Creative Writing (Advanced): Experimental Writing

Welcome, intrepid wordsmiths, to a playground of limitless possibilities. In this advanced course, we will venture beyond the boundaries of traditional storytelling and poetic forms, embracing the wild and experimental spirit of the avant-garde. Prepare to challenge conventions, play with language, deconstruct form, and discover new ways to express your creativity through non-traditional forms of writing.

Module 1: Flash Fiction: Microcosmos of Narrative

Flash fiction is a genre that packs a punch with its brevity, condensing complex narratives into just a few hundred words or less. We will explore:

• Concision and Impact: Learn to distill your stories to their most essential elements, focusing on impactful language, vivid imagery, and surprising twists.
• The Power of Suggestion: Master the art of leaving gaps for the reader to fill, inviting them to actively participate in the storytelling process.
• Playing with Form: Experiment with different narrative structures, such as vignettes, micro-stories, and prose poems.
• Prompt-Based Writing: Utilize prompts and constraints to spark creativity and challenge your assumptions about what a story can be.

Activity: Flash Fiction Challenge

You will be given a single word or phrase as a prompt. Write a flash fiction story of no more than 500 words that explores the possibilities of that prompt. We will then share our stories and discuss the unique challenges and rewards of writing within such a condensed format.

Module 2: Micro Poetry: Distilled Emotions

Micro poetry, such as haiku, tanka, and other short forms, captures the essence of an emotion or experience in just a few lines. We will explore:

• Brevity and Precision: Learn to choose words carefully, crafting concise and evocative verses that leave a lasting impact.
• Imagery and Metaphor: Utilize sensory details and figurative language to create vivid images that resonate with the reader.
• Sound and Rhythm: Experiment with sound patterns, such as alliteration and assonance, to create a musical effect.
• Themes of Nature and Transience: Explore the traditional themes of haiku and other micro-poetry forms, such as nature, change, and the fleeting nature of life.

Activity: Micro Poetry Marathon

We will engage in a micro-poetry marathon, where we will write as many haiku, tanka, or other short poems as we can within a set time limit. We will then share our poems and discuss the different approaches we took to capture fleeting moments and emotions.

Module 3: Found Poetry: Reimagining Existing Texts

Found poetry is created by taking words, phrases, or sentences from existing texts (such as newspapers, magazines, or even instruction manuals) and rearranging them to create new poems. We will experiment with:

• Blackout Poetry: Create poems by blacking out words from a page of text, leaving behind a new poem formed from the remaining words.
• Erasure Poetry: Similar to blackout poetry, erasure poetry involves erasing or deleting words from a text to reveal a hidden poem.
• Cento: Create a poem by stitching together lines from other poems, creating a new work that pays homage to the original sources while offering a fresh perspective.

Activity: Found Poetry Scavenger Hunt

Embark on a scavenger hunt through newspapers, magazines, or online articles. Collect interesting words, phrases, and sentences. Then, rearrange them to create your own found poems. We will share our creations and discuss the surprising and often humorous results of this experimental form.

Module 4: Beyond Boundaries: Pushing the Limits of Language and Form

In this module, we will explore even more experimental forms of writing, such as:

• Concrete Poetry: Create poems that take on the shape of their subject matter, using visual elements to enhance the meaning and impact of the words.
• Sound Poetry: Experiment with sound patterns, vocalizations, and non-linguistic sounds to create poems that are meant to be heard rather than read.
• Hypertext Fiction: Explore the possibilities of hypertext fiction, where readers can navigate through a non-linear narrative, making choices that affect the outcome of the story.
• Interactive Fiction: Delve into the world of interactive fiction, where readers actively participate in the story through choices and actions.

Activity: Experimental Writing Challenge

Choose one of the experimental forms we’ve discussed and create an original work. Push the boundaries of language, structure, and form to express your creativity in a unique and innovative way.

Closing Reflection:

Experimental writing is a playground for innovation, challenging us to rethink the possibilities of language and storytelling. By embracing the spirit of experimentation, we can break free from traditional constraints, discover new forms of expression, and create works that surprise, delight, and provoke thought.