Three Sides to Every Story: Creative Writing Assignment

As I mentioned in today's class, this will be your next "creative" writing assignment.  I think you'll enjoy this one, and I think I'll also enjoy it a bit more than reading about Walmart.  If you are feeling brave, why not write this one about a Chinese factory worker, a CEO, and an "associate" at Walmart?  The unifying object that they all interact with?  How about a massive plastic tub of Cheesie Puffs?

I'd like to spend time in class using at least one assignment in a "writer's workshop" environment.  Basically, we read and discuss eachother's work in class, saying what we like and what could be improved on an individual basis.  We will talk about that later after your stuff gets written. The class is kind of big for that to happen, but it's a possibility I'd like to explore.   Trust me when I say this: a deadline and a group of like minded writers willing to read your work is a rare and valuable thing - so we should take full advantage of it.  Being forced to write something by a certain date and knowing people will actually read it is something a writer truly appreciates.  Some writers don't write unless they have this situation. 


So, this is an assignment I've had on the backburner for about three semesters.  I've suggested it twice before (once in Creative Writing and once in Junior Writing) but in both cases it was rejected due to time restraints or lack of will.  I call it "Three Sides to Every Story."  Examine below this Venn diagram, and the intent of this assignment should be clear:

 

Have you seen the movie Crash? Have you seen the movie Babel? These films revolve around a central unifying theme, incident, or object (or all three).  Babel has several stories linked by a black market rifle.  Several characters in several parts of the globe have their lives changes by this single object.  In Crash, the theme of racism is unified by a car accident.  It effects different people in different ways.  It might help us to watch one of these in class and discuss it.  

So, what I'd like to generate in next week's classes is discussion followed by a brainstorm on your blog (a potential plan).  There is a lot that this assignment can generate, and it could become your nest written piece ever (kind of like some of the Metafiction assignments turned out amazing). 

I encourage you to write something unique and maybe even issue-oriented. Here is one potential source of inspiration that I found quite moving.  

http://busanhaps.com/article/photo-essay-korean-adoption

It's a photo essay on Korean adoption, and the various people who are affected by it.  What jumps out at you from this?  Tons of potential for story, and a good chance to develop "character empathy."  Could you write in the first person from the perspective of an adopted child? Could you write in the third person of an adopting parent?  Could you write in the second person from the point of view of a teenage mother preparing to give up her baby?  If a picture speaks a thousand words, these pictures speak a million. So, if you have anything you'd like to post on your blog (a video, article, photo etc.) that could inspire some ideas, please share.  Anything that generates discussion and ideas is welcome/encouraged.   

Remember: interesting problems in interesting places create interesting characters and interesting stories.  That's what we are in search of.   Kurt Vonnegut will tell you the same.  IF you don't know who he is, you should.