The Creative Life: Day One

Today we explored the components of fictional story telling. Through various group activities we were given the opportunity to utilize our newly acquired skills in developing a fictional character. By speaking to a contemporary writer, Beth Grosart, we gained an understanding of the link between non-fiction and fiction. We became comfortable sharing our work and thus providing positive feedback to our classmates. - Will R.

Fiction Workshop in Progress

Student Work:

"The bass in the background seems a paintbrush and everytime it plays, it is painting a path and the piano is the brain and allowing me to walk that path of uncertainty" - Kaleb D.

"Street vendors portray a heavy smell incapable of traveling a distance, but rather something I pick up and leave at the spot." - Will R.

"I finally burst out saying "I hear a buzz and it's getting closer." We start hearing footsteps and finally a knock at the bathroom door. The door opens and there is Mom, holding a bloody knife." - Johnny B.

"Looking up was like peering into a neon kaleidoscope; with a thousand things and events proclaiming themselves across the massive signs." - Ella T.

"Carl had made his dream come true, he could now party forever with those two songs, Channing Tatum, and the ultimate party house." - Robbie H.

"He's not going to know enough to stay where he is, or go to the police. I've taught him that, but I'm sure that went in one ear and out the other." - Liv D.

"See the wallet and take it. I could make billions off of this. People are too caught up in everything else to even notice. Be smooth, be smart, and seem kind. All around me, people are oblivious to their surroundings, which makes it so much easier. Even if they notice, it's gone and they will never suspect that I took it." - Maryellen L.

"The most important power of time is that it always changes."- Liangzhe Z.

"He wishes his brother didn't have to leave, possibly forever, to defend his family and nation. In all honesty, Luke doesn't want any protection, even if it means he could have his brother back." - Patrick K.

A Writing Life - Day 4, Publishing Day (By Akseli Isotalo and friends)

Adoring fans line up outside The Purple Pit

The new edition of Cold Sexy Stats is out

We started the day by finishing the editing of our short movies and the writing pieces we made earlier this week that we wanted to put in our book. After some brainstorming, and inspired by something Mr. Cistulli said during our session with him on Thursday, we came to the conclusion it should be titled, "Cold Sexy Stats." We also worked to format and print the book throughout the morning. After lunch, we went to The Purple Pit Cafe in Bristol where everybody presented their pieces in public by reading at the podium. 

Mr. Whitmore shares a poem first started
in a writing exercise with Ms. Grosart

Isaiah White owning the stage.

Author Bill Rubin reads his work.

A Writing Life - Day 4 (by Jimena Luja Amezcua)

Today was a very amusing day in which we learned how to create a satire, and we even each made one of our own. Some of the subjects satirized were school policies, Isis, Russian chicken imports, and gluten-free food.

Another great experience that we had today was talking to Mr. Cistulli about what he does as a writer and how he got to where he is right now. We talked to him about his experience as a poet and as a baseball writer.

Mr. Cistulli explains his journey to
becoming a professional writer.

Later in the afternoon, we had some time to work on our final pieces that we will present tomorrow and publish in our group's zine. We will also be learning about the process of workshopping this afternoon.

A Writing Life - Day 3 (by Will Rubin)

Our day began with a movie entitled People, Places, Things which dealt with the hardships of adult relationships and divorce. To learn more about the filmmaking process, we skyped with one of the producers of the film, Michael B Clark, who works at the production company, Beachside Films. We learned about the logistics that go into producing a film on a smaller budget that brings a profit.

In the afternoon we took the time to brainstorm, storyboard, produce, and shoot our own one-minute films on our iPads while utilizing common characteristics, such as "conflict," that are present in all movies.

A Writing Life - Day 2 (By George S.)

On a bright and very enjoyable Tuesday morning, the "A Writing Life" Project Week group headed to Profile Falls in Bristol right from the New Hampton cafeteria, where, over breakfast, we had first discussed poems by a contemporary artist from San Francisco named Kai Carlson-Wee. When on the site of Profile Falls, we observed the waterfall, half frozen, the birds, the woods, and the hill surrounding the river. As the nature observations were made, we wrote poetry influenced by what we observed. After this connection with nature, we headed north to Plymouth to do a completely opposite exercise: write poetry based only on the street conversations and signs of the “urban” setting.

Aksel connecting with nature at Biedermans.

