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Full-Text Articles in Creative Writing
Shaping Character: The Role Of Mythology In Society, Jaclyn Weist
Shaping Character: The Role Of Mythology In Society, Jaclyn Weist
Masters Theses
Throughout history, man has told stories. Some stories were written on walls, tablets, or bits of parchment. Others have been passed down to posterity through oral tradition. Every culture worldwide has a rich tapestry of legends and myths. It is my intent to demonstrate that these stories use the tools of character development within their various plot lines to both express and shape beliefs, superstitions, and life lessons. Whether they are religious in nature or simply trying to make sense of the world, these stories, myths, and legends have played a part in shaping society into what it is today.
Truth And Fiction, Rachel Michele Schroeder
Truth And Fiction, Rachel Michele Schroeder
Masters Theses
This literary review explains the importance of literature in helping to indirectly describe reality. The review takes the reader through a plethora of literary examples and gives brief psychological and philosophical argumentation to showcase the importance of literature in the lives of children and adults. The Function of Fiction describes the ways in which fiction is intended to be employed. On the Psychology of Stories discusses how stories impact behavior. On Myths examines the ways in which myths connect to history and culture. On Fables and Fairytales dissects how stories often have a moral and encourage the best in humanity. …
The Healing Power Of Creative Storytelling: Utilizing Fiction As A Means Of Therapy In The Writer/Reader Relationship, Alicia Rose Klepper
The Healing Power Of Creative Storytelling: Utilizing Fiction As A Means Of Therapy In The Writer/Reader Relationship, Alicia Rose Klepper
Masters Theses
What if we wrote the challenging portions of our lives as comedies or the boring parts as grand adventures? What if we recast painful experiences into creative stories that allow us to live in proximity to our circumstances and not be overwhelmed? Storytelling is how we bridge our lives with creativity as a way to heal from the past, process the present, and hope for the future. This thesis explores how the tradition of creative storytelling has evolved to enable writers and readers to uncover and connect elements of life that would otherwise be too painful to process. By bridging …
Discovering Souls Below: Mythology, Lore, And Christian Feminism In Contemporary Fantasy, Emma Dearing
Discovering Souls Below: Mythology, Lore, And Christian Feminism In Contemporary Fantasy, Emma Dearing
Masters Theses
There are few things I love more than sitting on a warm, sunny beach with my toes in the sand. With a cool breeze rippling off the waves and the smell of salty ocean, it is easy to feel completely at peace. Yet last summer, as I sat limply in a beach chair experiencing all those sensations, I wondered, “What if this was my last day on earth, and I knew it?” More specifically, what if we chose such a serene day as our last? Of course, that reminded me there is only one way to truly choose our last …
Turning Heartache Into Hope: How Fantasy Reveals Spiritual Truth About Sin, Suffering, And Redemption, Sophia Raffaelle Bricker
Turning Heartache Into Hope: How Fantasy Reveals Spiritual Truth About Sin, Suffering, And Redemption, Sophia Raffaelle Bricker
Masters Theses
This paper examines the problem of evil and suffering through the literary genre of fantasy. Seminal texts written by Christians in this genre present the problem of sin and death through themes and representative characters but also tempers the reality of suffering with the presence of Christ figures, who bring redemption to the characters and story world through an act of sacrifice. Following the examples of these seminal fantasies and building on my personal experience of loss, I approach the problem of sin and suffering in excerpts from my novel in progress, The Mountain Pass Keeper, by presenting an older …
Developing And Enhancing Believable Characterization In Fiction, Hollie Boyd Nelson
Developing And Enhancing Believable Characterization In Fiction, Hollie Boyd Nelson
Masters Theses
Developing and enhancing characterization in fiction is key to gaining a readership as well as perfecting the craft of writing. Through foundational information, relatability, and context within the work, a writer can create new and intricate ways to enrich their story. This then sets them apart from others in their field.
All Write Already! Writing Across Curricula: An Instructional Tool In Theater And Dance, Lezlie R. Christian
All Write Already! Writing Across Curricula: An Instructional Tool In Theater And Dance, Lezlie R. Christian
Masters Theses
Whether it was to clean the barracks or check for foreign objects on the flight line, “All-hand-on-deck!” applied to every breathing body on the ship or in the building; rank did not matter. The same concept should apply to all teachers with writing, elective teachers included. To increase literacy and writing in our schools, all-hands-on-deck is necessary. Professional development on how to insert writing can help. If our young scholars are to be effective communicators, literacy in the arts can help. Do not view writing as an enemy, additional content you must teach. Work it as a tool. This project, …
The Mirror: How Writing Is The Reflection Of An Author’S Emotions, Tamia Charón Ranae Branch
The Mirror: How Writing Is The Reflection Of An Author’S Emotions, Tamia Charón Ranae Branch
Masters Theses
This thesis examines research that shows writing can be more than just putting words on a page. Writing, especially in prose and poetry, can be therapeutic as it allows for the individual to separate the problem from themselves, analyze, reflect, and simultaneously lead the individual to a path of healing.
