I've had a little break, what are the kids up to. THERE'S A FIRE IN THE OVEN! What should I do? I know we're supposed to leave the house, but it's not a very big fire, and I think I can put it out. It would be so embarrassing to call the fire department over this, and I can get it out before they even get here. "Quick, Bekah and Benji, go wait outside. Reece, grab that bucket and help me put this fire out. If we can't get it out in just a minute, we'll go out and call the fire department."
Good news--I saved the house. It turns out that one of those stinking kids (none of them will confess who) decided to try to rearrange the bread so that it would all fit in the oven properly. They were successful, but left the hot pad in there. I save the bread, but the hot pad is a dead loss.
My parents are so unfair. First, they leave me to babysit all.the.time. Then, just because I had to use the bathroom, so I didn't stop the hot pad incident, now I am in trouble. Since no one admits to leaving the hot pad in the oven, we're all being punished, but me most of all because I was "in charge and should have known better." What the heck? I can't use the bathroom while I'm babysitting? They seem more upset about Mom's best hot pad being destroyed than about the fact that the house almost burned down. And I saved it! With just a little help from Reece.
From my younger sister's point of view:
Hmmm...Lauralyn left this bread all weird in the oven. I bet I can make it better. Turn this one. Put this one over here. I'm being so careful; I won't get burned. Mommy always says that I'll burn myself if I get too close to the oven, but I won't. Look, I did it! I can put the bread in the oven better than Lauralyn...
Lauralyn is screaming and making me take Ben outside. I think she's mad about the bread cause I did it better than her...
Mom and Dad are really mad because somebody left the hot pad in the oven, and it started on fire. No one knows who did it, except me. I left it in there when I fixed the bread, but I'm not telling. I'm not getting in trouble for this.
(Rebekah finally confessed twenty years after the event, so now we all know who is responsible for the great hot pad fire of 1983.)
My parents are leaving me to babysit AGAIN. I swear they're never here at all. What's the point of having parents anyway if they're never around? And Mom expects me to fit all this bread in the oven when it's done rising. It's never going to fit...
There, I knew these loaves of bread wouldn't all fit. Half the time she can't get them to fit with the oven door closed. Well, that's the best I can do. The oven door is just not going to quite close, and they'll just have to bake that way. I'm done messing around with this, and I need to use the bathroom anyway. Where's my book?
Okay, now that I've had a little break, what are the kids up to. THERE'S A FIRE IN THE OVEN! What should I do? I know we're supposed to leave the house, but it's not a very big fire, and I think I can put it out. It would be so embarrassing to call the fire department over this, and I can get it out before they even get here. "Quick, Bekah and Benji, go wait outside. Reece, grab that bucket and help me put this fire out. If we can't get it out in just a minute, we'll go out and call the fire department."
Good news--I saved the house. It turns out that one of those stinking kids (none of them will confess who) decided to try to rearrange the bread so that it would all fit in the oven properly. They were successful, but left the hot pad in there. I save the bread, but the hot pad is a dead loss.
My parents are so unfair. First, they leave me to babysit all.the.time. Then, just because I had to use the bathroom, so I didn't stop the hot pad incident, now I am in trouble. Since no one admits to leaving the hot pad in the oven, we're all being punished, but me most of all because I was "in charge and should have known better." What the heck? I can't use the bathroom while I'm babysitting? They seem more upset about Mom's best hot pad being destroyed than about the fact that the house almost burned down. And I saved it! With just a little help from Reece.
From my younger sister's point of view:
Hmmm...Lauralyn left this bread all weird in the oven. I bet I can make it better. Turn this one. Put this one over here. I'm being so careful; I won't get burned. Mommy always says that I'll burn myself if I get too close to the oven, but I won't. Look, I did it! I can put the bread in the oven better than Lauralyn...
Lauralyn is screaming and making me take Ben outside. I think she's mad about the bread cause I did it better than her...
