Day 4

Day Four

Danielle began the class by taking us on a journey out the window. At first, she simply narrated the facts of what she could see outside. Then, as she was pushed to explore the subject in greater depth, we began to hear details about textures, feelings, and the unseen world beyond. David used this study to show us how taking the time to work beyond first impressions can enhance a story.

Next, we talked about memorization. David pulled up parts of two poems: “Eden in Winter” by Nicholas Vachel Lindsay and a section of Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass.” We were taught to memorize working from the bottom up, so that we are working from weakness to strength. Several students gave examples of this technique to the class. During this discussion we talked about the power of the sounds of words.

Jessica was chosen to share the gist of her story with the class. She did so beautifully, though she wasn’t finished writing it yet. She explained why this story was meaningful to her, and we got to hear a little about the selkie myth. Then, she presented a version of her story to the class. David talked with us about using our bodies. He shared ideas from drama theory, including what the placement of our hands (around our head, heart, groin) indicates. We also talked about choosing story elements (such as whether the Selkie’s child was an only daughter) to express meaning in a story.

(Becca)