Day 8

Thurs. Apr. 15

• Share new aphorisms

• Share details from “Uncle Pat”

• Reading Siying

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Homework

➤ Write three new aphorisms

Pick another one of the “Proverbs of Hell” that you find interesting and do again what we did last time: Write three new aphorisms that convey the same kernel of wisdom or way of seeing the world. Don’t reuse words from the original aphorism; as much as possible, use different language to convey the meaning.

Upload your new aphorisms to Box, in the folder called “10-Three new aphorisms (2).”

➤ Pick an aphorism and imagine a character

Pick an aphorism you find interesting — either from the Proverbs of Hell, or one that a classmate wrote — and imagine a character who might believe this, a character whose worldview this aphorism expresses. Imagine this character concretely: What might they look like? How would they dress? What kind of vehicle would they drive? What would their profession be? How would they talk? What would their house or bedroom look like? What kind of bag / purse / satchel / backpack would they carry (if any) and what objects would be in it?

➤ Read “The Man Who Eats” and/or “Mazie” (excerpts)

These are both pretty long, so if your time is limited I’d recommend you focus on the one that matches the genre you’re planning on writing in (“The Man Who Eats” for memoir; “Mazie” for journalism). However, please make sure at least read the first couple pages of each.

As you read, keep your eyes out for these things and try to find at least one of them. Mark them so you’re able to share them in class.

Things to look for:

• Physical description of a character’s appearance

• A list of concrete objects

• An anecdote about a character (something they once did)

• A description of a character’s habits (something they always or often do or did)

• An aphorism that reflects the character’s values or worldview

• Something another character says about that character

• A description of the character acting in a scene (physical action)

• Quotation or dialogue that captures a character’s voice

➤ Write about a character using a form we’ve practiced

Pick a form we’ve practiced — whatever you understand “form” to mean at this point — and use it to write something about a real person who you think is an interesting character. (Ideally it would be the person you’re considering writing about for your Essay 3.)

Upload what you’ve written to Box, in the folder “11-Sketches about a character".”