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.

  • Jeff Mooney

    This Friday marked the end of this year’s first Creative Writing artist-in-resident, Jeff Mooney. In a week of “writing through sound,” Jeff gave us the assignments “a time when you disagreed with someone” and “The Voices in my Head,” leaving them open-ended, allow us to take the prompt in whichever direction we choose and reflect the best of us. His questions brought us through class-wide discussions and debates on justice and intuition. His classes consisted of a variety of ways to fit ourselves together within a group using rhytm, and then to pull away from what everyone else is doing and to focus on ourselves. The exercises with rhythms and tunes offered us new ways of portraying our writing, different ways to interpret our words.

    “Hopeful,” Jeff answered, when I asked how he felt about teaching our class. “It feels hopeful when people get together to talk and do something about things they care for. It was exciting to discover the diverse ways people articulated their thoughts.”

    It was an experience I doubt anyone of us would be forgetting soon.

    -Midori

  • Art Auction

    For any and all interested in participating in a school-wide, open-to-the-public art auction, read on. It takes place in the Audre Lorde room in the Women’s Building on October 1, with a pending admission fee (assume fairly cheap). Available for auctioning are pieces from all departments, including writing consultations from the Creative Writing department. Free food is rumored. Also at the event will be performances from members of the Songwriting Club.

    Please come and support young artists! Enrichment, entertainment, good eats–what’s not to like?

    -Reba

  • Cdub Facebook Page

    For those who go on Facebook more than they check this blog, “Like” and follow our Facebook page for updates on readings, assignments, and new blog posts.

  • Upcoming Artist in Residence

    The Creative Writing department often is taught by local artists–Artists in Residence–and beginning on August 29, we will be hosting Erik Ulman, composer and Stanford lecturer, for a week. He will be teaching a Writing Through Music unit, in which students will learn how to utilize music and sound in their writing. This week we’ve had the great pleasure of Jeff Mooney’s instruction, where rhythm and sound have also come into play.

    -Reba

  • Current Events

    Since it is the beginning of the school year, many projects and clubs are just getting started, so support these groups and your fellow Cdubs by participating in their hosted events!

    Avi’s House Concert: Klaus Adamaschek – Saturday, August 27th, 2pm at 715 Sierra Point Road, Brisbane CA, 94005.

    RSVP to beth@bethgrossman.com

    outLoud Radio Launch Party – Saturday, September 10th, 6pm – 9pm at The Woman’s Building (3543 18th St., San Francisco).

    About outLoud Radio. Facebook Event Page.

    Brazilian Independence Celebration: Brazil in the Park – Sunday, September 11th, 12pm – 7pm at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park (9th Ave and Lincoln Way). ENTRANCE FEE: $5, free for children 12 and under

    The Gardening Club – Mondays and Thursdays at lunch in the school farm (behind the bleachers on the far end of the track).

    More Information

    SOTA Build-On Club – Wednesdays at lunch in Mr. Slayton’s room (203).

    Femme Fatales – Fridays at lunch in the Creative Writing Room.

     

     

     

  • The Godfather I & II

    Once you’ve signed up for the Art&Film emails with Ronald (whether online or when you go to your first Cine/Club this Friday), you will receive emails the week of the film. For example, this Friday the 26th, Cine/Club will be showing The Godfather I & II. Basic information will be at the top, along with information on the film(s) and director at the bottom.

    Links to trailers: The Godfather I, The Godfather II.

    FRIDAY AUGUST 26: Cine/Club: Randall MuseumPLEASE NOTE: Due to the length of the film we are starting early. Refreshments at 5:00, film starts promptly at 5:30. You can show up late, but you may miss the first of the film.CARTOON

    Coppola’s THE GODFATHER, Parts I & II (1972-74, USA)
    We begin with five hours of film that set a new standard for American filmmaking in the 1970’s. A long evening, but one that will keep you glued to the screen. What begins as the chronicle of an Italian Mafia family struggling to hold onto power becomes a social epic about the very American values of success, honor and family loyalty and how they can distort and destroy lives. These films are a cultural touchtone, referenced in academic roundtables and TV satires. Come see what all the fuss is about.

