Student Short Stories - Comments welcome!

One of the projects we worked on last week was to delve into the realm of creative writing. I gave the students some guidelines, gave them the option of working in pairs or individuals (with double the work for pairs) and have had a great deal of success with the peer editing process. I will post some of them up, one or two at a time, after they are revised and tweaked. For the longer stories, I will have an intro and links to the full story.

Some of them wrote original pieces, others wrote prequels and sequels to stories we covered in class (including Corey's wrtiting).

Read, re-read, comment!

Mr. Robin Martin

Mr. Martin's Grade 10 Writing Relay

The premise was so simple. Why hadn't I thought of it? While brainstorming ideas with the class on how we could implement blogging as a regular part of our curriculum. Many of my students came up with great ideas but one stood out. It came from the devious brains of Brad and Scott (blogging sensations and conventions lunatics):

"An activity that we feel would be a good way to interact with Corey Charron is a class story. It is basically a story written by the entire class with Corey. He would start the class off with the opening paragraph of the story, and then the class will be divided into small groups. Each group will contribute a piece to the story. The first group will read what corey has written, and add on their own piece of the story, following the story line that Corey has laid out for them. After the first group has added their part of the story, the next group will read what was written and add on to it. The story will continue to progress until the class decides it is time for Corey to write the ending of the story."

Now, there are a few ways we could set this up. I want all class members forming small groups and they will submit an idea in the "comments" section. Then we will decide which submission we will take to add to the story.

Submitted today, here is the first paragrph (written by Corey) of our writing relay, titled:



The Rains
It had been raining for as long as anyone could remember. When the rains started, it was said, the water had come down in sheets, and houses floated away and some people disappeared. Some had believed it was the coming of another flood, but after four days and four nights the rain tapered down to a steady drizzle. Then some, and not just the "Saved" and the "Born Againers", said it was going to be something even worse – hell on earth, the end of days, perhaps. Others said it was just going to go on raining forever. ...

Now, the objective will be for the Grade 10's to add onto this stellar intro. We will do this in groups and perhaps take the story in a few different directions. We will begin this process this coming week. Any comments? Suggestions? "The Rains" is waiting for you!

Class submissions will be linked to google docs feel free to comment/encourage their progress!

- Mr. Robin Martin

Welcome to the "World of Blog" Penny's 121 English Class!

English 121 Students:

This is a space for you to provide commentary on the short story "Scratch Ticket" by Corey Charron. To leave a comment, click the "comments" button on the bottom right of this post. When you post your comment, be sure to choose an identity as "other" and post your name (so your comments can be responded to). All comments are sent to a moderator before being posted.

Respond honestly, thoughfully and thoroughly! How many times have you been offered the chance to converse with the author of a story you have read?

Be curious.
Respond to each other's comments.
Have fun.

- Robin Martin

Mr. Martin's grade 10 - Short Story Response "Highlight Reel"

This is an area for Mr. Martin's grade 10 English class to read, quote, re-post and share some of the interesting comments we have generated as literary critics and readers.
The process is simple: Read some of the comments your classmates, teacher or Corey have left. Find examples which capture a point, illustrate responsible criticism, quotes which made you think beyond surface level or made you chuckle out loud. Copy, paste and quote as part of your comments and share your thoughts!

Pay tribute to each other!

- Mr. Robin Martin

"A Man and His Routine"

"One day after twenty-five years of marriage, Alexander found himself alone. The woman he’d promptly married after he got his first raise, and with whom he shared three kids, just one morning woke up and decided she didn’t want to be married to him anymore. Well, that wasn’t exactly what she had said. While zipping up her suitcase on the foot of their bed as he sat up and rubbed his eyes that Saturday morning, Tammy had told him she had had enough of being taken for granted and was leaving because “she didn’t want to grow old alone and die alone”, but that’s not what Alexander said to their children, people at the office, the old Italian guy with the flat-top who trimmed his hair every second Thursday, and virtually everyone else he spoke to in passing..." To read the entire story click here.

A Man and His Routine was published in Storyteller Magazine earlier this year and was my first published story. I wanted to write a story about the kind of guy readers should loathe, but somehow end up rooting for. I sometimes wonder how realistic it is that Alexander got a second chance at love, but then I start thinking about all of the oddballs that I know and miraculously none of them are alone. Alexander's tale ends on an at leat mindly promising note, but I worry that he might still mess things up.

This is a space for you to provide commentary on the short story "A Man and His Routine" by Corey Charron. To leave a comment, click the "comments" button on the bottom right of this post. All comments are sent to a moderator before being posted.

- Mr. Martin