Write Around

By Natalie Elschlager

Strategy presented by Natalie Elschlager

Write Around, a version of the Surrealist-inspired Exquisite Corpse, is a community-building writing activity in which all participants contribute their own unique lines of a story or poem. This can be accomplished once around a group circle or even multiple times, depending on your learners’ level of comfort and skill. The first student (Student One) designs the opening line, then passes the paper to the person next to them. Student Two reads the line to themselves and continues the story with their personal, related line.

This time before passing, though, Student Two folds the paper concealing ONLY Student One’s line. This means Student Three has to work off of the written words of Student Two. Then, let the fold-pass-write method continue on. With this, each new participant can only view the immediate line before their’s— creating a fun & entertaining element of surprise once the game ends. The teams unfold the paper and read their story. In my classroom, we like to have a little competition of who, indeed, has crafted the most “exquisite” tale.

Write Around is flexible depending on academic level. For example, beginner or younger players can work word by word instead of line by line. Advanced players can go as far as mapping out a defined sequence (Example: Noun-Action Verb- Image from Nature). Actually, I am considering taking Write Around to the next level in the near future. A co-author of this blog, Dr. Laurie Kemp, recommended each student have a paper, so there would be a flow of steady passing, continual participation/engagement, and multiple stories developing at one time. We are up for the challenge!

Students are able to develop their writing skills while also collaborating with their peers, enhancing their experience with both the technical and social aspects of the classroom. While contributing, my students are often laughing, appear contemplative, and excitedly volunteer to read the final product (Today for instance, I had volunteer readers legitimately run to the front of the room to share their team's piece.) 

We narrowed our focus for the first time this week. First, I asked the students for topics to write about, and then they took a vote. A cheesy love letter was the premise for our first go-about; a poem dedicated to food was the second subject. The next time we met, students composed a reflective poem. For a personal favorite, I provided students the title & format as a way for them think about their growth and development this quarter. I selected one of each to publish below.

Cheesy Love Letter

I don't have anything to run from,  I love you.
Your dark hair reflects in the moonlight, it's beautiful.
The way your eyes shine when we talk, it's lovely.
It's blinding me from ever seeing your flaws.
That hair, g-d that hair, it's intoxicating to look at in the light.
Just looking at you makes my heart burst with joy.
Your eyes remind me of the blue sea.
I love your face. Now, shhhh.
Please, for my sanity.
Jump into the water and give me my space.
I'm just joking, I love you.
I hope that you also love me too.
With your love, I would cease to have a purpose on Earth.
But that smile made it all worth it.
Seeing your smile was the prize for burning that boat with people on it.
To my dearly beloved fish, Benny.

Food Poem

Steam rises from the hot bowl,

my nose fills with scent.

The fragrance of carrots--

swarms the kitchen.

My mother moves gracefully

pots and pans clanging familiarly

water splashing across the floor.

The pools disturbed, when landing inside.

Yet the disruption could never stop me from savoring your love.

Sweet, but spicy,

sour with a bite in my throat,

only the most plentiful flavors.

The smell is home to me.

Freshly baked pumpkin pie.

That we baked on Thanksgiving morning.

So I ate you up, my little steamed broccoli. 

What We Learned

I learned that beauty and talent surrounds us; it hides in every individual.

I learned of poets-- their language and style and life.

I learned that you can talk about your feelings through writing.

I learned that we were willing to pour our emotions into our writing.

I learned that writing is more fun when it is shared with those you love.

I learned the importance of being open to judgement and suggestions, because my peers wanted me to blossom.

I learned to wish nothing but the best for my peers-- despite our differences.

I learned to write with purpose.

I learned how to love myself, more than I did before.

I learned that through writing, anything is possible.

References

Exquisite Corpse 2.0: Collaborative Story Writing with FoldingStory. (2011, February 21). Retrieved from https://readwrite.com/2011/02/21/exquisite_corpse_20_collaborative_story_writing_wi/