2023 HS207: Writing for Competition and Publication
Thursday 7:30-9:00PM (7/20/2023-8/31/2023) No Class on 08/03
Registration for this session has been closed.
** All the funds collected for this course will be donated to Weebond Fund. Anyone who has a financial need may apply for a scholarship to pay for your writing-related competitions. The teacher will volunteer her time to design, teach, and also private mentoring all students signed up for this course.
HS207: Writing for Competition and Publication Summer Workshop
HS207: Writing for Competition and Publication Summer Workshop
Instructor: Joanna Liu / [email protected]
Registration Link: https://diyiboston.com/sessions/178 Start date; 07/20/2023
Time: Thursday from 7:30-9:00 PM.
Instructor’s Profile:
Joanna Liu is a dedicated writer and entrepreneur seeking to empower students through writing and publishing. She is a National Scholastic Medalist in writing and the 1st place winner of Bennington’s Young Writers Awards in Creative Nonfiction. She also attended some of the nation’s top writing programs, such as the Iowa Young Writers Studio, Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop, and the Adroit Summer Mentorship Program. She has mentored students to win Gold and Silver Keys at the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
Joanna has a strong background in academic writing as well. She scored 5 in AP English & AP Literature, and her works have been recognized by the New York Times, National Poetry Quarterly, Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, and more. Currently, Joanna edits multiple literary journals and seeks to engage young authors through her nonprofit, Weebond Academy.
Course Objectives
This intensive course is designed to prepare students for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, a writing competition that will take place in the fall. Through a combination of generative and instructive processes, students will work to write across a diversity of genres – such as poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and more. At the end of the course, students will be expected to produce at least 4-6 rough drafts for submission, complete readings, and workshop their peers’ works. Normally, the class will begin with a ten-minute free write; afterward, the teacher will introduce a lesson and sample pieces. Students will end class by writing and sharing their work.
This intensive course is designed to prepare students for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, a writing competition that will take place in the fall. Through a combination of generative and instructive processes, students will work to write across a diversity of genres – such as poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and more. At the end of the course, students will be expected to produce at least 4-6 rough drafts for submission, complete readings, and workshop their peers’ works. Normally, the class will begin with a ten-minute free write; afterward, the teacher will introduce a lesson and sample pieces. Students will end class by writing and sharing their work.
Homework, Grading, and Materials
- Homework and reading assignments should be done by the day before class on Wednesday; any late work will not be graded until a later date. Assignments will be posted and submitted on google classroom.
- Grading: Students will be graded on their homework (55%), participation & effort (30%), and free-write engagement (15%).
- Materials: Notebook & writing tool – all free-writes should be done on paper, Laptop, readings, etc.
Optional Sessions
- Throughout the course, we’ll also host an array of optional sessions and write-ins. While not required, you’re greatly encouraged to come, socialize with classmates, or meet other writers!
- Dates are as listed below:
- Write-ins: During these sessions, come together to write as a class, workshop pieces, or chat!
- Date(s): TBD (usually 1hr/week).
- Foyle Young Poets Competition: Students interested in submitting to this contest can come to this session to learn the basics and workshop their poems!
- Date: Friday July 21st, 8:00-9:00 EST.
- Writing Opportunities: We’ll discuss different writing opportunities for teens in publishing, other competitions, editorial roles, mentorship programs, and more! Date:
- Date: Tuesday, August 22nd, 8:00-8:30 EST.
- Write-ins: During these sessions, come together to write as a class, workshop pieces, or chat!
WEEK ONE: Theme & Idea Building
July 20 - July 27, 2023
Lesson Outline
After discussing the basics of the Scholastic Art & Writing Competition, students will learn to write towards specific themes and ideas in their work. By focusing on key concepts such as identity, memory, and family, students can begin to effectively develop a central, emotionally compelling message within their work.
Homework (Due July 23 on Google Classroom)
- In 1-2 pages double spaced, introduce yourself to me as a writer and learner. What formative experiences and works (Books, pieces, TV shows, songs, etc.) have shaped your perspective? What ideas drive you as an artist and writer? How and where do you write and revise, and why? If you’d like, you may also comment on some of the required readings from this week and discuss how they may relate to you as a writer.
- BONUS: Choose an emotion or theme (eg. growing up, family inheritance) and write down all the words/images reminding you of that theme. Then, write a poem that does not use any of those words/images.
Required Readings
- Audre Lorde, Poetry is Not a Luxury
- Hannah Gamble, The Average Fourth Grader Is a Better Poet Than You (and Me Too)
- Jeffrey Wang, Poised for Prose: An Exploration of Popular Themes
- Sylvia Woodbury, Van Gogh on His Death Bed
- Stephanie Chang, Lotus Flower Kingdom
- Jamaal May, There Are Birds Here
WEEK TWO: Poetry & Language
July 27- August 3, 2023
Lesson Outline
In today’s lesson, students will work towards poetry writing — the importance of the line and language within one’s work, especially to impart a small yet powerful message. We will begin the lesson by discussing the required readings, and examining the role poetry may place in our lives. Afterward, students will be challenged to leave behind their notions of poetry and experiment with new styles, forms of language, and more.
