Background and resources for
the Writing Genres in this Project
MYTH, STORYTELLING
What is a Myth? The word "myth" comes from an ancient Greek word, "mythos", meaning "a
spoken or written story". A myth is not simply a story, but a story with a purpose. Myths were developed so
people could make sense of the different things that happen to them. This is why every society has had its own
collection of myths.
Native American traditional stories come from oral traditions. Not only were these stories meant to entertain,
they were meant to teach. The stories were generally told aloud. As Josept Bruchac also points out, "It is
important to remember to listen. There are stories all around you."
"Stories are formed. The formation of the story is particular and perceptible.
The storyteller proceeds according to a plan, a design,
a sense of proportion and order.
Stories are begun, they proceed and they come to an end."
N. Scott Momaday in forward to Native American Stories by Joseph Bruchac
RESOURCES: MYTH, POETRY AND STORYTELLING
Native American Stories, Joseph Bruchac
- a collection of stories for reading aloud
Goddesses, Heroes and Shamans, Kingfisher
- a guide to world mythology with a good introduction to what is a myth
TALL TALES, COWBOY POETRY
Cowboy poetry was intended to be read aloud, for it is essentially an oral literature first.
Written, it lacks uniform poetic convention; but recited, it shows a highly developed complexity which provides
the subtle interplay between rhythm, rhyme, and meaning.
Hal Cannon - introduction to Rhymes of the Ranges
"Sometimes people feel that poetry has to be about monumental human questions
like WHAT IS TRUTH? WHAT IS BEAUTY? WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?
Though poetry often gives insight into those matters
most good poetry does it through poet's giving visions of their worlds,
their particular worlds."
Susan and Stephen Tchudi, the Young Writer's Handbook
"The way to make the song
is this--
Don't try to think
what words to use
until
you're standing there
alone.
When you feel the sun
you'll feel
the song too.
Just sing it."
Byrd Baylor, "The Way to Start a Day," in The Scribner Anthology for
Young People
RESOURCES: TALL TALES, SONGS, COWBOY POETRY
Folklore of the Great West, John Greenway
- selections from 83 years of the Journal of American Folklore
Rhymes of the Ranges - edited by Hal Cannon
Buckaroo - edited by Hal Cannon and Thomas West
-comes with an audio CD so students can hear the authors recite their own poetry.
Coyote Cowboy Poetry, Baxter Black
Croutons on a Cow-Pie, Baxter Black
-Colorado's favorite, funny cowboy poetry
INNOVATIVE SCIENCE FICTION
Ideas from professional Science Fiction writers
"If you've got a premise, start with it.
If it's an old trite idea, then take it literally. Turn it inside out."
Horace L. Gold, editor of Galaxy magazine
"The classic SF story is one where the protagonist
and the reader have to apply reason to bring order out of chaos.
To apply the scientific method, in short.
It is impossible to use logical reasoning
on the incoherent, the inarticulate, the unstructured."
Jim Harmon, introduction to "The Place Where Chicago Was"
"Help! Help! what to do?... From out of the misty past came floating up to me one of good
old Horace's favorite comments: "Stand it on its head," he used to say. "When you think of an obvious
situation, consider it in reverse. Are you sure that B follows A? A follows B? Or maybe C follows A?"
Isaac Asimov, introduction to"Founding Fathers"
RESOURCES: SCIENCE FICTION
Galaxy, Thirty Years of Innovative Science Fiction
- Edited by Frederik Pohl, Martin Greenberg, and Joseph Olander
- a collection of the best science fiction stories submitted to Galaxy Magazine
- recommended: "The Great Nebraska Sea", Allan Danzig p. 219
- recommended: "Founding Father", Isaac Asimov p. 250
NEWS ARTICLE WRITING
Your hometown is a gold mine of writing opportunities:
1.Visit Places and People.
2. Planning and Writing:
- Think about an audience for your story
- Slant your story to your audience
- List the main ideas or points of the story; then rank them in importance
- Start with an example or illustration
- Let your research carry the story
- Have someone from your audience read your rough draft
(from Write Around Town in The Young Writer's Handbook by Susan & Stephen Tchudi)
RESOURCES: GENERAL WRITING
The Young Writer's Handbook, Susan and Stephen Tchudi
Coming to Know - Writing to Learn in the Intermediate Grades, edited by Nancie Atwell
Writing Down the Bones- Freeing the Writer Within, Natalie Goldberg
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