Introduction

This photo of Balemong Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Gambang Semarang is a traditional art in Semarang. This art consists of music, vocal, dance, and comedy. (UKM KJ UNDIP)

This program is for freshman creative writing—a workshop on the forms of creative writing as practiced by the students themselves. The forms of creative writing in this program are poetic writing, narrative writing, playwriting, and scriptwriting. In the first half semester the students will be introduced to poetic writing and narrative writing to write short model poems and short model stories; and in the second half semester, they will be introduced to playwriting and scriptwriting to write short model plays and short model scripts.

The creative writing methods used in this program are creative imitation, creative adaptation, and creative composition. Creative imitation is applied in the first level to write based on writing models. Creative adaptation is applied in the second level to write based on other writing sources. Creative composition is applied in the third level to write based on inspiration, imagination, and intuition.

It is easy to learn theory of writing but difficult to learn creativity. It is hard to learn creative writing without practicing. The only way to learn to write is to write. It means that learning by doing is an appropriate method in creative writing. The only way to be creative is to create. It means that creativity implies in creation. To be creative or not to be, let’s write, write, and write.

Siswo Harsono

E-Syllabus

1. Prerequisite: Writing

2. General Objectives:

In Creative Writing Program, the students will be introduced to the basics of poetic writing, prose writing, playwriting, and scriptwriting in order that they are able to write creative forms of narrative, poetic, dramatic, and cinematic texts.

3. Lesson Plan

• Meeting
• Discussion
• Sub-discussion
• Specific Objectives

1. Poetic Writing. Poetic genre, format, and, elements. In order that the students are able to understand the genre, format and the elements of poetic text.
2. Short Model Poems. Poetic adaptation. In order that the students are able to write and adapt short model poems
3. Poetic Composition. Writing a poem. In order that the students are able to write and compose short model poems
4. Prose Writing. Narrative genre, format, and elements. In order that the students are able to understand the genre, format and the elements of prosy text.
5. Short Model Stories. Narrative adaptation. In order that the students are able to write and compose short model stories.
6. Narrative Composition. Writing a short story.In order that the students are able to write and compose short model stories.
7. Mid Test. Creative writing test and assignment. To evaluate the students’ creative writings for the first half semester.
8. Playwriting. Dramatic genre, format, and elements. In order that the students are able to understand the genre, format and the elements of plays.
9. Short Model Plays. Dramatic adaptation. In order that the students are able to write and adapt short model plays.
10. Dramatic Composition. Writing a short play. In order that the students are able to write and compose short model plays.
11. Scriptwriting. Script genre, format, and elements. In order that the students are able to understand the genre, format and the elements of scripts.
12. Short Model Scripts. Scripts adaptation. In order that the students are able to write and adapt short model scripts.
13. Script Composition. Writing a short script. In order that the students are able to write and compose short model scripts
14. Final Test. Creative writing test and assignment. To evaluate the students’ creative writing for the second half semester

4. References

Bishop, Leonard. 1988. Dare To Be A Great Writer. Ohio: Writer’s Digest Books.

Brooks, Keith. 1995. The Complete Video Course. London: Boxtree, Ltd.

Hedgecoe, John. 1990. Hedgecoe on Video. London: Hamlyn.

Knickerbocker, K L and others. 1985. Interpreting Literature. 7th ed. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Novakovich, Josip. 1998. Writing Fiction: Step By Step. Ohio: Story Press.

Perrine, Laurence. 1987. Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense. New York: HBJ.

Skaggs, Calvin, ed. 1977. The American Short Story in Two Media—Print and Film. New York: A Laurel Book.

Wolff, Jurgen and Cox, Kerry. 1991. Successful Script
Writing. Ohio: Writer’s Digest Books.