Writing Assignments

In every workshop I teach I give out useful assignments to students that force them to examine and explore areas of storytelling and journaling. Storytelling assignments focus on plot, characterization, point-of-view, theme, voice, tone, and style.  Journaling assignments tend to focus on letting go, brainstorming, experimenting, and looking within.

Take a look at the following assignments from class, along with the examples.  Then try them out and feel free to email me what you create.

Assignment #1
Storytelling
Exploring Point-of-View

I asked students in my recent Master Class to write a scene or story from three different point-of-views.  I differentiated between perspectives and point-of-view by instructing them to focus not so much on the perspective of three different characters (think of a Jodi Picoult novel) but more of the position of the narrator.  First person point-of-view is the "I", second person point-of-view is the "You", and third person point-of-view limited is "He" or "She" while third person point-of-view omniscient is the all knowing "He" or "She", think of a God-like narrator.  

1st Person

    I sat at the dining room table as Jack returned home from golfing.  He said hello and took a seat in his big brown leather chair, turned on the TV, and immediately became mesmerized.  
    Still sitting at the table, I said, “Hi.  Are we still going to dinner with your sister?”  
    “Yes,” he responded without looking at me.  
    “Are you going to take a shower?” I asked.
    “Yes, in a minute,” he replied.
    I got up from the table and walked down the short hall to our only bathroom to take a shower.  Fifteen minutes later, I walked out of the bathroom and saw my husband still in the same position in his chair.  
    “I’m done,” I announced, “You can get ready now,” I hinted as I head for the bedroom to finish getting ready.  Staring at the clothes in my closet, I struggled with what to wear.  Carla always looked so put together.  We were having dinner with Carla and her husband to celebrate her birthday.  After choosing khaki cropped pants, a red t-shirt, and brown sandals I walked out of the bedroom ready to go and noticed Jack was still in the same position in his chair.  I walked into the living room and sat on the matching leather couch across from him.  
    “Are you going to get dressed?” I asked.
    “I don’t feel much like going out,” he replied.
“    ”Oh, but aren’t we meeting Carla and Russell at seven for her birthday dinner?” I asked.
    “Um, I don’t think we should go to dinner,” he asserted.
    “Oh, why not?”
    “I’m not happy.  I’m sick of fighting with you.  You’re just not very nice to me anymore,” he stated.  I stared at him in shock. “I need a separation” he continued.  “I think we should get divorced, try being friends again and get re-married later.”
    I stared at him and said, “So, I guess we’re not going to dinner then.  You should call your sister.”
    “I already did,” he said.
    “Already told her we’re not meeting for dinner or already told her that you want a divorce?” I asked.
    “Both.”
    “Oh, that’s nice.  Am I the last to know?”
    “You shouldn’t be,” he answered.
    “I don’t understand.  I’m starting with a therapist on Tuesday.  I know she will help me.  I’ve been depressed ever since my mother died.  I need to talk to someone.  Can’t you wait until I get some help?” I beg.
    “No.  I don’t think so.  My mind is made up.”
    “And I had no say in the conversation you had with yourself.  This doesn’t seem fair.” My voice cracked.  I felt betrayed.  Scared.  Abandoned.  I had no idea what else to say to him.  I got up and walked back into the bedroom to call my sister.  I told her what just happened and she told me to pack a bag and come to her house.  And that’s exactly what I did. I had no idea how long to pack for, my head was spinning too fast, I had no idea what I was doing.  I did the best I could and walked back into the living room where Jack was still sitting in his chair.  
    “I’m going to Lori’s” I said.  “I’ll be back when I run out of clothes.”

