Unit 1 - Lesson 1: Partnering Up
An Introduction
Craft:
For this first part of the lesson, we'll be learning about Collaborative Writing, and how you can use it in your own process!
We'll be starting with this article written by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Only read the first two parts of the article, as the rest doesn't pertain to what we're trying to accomplish.
Some guiding questions to think about as you read:
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How would you want to plan a piece of writing? Could you do it with a partner or is it more solo?
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Are you the kind of person who drafts individually, or in a group setting?
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Would you and your partner trade off on jobs or would you work together on the same thing?
Think about these question and try to answer them as you read! The article is linked to the right of this text utilizing the button!
Connect:
Now we'll be talking about what you just read!
Knowing the process of collaboration by heart will help you choose the perfect writing partner for you!
First up: Planning.
You and your partner will want to plan something before you jump into a project, Maybe you'll plan a summary of what you'll be writing, or you'll plan how to write the actual project itself.
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Set a five minute timer and figure out what you'll be working on together. For this exercise, try to keep it something short—a one-page story or poem works well. Remember, the goal could also be to give critiques or comments.
Then we have Drafting.
Drafting is the act of writing your project together. This could also mean editing a project or giving critiques.
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Set another timer for ten minutes to write the piece together. It's best to be a predictable partner that's easy to work with!
Finally, we have Finishing Touches.
This is up to your interpretation. You could take some time away from the piece or continue sharing it with others.
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Gather a different group of writing partners and trade pieces. Give at least three comments on each piece with the intent to help the other group improve! After this, take your comments and decide what you want to implement and what you'd like to keep the same.
Create:
This is the final step in this lesson. Now you get to put what you learned into practice!
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Find a writer that writes opposite of you. Different genres, like tragedy and comedy work well, or even different mediums like screenwriters and poets.
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Follow the steps above and create a longer piece, like a full story, script, or multiple poems. The drafting can be done inside or outside club time.
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Finally, run it by each other and once you're both satisfied, give your piece to a different group for them to critique and give feedback on. Work together with your partner to decide what feedback you'd like to implement.
These steps should lead you to learn how fun collaborative writing can be, and how it can help you grow as a writer. Good luck and have fun working together!
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