4/14/2019 @ 10 a.m. (Main Lobby)
Topic: An Immersive Journey
As you all know, I am a big fan of historical literature both fiction and nonfiction. I like to dive right into the past and follow characters to learn new things about human behavior and habits. For this class, I would like each of you to do an immersive writing exercise which focuses on a journey. Using one or more historical events as the setting, I’d like you to also develop a narrative using one the archetypes we discussed in class. Webster’s online dictionary defines immersive as meaning, “providing, involving or characterized by deep absorption or immersion in something (such as an activity or a real or artificial environment).” In immersive writing, the author does her or his best to fool the senses of the reader by making them feel engaged with the settings or characters on the page by providing a 360 view of their world and time.
Prompts:
- Write a brief short-story about a journey. Use one of the museum’s exhibits as the setting and add at least two characters. They discover something that causes conflict. Let the main character make a decision and take action according to the narrative archetype (tragedy, comedy, romance, etc.).
- Write about a time when you or a fictional character set out for a destination in one of the exhibits but failed to arrive. What stopped you or them? What changed from the beginning expectations? How do your characters or you evolve?
Assignment for next class: Consider the following key questions below and post your answers to slack by April 20th
Key Question:
- Is it true that only trouble is interesting? Why or why not?
- Can a story about peaceful pleasure and comfort be interesting? Give an example.
- Are all writing styles fiction or non-fiction rooted in a power struggle of some sort?
- Give an example of a power struggle you have observed in literature, film, social media, and TV. To be clear, think of a recent story not currently dominating the news media.
Ananse the Writer 