3rd Person Limited

    Linda sat at the dining room table as Jack returned home from golfing.  He said hello and took a seat in his big brown leather chair, turned on the TV and immediately became mesmerized.  
    Still sitting at the table, Linda said, “Hi.  Are we still going to dinner with your sister?”  
    “Yes,” he responded without looking at his wife.  
    “Are you going to take a shower?” she asked.
    “Yes, in a minute,” he replied.
    Linda got up from the table and walked down the short hall to their only bathroom to take a shower.  Fifteen minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom and saw her husband still in the same position in his chair.  
    “I’m done,” she announced. “You can get ready now,” she hinted as she headed for the bedroom to finish getting ready.  Staring at the clothes in her closet, she struggled with what to wear.  Carla always looked so put together.  They were having dinner with Carla and her husband to celebrate her birthday.  After choosing khaki cropped pants, a red t-shirt, and brown sandals Linda walked out of the bedroom ready to go and noticed Jack was still in the same position in his chair.  She walked into the living room and sat on the matching leather couch across from him.
     “Are you going to get dressed?” she asked.
    “I don’t feel much like going out,” he replied.
    “”Oh, but aren’t we meeting Carla and Russell at seven for her birthday dinner?” she asked.
    “Um, I don’t think we should go to dinner.”
    “Oh, why not?”
    “I’m not happy.  I’m sick of fighting with you.  You’re just not very nice to me anymore,” he stated.  Linda stared at him in shock. “I need a separation,” he continued.  “I think we should get divorced, try being friends again and get re-married later.”
    She stared at him and said, “So, I guess we’re not going to dinner then.  You should call your sister.”
    “I already did,” he said.
    “Already told her we’re not meeting for dinner or already told her that you want a divorce?” Linda asked.
    “Both.”
    “Oh, that’s nice.  Am I the last to know?”
    “You shouldn’t be,” he answered.
    “I don’t understand.  I’m starting with a therapist on Tuesday.  I know she will help me.  I’ve been depressed ever since my mother died.  I need to talk to someone.  Can’t you wait until I get some help?” she begs.
    “No.  I don’t think so.  My mind is made up.”
    “And I had no say in the conversation you had with yourself.  This doesn’t seem fair.” Her voice cracked.  She felt betrayed.  Scared.  Abandoned.  She had no idea what else to say to him.  She got up and walked back into the bedroom to call her sister.  She told her what just happened and her sister told her to pack a bag and come to her house.  And that’s exactly what Linda did. She had no idea how long to pack for - her head was spinning so fast she had no idea what she was doing or what she was going to do.  She did the best she could and walked back into the living room where Jack was still sitting in his chair.
     “I’m going to Lori’s” she said.  “I’ll be back when I run out of clothes.”

3rd Person Omniscient

    Linda sat at the dining room table as Jack returned home from golfing.  I’m exhausted he thought and just want to seat back and watch some TV.  He said hello and took a seat in his big brown leather chair, turned on the TV and immediately became mesmerized.  
    Still sitting at the table, Linda said, “Hi.  Are we still going to dinner with your sister?”  
    “Yes,” he responded without looking at his wife.  He just wanted to relax for a few minutes.
    “Are you going to take a shower?” she asked.
    “Yes, in a minute,” he replied.  Don’t nag me, he thought.
    Linda got up from the table and walked down the short hall to their only bathroom to take a shower.  Fifteen minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom and saw her husband still in the same position in his chair.  He felt her eyes glaring at him but was in no mood to fight.
    “I’m done,” she announced. “You can get ready now,” she hinted as she headed for the bedroom to finish getting ready.  Staring at the clothes in her closet, she struggled with what to wear.  Carla always looked so put together.  They were having dinner with Carla and her husband to celebrate her birthday.  After choosing khaki cropped pants, a red t-shirt, and brown sandals Linda walked out of the bedroom ready to go and noticed Jack was still in the same position in his chair.  She walked into the living room and sat on the matching leather couch across from him.  He braced himself for what she would say next.      “Are you going to get dressed?” she asked.
    “I don’t feel much like going out,” he replied nervously.
    “”Oh, but aren’t we meeting Carla and Russell at seven for her birthday dinner?” She asked.
    “Um, I don’t think we should go to dinner.” He dreaded telling her the truth.
    “Oh, why not?” Linda asked naively.
    He took a deep breath.  “I’m not happy.  I’m sick of fighting with you.  You’re just not very nice to me anymore.”  Linda stared at him in shock. “I need a separation,” he continued.  “I think we should get divorced, try being friends again and get re-married later.”  All my friends have done this and said it was great he thought.
    She was not used to hearing Jack be critical of her.  She stared at him and said, “So, I guess we’re not going to dinner then.  You should call your sister.”
    “I already did,” he said.
    “Already told her we’re not meeting for dinner or already told her that you want a divorce?” Linda asked.
    “Both.”
    “Oh, that’s nice.  Am I the last to know?”
    “You shouldn’t be” he answered.  He thinks - we’ve been fighting none stop for months.  He just didn’t want to have yet another scene in front of his family.
    “I don’t understand.  I’m starting with a therapist on Tuesday.  I know she will help me.  I’ve been depressed ever since my mother died.  I need to talk to someone.  Can’t you wait until I get some help?” She begs.
    “No.  I don’t think so.  My mind is made up.” He had contemplated this for a year.  He had discussed his frustration with his parents and his sister.  He made his decision.
    “And I had no say in the conversation you had with yourself.  This doesn’t seem fair.” Her voice cracked.  She felt betrayed.  Scared.  Abandoned.  She had no idea what else to say to him.  She got up and walked back into the bedroom to call her sister.  She told her what just happened and her sister told her to pack a bag and come to her house.  And that’s exactly what Linda did. She had no idea how long to pack for - her head was spinning so fast she had no idea what she was doing or what she was going to do.  She did the best she could and walked back into the living room where Jack was still sitting in his chair.
     “I’m going to Lori’s” she said.  “I’ll be back when I run out of clothes.”
    Now he could say she walked out on him.