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 * Novella Assignment**

Over the next three weeks (and a few days), you will be working on the longest piece of writing you’ve probably ever attempted, a 35- 50 page (15,000 word) novella. Some of your will finish your novella in 35 pages; some of you will be only part of the way done. The goal is simple: sustain a story for three (+) solid weeks of school.

When you are done, you will have a first draft of a novella, NOT a polished draft. It will be very rough, with lots of problems, mistakes, good parts and bad parts, and that’s fine. Don’t let yourself get obsessive. Just stick with it and try not to worry about it.

I’ll be giving your credit for your work based on your ability to meet deadlines—and that’s all. (Of course, if it’s clear that you’re just filling the space, that will be a problem.) I’m expecting you to be your usual, creative and imaginative selves and to spend the time writing a story that you feel proud of.

You will post your novella-in-progress on the wiki that I’ve made for this project (BHSnovellas2011.wikispaces.com), which will allow me and others in the class to read your work and offer feedback and suggestions. However, you must also save a copy of your work elsewhere (a flash drive; your own computer; in printed form) so that just in case the wiki site runs into difficulties, you’re not stuck.

At first, you will feel overwhelmed with this assignment and unsure about how you could possibly sustain a story for so long. But as you start writing, you’ll be amazed at what happens. Your story will come alive for you. You’ll start thinking about your story all the time and you’ll simply be recording it rather than making it up. Trust yourself and trust the process.

Some tips:


 * 1) Choose an interesting narrator. Or multiple narrators
 * 2) Write about things you like to read about. That way, you can use what you’ve read as inspiration
 * 3) Include dialogue. Straight narrative prose is hard to read and write
 * 4) Let your characters just chat with each other; don’t rush and don’t worry if what they are saying or doing together is important. That will come. Let them exist and they will take you on an adventure
 * 5) Don’t be afraid of plot twists. Don’t be afraid of crazy plot twists.
 * 6) If you ever get stuck, introduce a new character or two.
 * 7) Stick to the writing schedule. It’s really hard to write a lot in one sitting, so avoid getting behind.
 * 8) Enjoy. This is supposed to be fun. Write a story that you want to read. That’s always a winning path.

**Novella Writing schedule:**

[1000 words] || [4,500 words] || [8,000 words] || [11,500 words] || [15,000 words] ||  ||
 * **Monday** || **Tuesday** || **Wednesday** || **Thursday** || **Sunday Night** ||
 * 16 || 17 || 18 || 19 || 22
 * 23 In Lab || 24 || 25 In Lab || 26 In Lab || 29
 * 30 || 31 In Lab || 1 || 2 laptops || 5
 * 6 In Lab || 7 In Lab || 8 || 9 || 12
 * 13 || 14 || 15 || 16