Mom and Dad are really mad because somebody left the hot pad in the oven, and it started on fire. No one knows who did it, except me. I left it in there when I fixed the bread, but I'm not telling. I'm not getting in trouble for this.
(Rebekah finally confessed twenty years after the event, so now we all know who is responsible for the great hot pad fire of 1983.)
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Football (The following events are not real I hope that's ok...) (The following story has a lot of football terms)
Running Back's point of view.
I am the Running Back. lined up behind my Quarter Back. I look at the play clock, 1;00 to go. We are down 24 to 28 and on the 50 yard line. Focus on the play. I will run to the left side of the Quarter Back he will pitch it to me and I will just run just out side the pocket and book it as far as I can towards the end-zone.
Wait the ball has been snapped! I run to the left side of the Quarter Back. He pitches I catch it! Thats a start. Ok run to the outside of the pocket. Wait! Theirs a defender there! I cut to the left quickly, That seemed to throw him off. Good. I sprint towards green field. A Corner sprints at me from the right. I fake I cut to the right than sprint left. He jumps at me and try's to trip me up but I stay on my feet. I am right against the sideline now, nothing but open field ahead of me. I dash towered the end-zone. Right from the corner of my right eye I see the safety headed right towered me. I cant cut to the right he'd crush me. He's going to try to push me out of bounds. There's only one option. I lower my shoulder and hit him as hard as I can with it. The impact forces me backwards a little so I spare a glance at my feet. I'm still in bounds! The Safety is on the ground. I sprint with all I have left toward the end-zone. I don't see anybody a head of me. I make it! Yes!
Safety's point of view.
Is everybody In position? Look's like it. We just have to stop these guy's for one minute. He snapped the ball! The play is on. He pitches it to the running back. Look's like he's headed for the left side of the pocket. Yes! We have a guy there! No! He just cut to the out side. Micky our corner is chasing him down. The runner try's to juke him and halfway succeed's. Micky jumps at his legs will he trip him? The runner shakes him of. It's up to me now! I dash towered him! I just have to push him out. BAM! Ouch. What just happened... I look towered the end-zone. No! Touchdown. Crud!
I am the Running Back. lined up behind my Quarter Back. I look at the play clock, 1;00 to go. We are down 24 to 28 and on the 50 yard line. Focus on the play. I will run to the left side of the Quarter Back he will pitch it to me and I will just run just out side the pocket and book it as far as I can towards the end-zone.
Wait the ball has been snapped! I run to the left side of the Quarter Back. He pitches I catch it! Thats a start. Ok run to the outside of the pocket. Wait! Theirs a defender there! I cut to the left quickly, That seemed to throw him off. Good. I sprint towards green field. A Corner sprints at me from the right. I fake I cut to the right than sprint left. He jumps at me and try's to trip me up but I stay on my feet. I am right against the sideline now, nothing but open field ahead of me. I dash towered the end-zone. Right from the corner of my right eye I see the safety headed right towered me. I cant cut to the right he'd crush me. He's going to try to push me out of bounds. There's only one option. I lower my shoulder and hit him as hard as I can with it. The impact forces me backwards a little so I spare a glance at my feet. I'm still in bounds! The Safety is on the ground. I sprint with all I have left toward the end-zone. I don't see anybody a head of me. I make it! Yes!
Safety's point of view.
Is everybody In position? Look's like it. We just have to stop these guy's for one minute. He snapped the ball! The play is on. He pitches it to the running back. Look's like he's headed for the left side of the pocket. Yes! We have a guy there! No! He just cut to the out side. Micky our corner is chasing him down. The runner try's to juke him and halfway succeed's. Micky jumps at his legs will he trip him? The runner shakes him of. It's up to me now! I dash towered him! I just have to push him out. BAM! Ouch. What just happened... I look towered the end-zone. No! Touchdown. Crud!
