Creative Writing at Uni

As you know, Uni has a connection to gargoyles. As such, this is the perfect topic for creative writing. First, do some research on the history of the gargoyle (it's pretty interesting). Check out multiple sources and images, and share what you've learned with the class. Next, consider the possibilities of stories and poetry about gargoyles. As recent literature on vampires, werewolves, and other mythical creatures has shown, there are a lot of ways this creature can be written about, including multiple genres: Fantasy, of course, but also... Sci-fi (scientists splice DNA of different animals together and end up with a gargoyle?)  Mystery (a gargoyle detective?) Romance (gargoyle falls in love with vampire-were-unicorn?) Kids’ lit for different ages (fairy tale, early readers, tweens, YA) Poetry (think Poe and "The Raven") Superhero (what would The Gargoyle's super power be?) Graphic novel or screenplay Hybrid (gargoyles in space? steampunk gargoyles in Victorian ...

Consider this photo. If you had to caption it in one word, what would that word be? "Kitchen," perhaps. How about if you had to choose an abstract idea? What story could be revealed by the confluence of this image of a physical space and an abstract idea or emotion? For the first half hour or so of our class, take a walk around the building and consider spaces that seem to suggest stories. Take some photos or sketches. Note: do not include any people in your pictures, only spaces and objects. You can get as close or wide-angle as you see fit and do whatever fancy stuff you want, but simplest is often best. When you return, we're going to share these photos on this page and do some writing.

  Here’s a poem related to food: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56346/going-home-new-orleans Check out an entire collection of food poems here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/145091/poetry-and-food After perusing the food poetry, consider writing about… ONE: A food you associate with childhood or a specific memory. TWO: A food you associate with a particular emotion. THREE: A food most people like that you hate, or one you like that most people hate. FOUR: Your experience trying some food for the first time, or the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten. FIVE: A meal in a fantasy world that is unlike anything of our own world. SIX: A description to make people hungry for some particular food. As always, this can be poetry, prose, or drama; you can write nonfiction about yourself or fiction about a character you create. Put an excerpt in the comments and feel free to comment on the comments!

Check out "The Bestiary of Bad Kisses" by Ashley Jones. http://www.southernhumanitiesreview.com/bestiary-of-bad-kisses-by-ashley-jones.html   Now take 2-3 animal cards and consider these prompts: ONE: Create a fictional character (human) who has the characteristics of one of these animals. Now this character meets a person who has the characteristics of a second animal. Create a scene of interaction. TWO: Write from the point of view of one of these animals. How might they be different from the way humans typically see them? THREE: Imagine a human is actively becoming that animal. Whether it takes place gradually or suddenly, and whether there’s a reason given for why this is happening, that’s up to you; mainly, write about that transformation. FOUR: Write in first person from the point of view of a human who believes they are this animal, regardless of whether this is actually happening or not (or remains ambiguous). FIVE: Create “The Bestiary of Uni,” describing the studen...