What I want to write about: lesson plan

Lesson Plan: one hour

What I want to write about. What I don’t want to write about 

	Groups, timing	content	A/V aids
Introduction:	Plenary 5 minutes	In this hour we will aim to 1.    Extend your repertoire of themes 2.    Do creative writing	Aims projected overhead
Purpose of session	5 minutes	Importance of surprise and originality in writing.  With lots of ideas you have more choice.
Make a list	5 minutes	Divide a fresh sheet of paper into two columns and list: What I want to write about	Example sheet [below]
Make another list	5 minutes	Now list: What I don’t want to write about
Reflect	1 minute	Mark the ideas that stand out
Discussion 1	In pairs, 5 minutes	Talk about the ideas that appeal
Creative Writing	10 minutes	Choose an idea and do some free writing
Creative Writing	10 minutes	Which column did you choose? Choose an idea from the other column and do some free writing
Discussion 2	In pairs, 5 minutes	What was that like?  Were ideas from one column easier to write? Did the discussion with a partner help?
Reading your work aloud		Share your writing with the group
Summary	1 minute	Value of having a storehouse of ideas. The best ideas are sometimes counterintuitive. Have you generated more ideas you can work on?  Any comments.	Handout [below]

What I want to       write about

What I don’t want  to write about

 A

What I want to write about. What I don’t want to write about

We made two lists and selected one idea from each column.

1.             Having a good repertoire of ideas in your store cupboard provides impetus to your writing

2.            It gives you more choice.

3.            You may be rejecting ideas out of hand which could be really exciting and unexpected.

4.            Choose the idea that sings or which generates strong feelings in you.

5.            Getting into the habit of making judgments about which idea to go forward with involves a dialogue between the Inner Critic and the Creative being.

6.            Surprise and originality are vital to good writing.

7.            Be prepared to take on something you’ve never done before.

8.            “Things I hate” can generate a rap, a polemic or laughter through ridicule.

9.            Allowing in more ideas will enable you to allow real life experiences into your writing.

10.          You’ll collect expressions or phrases that surprise you and resonate and put them into dialogue or events.