Homework
- Pieces like Woodbury’s “Van Gogh on His Death Bed” or “Self-Portrait as Frida Kahlo” by Shelley Wong use concrete imagery to take an imaginative leap and embed the reader in another’s perspective. These poems are known as persona poems, which assume the voice of another and bring it into the world of your poem (Adapted from The Adroit Journal). Choose a subject or object (this can be a historical, an artwork, etc.) and seek to capture its perspective of the world within a poem.
- BONUS: Instead of reflecting outwards through a persona poem, take this time to reflect on yourself. Write a 10-15 sentence poem, each sentence beginning with the phrase “I remember,” followed by a specific memory or idea. This doesn’t have to follow a specific logical order: instead, think of it as a writing exercise to help you drum up concrete, tangible imagery. A poem that you can use as a reference is Abigail Maskill’s “I Remember” poem.
Required Readings
- Kristin Valdez Quade, Best Advice
- Elizabeth Bowen, Notes on Writing a Novel
- Anne Kwok, Stolen
- Audrey Hawkes, A Beginner’s Guide to Summoning Bloody Mary
- Caitlin Mah, Fireworks at the End of Time
WEEK THREE: Fiction & Plot
August 3 - August 10, 2023
Lesson Outline
Today, students will learn about the importance of the economical, punchy, and intriguing short story. Through a variety of techniques and narrative-building skills, as well as language ideas from last week’s course, students will aim to cultivate poignant characters, dialogue, and dynamics within their flash fiction and short stories. Students will practice this skill in class by brainstorming and starting story ideas together in class, before continuing them for homework.
Homework
- What is the seed of a single story? In today’s lesson, students will seek to cultivate the concise yet immersive language of flash fiction by writing a story based on a single word, such as Anne Kwok’s “Stolen.” Throughout the story, students should seek to build depth and show the intersection of different narratives in their pieces. They should aim for at least 500-750 words.
Required Readings
- Mary Karr, The Art of Memoir (PDF provided)
- Ocean Vuong, The Weight Of Our Living: On Hope, Fire Escapes, And Visible Desperation
- Ashley Xu, Lessons From a Spider I Named Larry
- Maggie Nelson, Bluets (points 1-20)
WEEK FOUR: Memoir & The Self
August 10 - August 17, 2023
Lesson Outline
While memoir and creative nonfiction is often associated with autobiography—a factual piece of work—today’s course will emphasize the creative, imaginative nature of memoir. Specifically, we will work to write about their memories, turning the factual, concrete and ordinary aspects of our lives into distinct stories and themes.
Homework
- Students will have a diversity of options to tap into themselves and take a moment to write about their personal life. This week’s required readings can assist you, demonstrating how introspection exists within a work.
- Food: Have a meal – it can be in a restaurant, at home, etc. Then, reflect on your experiences with the meal. How did it make you feel? What does food evoke within your life?
- Music: What is the music of the world around you? Take a moment to try to record the sounds of your current environment, noting the specific inflections, dynamics, etc of the space around you and the objects occupying it. Then, write a piece elaborating on that space and your connection to it.
- Break in Routine: Instead of following society’s currents, try a strange routine that forces you out of your ordinary habits (eg. stare at a wall for five minutes, lie in the rain, peel an orange in the shower). How do your body and self respond to this exercise? Afterwards, write a piece musing on your experience.
- Submit a piece for peer-review next week.
Required Readings
- On Editing: Polyphony, Polyphony (again), Young Poets Network
- Hua Xi, Clock Hands
- Eric Yip, Fricatives
- Jericho Brown, The Tradition
- Diamond Braxton, Sugar Rush
WEEK FIVE: Peer Workshopping & Revision
August 17 - August 23, 2023
Lesson Outline
Students will learn about how to revise and polish their work: while most of this course focuses on generative processes, revision is also a crucial component that students should learn and refine as they continue through the course.
Homework
- Revise a piece from the previous weeks for next week’s presentations. Sign up for a presentation session.
- You will be assigned a piece from another student for peer-review. Please make specific, line-by-line comments, as well as overarching comments, on their work.
- BONUS: Write an instructional piece (personal memoir, fiction, or poetry), either to yourself or to an unknown speaker, about how to do a certain action. Try to ensure that the piece remains as tangible as possible, and to show, rather than telling. (Adapted from The Adroit Journal).
Required Readings
- Javier Zamora, How I Learned to Walk
- Catherine Xie, Rabbit Candy God
- Lorrie Moore, How to Become a Writer
WEEK SIX: Presentations & Submission
August 23 -August 30, 2023
Lesson Outline
After reviewing the lessons we’ve learned so far, students will have an opportunity to share a piece they wrote to the entire class. Afterwards, students will learn how they can continue preparing for Scholastic and refining their work even after the course.