    WHY WE CHOSE THIS FILM:
    The Godfather films spawned generations of copycats, but this series, rather than glamorize the thrills of mafia life, dig down deep inside the myths and show the great toll that organized crime can have on a family. The story is strong, but what brings these films to life are some of the strongest, most memorable performances many of the great actors of the era: Pacino, De Niro, Brando, Caan, Duval, Diane Keaton, et al.

    They also etch periods of American history—the 40’s and 50’s—with great attention to social detail: from clothes and cars to dialogue and social structures. These mobsters take part in the same dysfunctional family outings that everyone else did; the wedding parties, baby’s baptisms, family arguments, funerals, and the materialist gains as they rise to power reflect the preoccupations of the capitalist middle class during that period. Part Two pairs the story of corruption and the tragic toll that hypocrisy and violence bring to the family with flashbacks to the original Godfather’s rise from grocery boy to Mafioso.

    ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
    Francis Ford Coppola is one the most important American directors of the 70’s—and these two films (along with Apocalypse Now) are considered his masterpieces. He is among the first generation of directors spawned by American film schools at NYU, UCLA and USC (Lucas and Scorcese are others). In the 60’s he began as one of schlock producer Roger Corman’s wonder boys, rising through the ranks to the point where he had enough clout to make these films. His zenith as a filmmaker climaxed with the epic undertaking of the Vietnam War film, Apocalypse Now. Though he continues to produce and direct films to this day, his critical reputation rests with his films of the 1970’s    .

  • Alumnus Achieves

    Atticus Graven, a 2010 Creative Writing alumnus, visited the class this past Thursday. He now attends Pennsylvania’s Ursinus College, and recently was admitted to the rather exclusive Ursinus College Writing Fellowship, where for at least two hours a week he helps fellow students with their essays, personal projects, and writing overall; as a part of the program, he also takes a class in order to learn how best to teach writing. Being a part of the program pays a decent three thousand or so a year. When asked why he chose to apply for this fellowship, he replied with a shrug and simply, “I miss writing.”

    – Reba

  • CW Annual Scavenger Hunt

    The first annual SOTA Creative Writing scavenger hunt, organized by the wonderful Mollie Cueva, was a roaring success. Writing buddies walked swiftly and

    silently through the halls of the school, searching fervently for all the items on the list, trying to beat the other teams to the final destination. Some teams headed earnestly toward each goal, while others used their wiles and wits to find shortcuts. Mollie stands above them all, watching, amused, calmly eating her salad.

    Finally, when Mollie decided it was about time, she slowly strolled to the Shakespeare Stage, where she was supposed to wait for the winning team to show. Little had she known, not only one, but three pairs had already reached the stage. She asked who the winners were, and the students, loving members of the same community, didn’t even consider cheating as the winning writing buddies pair stepped up.

    Congratulations, MYKEL and VANESSA, for winning this year’s scavenger hunt!!!

    -Midori

  • Students Can Contribute, Too!

    Contribute to our blog and Facebook account by emailing either Rebecca or me about interesting readings, publishing opportunities, writing contests, all kinds of stuff. Pictures go on Flickr under the username and password we gave out in class, and if you need a reminder as to what it is, don’t hesitate to contact any of us.

    DON’T BE SHY TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR PUBLICATIONS!!!!

    If the caps and bolding weren’t enough, really, don’t. E-mail, phone, or tell us in class, we’ll post it up on the blog and Facebook with pride. We’ll spread the love and recognition around.

    Follow the SOTA Creative Writing Facebook page to get all the updates on that! I will post there much of the things here on the blog – in less detail and more linking. Overall, the blog is still our main HQ, so check in every now and then for the latest news from CW!

    -Midori

  • First Potluck!

    Welcome to another year in Creative Writing! Every so often we hold potlucks, where parents and students touch base, get information, socialize, and eat tasty food. This Thursday, August 18, is the year’s first official potluck!

    Even though it is optional for students to attend, it is mandatory for all parents- make sure to bring your handbooks!

    This potluck will take place in the Creative Writing room, located just inside the building off SOTA’s quad (it’s room 202), and will begin at 6.