From: Monica R. Edinger <edinger>
Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 20:18:55 -0400

 From ME:

My workshops have to be different than a regular teacher's because I won't see the kids again. I usually start with index cards prepared ahead of time with each youngster's name and either a question or a request to read something already written. The names not only help me make contact with the individuals, but I can also find an interesting name. I tell the kids I'm always looking for names of my characters, how important it is to name them right, as J.D. Salinger did, for example, in The Catcher in The Rye. What if he had named him John Jones instead of Holden Caufield? It wouldn't be as powerful or as suitable, because HC is a real preppy name. I talk about Dickens, and how clever he was in naming his characters...That sort of thing. And I can always find magic names on the cards submitted, beautiful, new, ethnic names, and old fashioned ones like Betty....Then we discuss pseudonyms and the kids are free to name themselves...I don't really give criticism because it's pointless in one meeting. I ask questions and comment on sentences I liked, openings that were sharp, that sort of thing...I'm always interested in what others do with writing workshops. Any suggestions out there? mekerr PS I also talk about the importance of titles, and first lines.
Received on Fri 21 Jun 2002 07:18:55 PM CDT