Baptism Day :)
My point of view:
It is time. I am so excited to finally be baptized and become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. I have been waiting for this day for a long time and preparing for it for almost a year. As the 1st counselor in the bishopric starts the meeting I start to feel a little nervous. I'm sitting next to my uncle Timothy, we are both dressed in white jumpsuits. My uncle is the one I asked to baptize me. I want my baptism to be special and memorable so we arranged for me to be baptized on the very day of my 8th birthday. It is Sunday, June 17, 2007. Along with it being Sunday and my birthday and my baptism it is also fathers day. All the cousins in my family before me were baptized by my uncle Tim, and so I am continuing the tradition. My dad will be confirming me after the baptism.
Now it is time for the baptism I smile excitedly at my uncle who is standing in the font holding his arm towards me. I take his hand and I walk into the warm water and my uncle proceeds the baptism, just the way we practiced. I come out of the water and I am all smiles. I step out of the water into the freezing cold air as my mom helps me change into a beautiful white dress-my birthday present. She also got me necklace and matching hair-piece. I feel so beautiful and clean. I walk outside where my dad is waiting. He smiles and offers me a chair. I sit down as priesthood holders surround me and place their hands on my head. The spirit is so strong and I never want to stop feeling this way.
Moms point of view:
It is time. I am so excited for her, she is turning 8 and she has made the decision to be baptized. My oldest daughter seems to have grown-up over night, it seems like yesterday when she was a little baby girl learning how to walk. She has grown a great deal this past year as we have prepared her for baptism. We tried to make this a very memorable day for her. We asked the bishop for special permission to baptize her on her birthday which happened to be a Sunday as well as fathers day. Is it a special day for everyone.
I walk with her over to the font, she is very excited. I help her into the water with my brother Timothy. When she comes out of the water she is smiling brightly. I help her out of the water and into the white dress I bought her. I quickly smooth her hair down and get her ready. I'm trying to work fast because I always hate waiting when I am at baptisms. She comes out of the room, shining brilliantly. She is now a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, I cannot wait to she what she will do.
It is time. I am so excited to finally be baptized and become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. I have been waiting for this day for a long time and preparing for it for almost a year. As the 1st counselor in the bishopric starts the meeting I start to feel a little nervous. I'm sitting next to my uncle Timothy, we are both dressed in white jumpsuits. My uncle is the one I asked to baptize me. I want my baptism to be special and memorable so we arranged for me to be baptized on the very day of my 8th birthday. It is Sunday, June 17, 2007. Along with it being Sunday and my birthday and my baptism it is also fathers day. All the cousins in my family before me were baptized by my uncle Tim, and so I am continuing the tradition. My dad will be confirming me after the baptism.
Now it is time for the baptism I smile excitedly at my uncle who is standing in the font holding his arm towards me. I take his hand and I walk into the warm water and my uncle proceeds the baptism, just the way we practiced. I come out of the water and I am all smiles. I step out of the water into the freezing cold air as my mom helps me change into a beautiful white dress-my birthday present. She also got me necklace and matching hair-piece. I feel so beautiful and clean. I walk outside where my dad is waiting. He smiles and offers me a chair. I sit down as priesthood holders surround me and place their hands on my head. The spirit is so strong and I never want to stop feeling this way.
Moms point of view:
It is time. I am so excited for her, she is turning 8 and she has made the decision to be baptized. My oldest daughter seems to have grown-up over night, it seems like yesterday when she was a little baby girl learning how to walk. She has grown a great deal this past year as we have prepared her for baptism. We tried to make this a very memorable day for her. We asked the bishop for special permission to baptize her on her birthday which happened to be a Sunday as well as fathers day. Is it a special day for everyone.
I walk with her over to the font, she is very excited. I help her into the water with my brother Timothy. When she comes out of the water she is smiling brightly. I help her out of the water and into the white dress I bought her. I quickly smooth her hair down and get her ready. I'm trying to work fast because I always hate waiting when I am at baptisms. She comes out of the room, shining brilliantly. She is now a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, I cannot wait to she what she will do.
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