After traveling around New Hampshire and enjoying our lunch at the famous Biederman’s deli bar, we came back to the school to skype Kai Carlson-Wee and ask him about his poetry. The conversation went smoothly and Kai shared his experiences working as a poet and a professor at Stanford University. To end the day, we polished two poems written in the morning and shared them in our respectful circle.

Here are some samples of selected lines from longer works of poetry created by the group:

The face of the earth goes on
It's blue eyes tear down the steam
It's hair sways in the wind ever so condescending
Foot prints as blemishes on the skin
-Will R.

Trapped inside a frozen and pacific
Waterfall, I stand and break the ice.
If this day’s remembered as prolific,
Then I am interested to live it twice.
-George S.

So take a hike and keep calm. ...
-Isaiah W.

Lets put it that way,
this homework is something I can't fail
I mean I'm smart but this is not normal project,
this is art
-Akseli I.

The water free falls from the Rocky Mountains and then it picks up its way to flow into the river, just as humans fall into the same pattern of mistakes and pick up their way...
-Jimena A.

Ice sloping downwards
Frigid waters rushing under
Makes me wonder of life down-under.
-Padriac W.

Cell phone conversations floated and heads partnered off to climb Bernal Hill trying to reconcile their legs.
-Mr. Whitmore

There is a cliff diver, a diving horse, an acrylic pen, Skrillex turntables, and a lasso in case of trouble. ...
-Mr. McCollom

A Writing Life - Monday, March 9 (By Paddy Wakeham)

The "A Writing Life" project week group started the week strong on its first day. Mr. Whitmore and Ms. Grosart led nonfiction workshops that taught us how to open our minds and write what was "emotionally true" to each individual when writing a story. In the afternoon, we created fiction stories by implementing two different characters from different backgrounds and how their characteristics led to them meeting in some sort of way. Also the group learned the importance of publishing and the different processes that can be taken to become a published author. Below are some small excerpts from the groups writing during this morning's lessons. 

"Blake led us over gates, through unknown doors, behind buildings, and into a restricted room." -Will Rubin

"I am a xylem, not a phloem, as I drink two gallons of water a day. Or however much is liquid enough to help me operate in weird American units." -George Shukaylo

Lots of ideas on the table in
 the Writing Life think tank.

"As the fans were holding their breath for this final minute of the game, our stomachs were turning, sweat dripping down our faces, our legs were giving in, but we weren't giving up. Because we knew this was it, this was all or nothing. This was the Super Bowl." -Isaiah White

"Oscar asks me to climb over the fence to the festival area. I'm not so sure about the idea but we have a deal that if the other one has balls to do something the other has to do it too." -Akseli Isotalo

"It was midnight and it was only just me and her in the common room. We were talking about the future and introducing our first deep conversation where I would realize that we had a unique friendship and chemistry." -Jimena Luja

"What I thought was an act of kindness quickly turned into an act of violence." -Padriac Wakeham

"The cigarette burned down to the filter. The ash flitted away and turned grey on the tan steps of our stoop, it's lifespan, birth, death, childhood, adulthood lasting all of two seconds before being flippantly tossed and forgotten, smeared into the dirt my roommate would eventually track into our hallway." -Mr. Whitmore

"I sit at the far end of the beach. My feet and backside are damp. I presume she is receding from view, but I do not turn to see her go. The ring feels small in my hand - it had felt twice this size when the salesman placed it in my palm with a satisfied smile three days ago - and now I absent-mindedly spin it between my fingers." -Mr. McCollom

"A Writing Life" Intends to Rewrite History (Or At Least Tell Some Good Stories)

Some website called brainyquote.com claims that Benjamin Franklin said, “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” Now, Franklin himself may or may not have actually said this – we like our historical figures to have said all sorts of profound things they may or may not have actually said – but regardless, it’s a fitting sentiment for Project Week in general and “The Writing Life” group is excited to tackle both of Franklin’s demands next week. 

This group intends to tap into all those buried veins of creativity as we learn about and practice various methods of storytelling. We will smash all our own various writer’s blocks…

… tell stories in every medium under the sun, and learn from professional writers, poets, professors, screenwriters, film producers, and mustachioed baseball analysts how to actually get paid telling stories. And then, channeling the wisdom of Michael Scott, we'll take our shot and share our work with the world in a public coffee-house style reading. 

Should be good.