Extra credit drawing or X-page writing image
Start by spending five to ten minutes drawing this picture. Use your pen or pencil to help you see the image, to ‘touch’ all the edges of everything you see. The object is not to make a beautiful drawing, but rather a kind of map of the image. Think of the image as a series of locations: there are hands in this area, a doorway in that area, a chair back here, tiles there. As you draw think about the scene. Pretend you are someone in this picture, or this image is something you can see. Take a new sheet of paper, draw a big X over it, and write the answers to the following questions anywhere on that page, as quickly as possible—spend no more than five minutes. 1. Where are you? 2. What time of day does it seem to be? 3. What season does it seem to be? 4. How old are you in this image? 5. Why are you there? 6. What are you doing? 7. Is there anyone else in this image? 8. Is there anyone who just left or who may be coming? 9. What is the temperature in this image? 10. What does the air smell like? 11. What’s the source of light in this image? 12. What are some of the sounds in this image? 13. What’s in front of you? 14. What’s to your right? 15. What’s to your left? 16. What’s behind you? 17. What are some of the objects in this image?
18. What are you doing?
19. Who else is in this image with you?
20. What’s going on?
21. Why are you there?
Once you’ve answered these questions, set a timer for 10 minutes. Starting with the words “I am…” begin by telling us where you are, and then continue writing in the first person, present tense, about this scene. When the alarm goes off, give yourself 1-2 minutes to “finish” the story. Write straight through without stopping, and set the piece aside for at least one week before you do anything with it.