Lady Of The Joust: Defining And Classifying Flat Character Arcs, Rachael Michelle Varner
Lady Of The Joust: Defining And Classifying Flat Character Arcs, Rachael Michelle Varner
Masters Theses
Character arcs outline the growth or development a character experiences throughout a narrative. Of the three major types—Positive Change, Negative Change, and Flat—the third is often glossed over or ignored in academic settings. The Artist Statement addresses my experience writing a novel when I did not understand what Flat Arcs entailed and thus failed to recognize why my protagonist resisted the more popular Positive Change formula. In the Critical Paper, my analysis of texts dedicated to the craft of character arcs revealed that there are no consistent criteria by which to define or categorize them. Nevertheless, my research suggests that …
Thesis Proposal And Project: The Cave, Jennifer Lee Bailey
Thesis Proposal And Project: The Cave, Jennifer Lee Bailey
Masters Theses
This piece is a work of creative writing, inspired by a true story. Slowly, it transitioned from creative nonfiction to a work of science fiction.
The Advantage Of An Iterative Writing Process For Novels And Short Stories, Annie Jackson
The Advantage Of An Iterative Writing Process For Novels And Short Stories, Annie Jackson
Masters Theses
Many writers struggle with completing a novel when they follow the traditional process of working through plot, character and world building problems in prewriting activities followed by sitting and drafting the story in a linear process scene by scene and chapter by chapter. This thesis proposes an alternate iterative approach. Iterative drafting creates multiple smaller versions of the full story that build to a first draft. By moving several problem solving activities into the draft itself writers can find increased opportunity for quick analysis, low effort corrections and a more efficient drafting method. This thesis lays out the description and …
Wave By Wave: A Fantasy Author's Guide For Refining A Creative Writing Style, Michael Bose
Wave By Wave: A Fantasy Author's Guide For Refining A Creative Writing Style, Michael Bose
Senior Honors Theses
Writing a novel is a great undertaking. Many would-be writers have set out to create a novel and give up halfway through, uncertain where or how they failed. This project aims to help prospective authors get past that barrier. By analyzing one’s own writing style, a writer can ascertain greater insight into the strengths and weaknesses of one’s own work and therefore help rectify mistakes one might make otherwise, or learn to see a chapter from a new angle. The author will demonstrate this method on himself first by way of focused revisions. A sample chapter of a fantasy novel, …
From The Shadows: Setting As An Expression Of Character Development In The Epic Fantasy Genre, Leah Henson
From The Shadows: Setting As An Expression Of Character Development In The Epic Fantasy Genre, Leah Henson
Senior Honors Theses
Epic fantasy is a genre defined by its setting. It offers writers the opportunity to be incredibly specific with the way setting contributes to the overall story, specifically as an aid character development. In order to successfully use setting to support character development, the writer must understand what preconceptions with which the reader enters the epic fantasy genre and what purpose setting plays in the overarching story world. The writer must determine what setting elements to include and, just as importantly, which to leave out. Finally, because setting is such an abstract component of writing, it is useful not only …
Painting A Biblical Worldview In Children, Brook Blackwell
Painting A Biblical Worldview In Children, Brook Blackwell
Senior Honors Theses
Children are impressionable beings shaped by the changing world around them; this has become increasingly more true as the years progress and the impact and prevalence of media rises. Television shows, movies, music and books, no matter how insignificant they may seem, can play a tremendous part in the growth of children’s worldviews. It is important for authors and artists to delve deep into the impact of media on the growth and development of children in today’s media-rich world. In doing so, they should hope to find the best way to implement a Christian worldview into the media a child …
Veritas: An Adolescent Novel In A Biblical Worldview Context, Tessanna H. Curtis
Veritas: An Adolescent Novel In A Biblical Worldview Context, Tessanna H. Curtis
Senior Honors Theses
The secular world of literature is saturated with books sending adolescents a host of mixed signals. Contemporary young readers would benefit from literature that in some way reflects biblical truth and conveys a message that glorifies God. Such notions led to the writing of a young adult fantasy novel that introduces themes and plots that do not conflict with a Christian worldview. The protagonist does not simply react to situations around her, but is driven by specific desires that are not so easily obtained. Unlike many modern adolescent fantasies, the world is fully developed and populated by a variety of …