CREATIVE WRITING

at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts in San Francisco

Welcome! CW develops the art and craft of creative writing through instruction, collaboration, and respect. This blog showcases STUDENT WRITING and how to APPLY to Creative Writing.

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about

Once upon a time, cats were lonely, so they wanted someone whose only purpose in existence was to love and cherish cats. Thus, the Creative Writers were born. Out of the glowing bundle of soft and squishy warmness and fluff was a stack of Post-It notes that absolutely adored cats. Cats named that stack Midori, and that was that.

  • This Week At SOTA…

    Late start Wednesday, hooray!

    Wed, Nov 16 9am Late Start Day
    PTSA Staff Appreciation Lunch 11:30am – Teachers Lounge
    Fri, Nov 18 Symphonic Band Concert – Instrumental Music Dept, 7:30am, Dan Kryston Memorial Theatre
    Sat, Nov 19 Wind Ensemble Concert – Instrumental Music Dept, 7:30am, Dan Kryston Memorial theatre

  • Twitter Micro-Lit Contest

    Unstuck is hosting an entry fee-free micro-lit contest for all their followers on Twitter! Fiction, poetry, and non-fiction entries can be entered in exactly twelve tweets, each with 140 words or less, and the winning pieces will be posted in UnstuckMag‘s Twitter feed. The theme is Lovemarks, so for all of you micro-fiction, micro-poetry, micro-essay writers, Twitter is easy to set up and access. Contest will be closed December 31.

    For more information: http://www.unstuckbooks.org/contest

  • Art&Film 11/11

    There is NO Art&Film tomorrow!

    Some Like It Hot will be shown Friday the 18th. There is no CineClub or Art Saturday this long weekend.

  • CW’s New Tumblr!

    For all you crazy Tumblr-users out there, the Creative Writing blog is now running a parallel Tumblr blog! It is located at SOTAC-Dubs. Currently, we don’t have anything up yet, but we’re looking to posting more pictures and videos via Tumblr. If you’re a student, it is also a great and convenient place to submit your work (poetry, fiction, anything) for us to post on this blog. So be sure to follow us, if you already have a Tumblr, and keep an eye out for our new posts!

  • OccuPoetry

    Are you involved in the Occupy Movement, and have something to say about it? Well here’s your chance!

    OccuPoetry is seeking poetry about economic justice/injustice, greed, protest, activism, and opportunity. Submissions need not be limited to Wall Street’s greed nor US-based poets; we consider the Occupy Movement a world-wide movement for a more just world.

    OccuPoetry accepts formal and free-verse, mail art, and collage poetry. Send submissions or queriestosubmissions@occupypoetry.org
    <submissions(at)occupypoetry.org> (replace (at) with @ in sending email)

    Once the editors have received a critical mass of submissions, we plan to post a new poem each day.
    OccuPoetry is an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase from Amazon a book linked from this website, the proceeds made from the sale of the book will be used to support the Occupy Wall Street movement.
    Learn more at http://occupypoetry.org/

  • 11/4, The Conformist

    FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4 CINE/CLUB Randall Museum 199 Museum Way
    SF 6:30 Refreshments 7pm film

    CARTOON
    Short film & Student film: TBA

    Bernardo Bertolucci’s THE CONFORMIST (1970, Italy)

    One of a kind. This is the tale of a spineless Italian aristocrat, who, during the reign of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, is sent to Paris while on his honeymoon to assassinate his dissident ex-professor. Visually astounding, richly poetic with powerful set pieces, all the pieces you need to create a great film you won’t soon forget. The impact of this film on other directors has been enormous. Come and find out why.

    PARENTAL WARNING: Some nudity and mild suggested sex scenes.

     WHY WE CHOSE THIS FILM:

    The Conformist is rather like a film encyclopedia of all the visual advances that have been made in film since the beginning: the moving camera, the dolly, the orchestration of scenes, the brilliant use of light and dark, arresting montage, the expressionist settings, the ingenious use of visual concepts bring the story brilliantly to life. There is never a moment without unusual visual ideas working to the max, and the chilling story of a brilliant student who joins the fascist undercover and is sent to kill his college mentor in Paris is strenuous indeed. When he falls in love with the wife of the victim, the film becomes operatic in its scope. It is an aesthetic masterpiece, but also doubles as a political film, etching a portrait of a fascist from the inside out. You won’t easily shake its power and beauty.

    ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:
    Bertolucci is an important Italian director that has produced a number of influential films. He received his training working with Pasolini (Mama Roma) and with his first films quickly gained a sturdy reputation. His 1972 film Last Tango In Paris brought him a lot of attention when Bertolucci was given a suspended prison sentence by an Italian court for obscenity, and his 1987 film The Last Emperor was celebrated throughout the world. It is, however, with The Conformist that he entered the pantheon of important directors.

  • Wednesday, 11/2

    8:00 AM START TOMORROW. Please don’t be late!

    Reading and Submissions due tomorrow.

    Also, pictures taken by the wonderful Larry of the CW showcase, Vegas, Baby! are now on Facebook. Check them out.

    Tomorrow will also be the second day of NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, in which you set a word goal for yourself to reach by the end of the month. Many Creative Writers are participating (risking life and limb and grades to do so, I assure you), and it’s good practice for those who have all these brilliant ideas, but just have trouble putting it down on paper. It does not have to be a coherent novel– a series of short stories or poetry, if you prefer. This will be my first year participating, and I recommend it very much!

  • Holiday Contest

    Anybody who feels like they’ve got a funny, moving, or interesting take on the holidays, submit to this contest- there’s no entrance fee, hurray!

    http://www.ramsfieldpress.com/holiday-writing-contest.html

    Holiday Writing Contest
    1. Write a short piece about a year end holiday celebration. It can be Christmas, Thanksgiving,
    Chaunakkah, Kwanza, New Year’s, the Soltice, or whatever holiday you celebrate.
    2. The length should be between 1,000 and 2,500 words.
    3. If you have a specific reading demographic in mind (YA, Children, etc.), please indicate it.
    4. Proofread thoroughly.
    5. Post your story to your Google Docs account with permission to share with <moserbill37(at)gmail.com> .
    6. Include only the title and the number of words on the title page.
    7. On the last page include your name, a statement that this is your own work, and a bio of no more than 75 words. You may wish to include previous publications, your hometown, your background, your secret fantasy (no longer a secret, of course), or your answer to any specious Miss America Question you prefer.
    8. Winners are the sole decision of the judges, although all judging of entries will be blind. If the judges deem it appropriate, there may be no contest winner. That is very unlikely, however.
    9. There is no entry fee for this contest.
    10. The prize for the winner of this contest is $25 and publication on this website.
    11. You may submit as many entries as you wish, but make sure they are thoughtful.
    12. All entries must be received by December 19, 2011. Publication of the winner will be shortly after the contest ends, toward the end of December. NB: This is an earlier date than for previous contests.
    13. This contest is sponsored by an anonymous donor, the spirit of giving, and the letter A and the number 2.

    -Reba

  • Dance Student Showcase

    November 13th
    1 pm
    Dan Kryston Memorial Theater

    Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see the dancers from the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts in their Student Showcase performance.  Get a sneak peek behind the scenes of a typical dance class, see works in process, and special performances from artists-in-residence and guest performers.  Doors open at 1:00pm, performance is at 2:00pm.

  • “The Producers” Auditions!

    Announcing Auditions for the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts 30th ANNIVERSARY
    Spring 2012 Main Stage Musical Theater Production

    Mel Brooks’ THE PRODUCERS”
    brought to you by the same production team that produced RAGTIME
    Directed by Keith Carames
    Music by Sean Forte
    Technical Direction Paul Kwapy
    Auditions are 4 to 7 PM Tuesday October 25 and Wednesday October 26
    Call Backs are 4 to 7 PM Thursday October 27
    Students should arrive to the lobby of the Dan Kryston Memorial Theater to turn in or fill out their audition application form starting at 3:30 PM on Tuesday.

    Tuesday will be dance and movement auditions: Students should dress ready to move; if students are able to tap dance, please bring tap shoes.

    Wednesday will be vocal auditions: Students will sing their prepared piece and will work in small groups to learn music from the show.

    WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS FROM ALL DISCIPLINES AT SOTA AND FROM ALL CLASSES AT THE ACADEMY TO AUDITION  — REHEARSALS WILL NOT CONFLICT WITH ANY DEPARTMENTAL OBLIGATIONS
    *****Students interested in playing an instrument in the pit will be called upon at a later date******* Stay tuned for more information.

    Performance Dates are February 23, 24 and 25 and March 2 and 3, 2012