Monday, February 25, 2008

Writing Assignment 3

Prompt 1:

I thought that the play writing was really exciting. It was intersting to try and convert creative writing energy and thinking into a play. The format was fun to learn, but I thought it was really hard to write, because it was difficult to image what the audience would be able to get out of my dialogue and actions. With a narrative, you know that the reader is going to see everything that you write and so you intentionally write down what you need the reader to understand. I have written a few screenplays before (when I was younger I was certain I was going to be a screenwriter) so I am used to this dialogue-heavy sort of a story. However the difference is that there is a lot more possibility with movies (I like film more than stage, sorry) I like sort of going big with action and storyline, which is hard when you are confined to a stage. I will still write scripts, when I find time, but I do appreciate playwrights more, now that I have gone through the difficulties and possiblities of the stage.

Prompt 2:

I think that giving advice to a five year old would be hard, so I'll stick with a ten year old. I think that I would tell them to be indifferent to various viewpoints. I am very observant and I have been since I was young, so now when people around me are having discussions I have the ability to listen to their information, not respond, yet repeat and comment on the information when necessary. I also think that it is necessary to read, especially current events, and be knowledgable beyond just what's happening in school tomorrow or at home. 10 years are sort of on the brink of complete childhood and youth. You can comprehend more at 10, and it is probably the best time to learn. I give this advice from my personal experience (I think that people who give advice because they just felt like it is a smart thing to say is weak) Why would you give information if you don't know how it should affect you. I think this advice should be used in their lives all around, and should not be confined to school or to home or to practice.

Prompt 3:

I think that great literary works are ones that pertain to universal themes that do not have bounds based on circumstance. Despite the obvious time period in Pride and Prejudice, it can be used in theory in today's world. Great literary works also have to be written well, it's hard to image a crappy novel surviving more than a few years. Jane Austen's novels are vey beautifully written. These books have less to do with personal like towards it but more with relatablity. I remember storylines of books more often if they relate to me, than whether or not I liked it. I wish I could write something that would become a great work of literature, but I don't think that I would ever. I would like to publish a work that maybe has some relative sucess, but I don't think even Jane Austen or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Homer knew that they would write something that would be read for hundreds or thousands of years. It is more of a manifestation of the book itself, less of an author's expectations.

3 comments:

Stef said...

I love what you say about advice!! I definitely agree that people should speak from experience instead of just say something smart.

I also agree with the advice itself, what you say about discussions. It's so true!

Maitland said...

I absolutely agree with your third answer. I tend to make my life into books I have read.... a lot. I guess you could say I'm a lot like Catherine Morland from Northanger Abbey. It makes life more interesting. THat's really cool that you still write scripts! It's great practice, and I bet a lot of fun.

Ashley said...

I agree with what you said about the advice. I think that it would be hard to give a 5 year old advice. Its very good advice.