Creative Writing Commons^™

Front Matter

Manuscripts

Front matter includes: cover, table of contents, and masthead.

Endings: What Can You Teach?, Julie Patterson

Articles

Our writer-in-residence shares strategies for crafting the perfect ending to a story.

Beginnings: 3 Examples (And Why They Work), Julie Patterson

Articles

Our writer-in-residence helps us look closely at the beginnings of three short stories.

Hold Readers At A Climax, Julie Patterson

Articles

Our writer-in-residence says: A climax is long. In fact, it's a place to hold readers.

The Trouble With Beginning, Middle & End, Julie Patterson

Articles

I recently helped judge a story writing contest, and one of the criteria on the assessment form I was provided was: Does the story have a beginning, middle and end? As I began reading the entries, I quickly discovered that this was not useful assessment criteria.

The Moral Code Of Las, Bryant Dawson

Kristi Schultz Broughton Liberal Arts Essay Contest

2014 Topic: Somewhere Between Right and Wrong

The distinction between what is right to do and what is callous or offensive marks many of our decisions and can shape our lives and the lives of those affected by our actions and attitudes for better or worse. Moral choices are pervasive; we encounter them in the occupations on which we may embark, the research we may perform, and the lives that we lead. There is no universal agreement on the principles that should guide our moral choices (e.g. many tend to equate what is right with personal advantage or with some …

My Second Home, Basa Village, Jeff Rasley

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Article for Synchronized Chaos about the author’s journeys to Basa Village in Nepal.

An Enlightened Partnership, Jeff Rasley

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Article for Shout! Outdoor Lifestyle Magazine about the author’s journeys to Basa Village in Nepal and the partnership forged with the villagers.

4 Craft Strategies To Notice In The Leaving Morning (And Why), Julie Patterson

Articles

What can you learn about writing from a picture book? Lots!

The Art Of Prayer, Bryan M. Furuness

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Bryan Furuness' contribution to Hobart. Nominated for a Puschcart prize.

What’S The Point? Five Writers Offer Lifelines For Post-Mfa Despair, Bryan M. Furuness

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

No abstract available

Paddling The Perilous Paradise, Jeff Rasley

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Article for Shout! Outdoor Lifestyle Magazine about the author’s journeys to Palau and Jellyfish Lake.

Play From The Heart: Five Notes On Creativity, Bryan M. Furuness

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

No abstract available

The First Time I Figured Out What My Novel Was About, Bryan M. Furuness

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

No abstract available

How To Read A Poem, Julie Patterson

Articles

Our writer-in-residence offers some insight into how to read a poem.

Pilgrimage To Wounded Knee: An Essay, Jeff Rasley

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Article for Synchronized Chaos about the author’s trip to the Badlands National Park and Wounded Knee.

Bologna And Blogs: A Student's Journey Towards Actualizing The Purpose Of His Higher Education, Andrew Erlandson

Kristi Schultz Broughton Liberal Arts Essay Contest

2013 Topic: Primed to Serve, a Benefit of a Liberal Arts Education

In Professor Marshall Gregory's forthcoming book, Good Teaching and Educational Vision: Not the Same Thing as Disciplinary Expertise, he writes of the importance of "[making] some kind of positive contribution to the world: to do something to make the world more sensible or more peaceful or more civil or more intelligent, and more congenial to human flourishing." Write an essay that analyzes how your liberal arts experiences (in your core and major classes, your community requirements, your service work, or other experiences) have inspired or prepared you …

Vocation: What Does It Mean To Be Called Or Led Into A Profession, Career, Or Life Project?, Jeff Rasley

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Article for UChicago Alumni News about alumni programming held in Fall 2012.

Pushing Hard: An Excerpt From Bringing Progress To Paradise, Jeff Rasley

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Excerpt from the author’s book Bringing Progress to Paradise (ISBN 9781573244824).

Interactive Bulletin Boards That Support Writing, Julie Patterson

Articles

Great writing instruction = student created bulletin boards. Here are some ideas.

Jeff Rasley: Mountains Of Meaning, Pam Richards, Jeff Rasley

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Interview with Pam Richards for Seeds Born to Light about the author’s experience in the Himalayas and Basa Village.

Interview With Monsters Of The Midway Author Jeff Rasley, Jeff Rasley, John Warner

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Interview with John Warner for Indie BookSpot about the author’s experience writing, publishing, and marketing his books.

Assessing A Young Writer’S Story, Julie Patterson

Articles

Now that's a story! Find out what this 1st grader is doing well and what our writer-in-residence would teach next.

Great Supplies For Your Primary Grade Writing Workshop, Libby Duggan

Articles

The right supplies can help you launch a writing workshop and establish the kind of habits and practices that will make the workshop easy to manage all year long. You may even want to stock up before the back-to-school sales end. Here are the "must-have" supplies I have used in my primary grade workshop.

5 Things Writing Workshop Teachers Want Parents To Know, Libby Duggan

Articles

When I was teaching, I wanted parents to know how to support the work that we were doing in the classroom. Perhaps most importantly, I wanted to be sure that what students were told about their writing at home was consistent with what I taught in the classroom. So with that in mind, I've assembled an article that you can share with families: "5 Things Writing Workshop Teachers Want Parents to Know."

On Deadlifting, Bryan M. Furuness

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

The first time I picked up four hundred pounds, I thought my eyeballs were going to explode.

3 Requirements For Meaningful Memoir Writing, Jeff Rasley

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Guest blog post for Novel Spaces on the three requirements for meaningful memoir writing.

Evolution, Bryan M. Furuness

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

No abstract available

Feed Your Writer’S Notebook This Summer, Julie Patterson

Articles

Summer is a great time to tend to your writer's notebook. You can "stock up" on notebook entries that will support your mini-lessons during the school year. Not sure what to write? Here are some notebook strategies to help fuel your inspiration.

Memoir Writing From Diary To Publishable Piece, Jeff Rasley

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Guest blog for Indies Unlimited on memoir writing.