AmeliaBinMO Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Hi, everyone! Last night I searched, and I think that I have read nearly every thread on this board about the "One Year Adventure Novel" and many of the other creative writing programs that have been discussed. I've looked at the links provided and read enough descriptions of products to make my head swim! "One Year Adventure Novel" sounds very interesting, and the online video clips look engaging and impressive. What I'm wondering, though, is how well my dd will be able to work with the same story concept for a whole year. I fear that dd will at some point want to move on to work on something new. Even though new story elements are being learned, a year sounds so long for an 8th/9th grader to keep re-working the same story! But, perhaps I just don't understand the program well enough since we've not used it yet :confused:. I would love to hear from any experienced users of OYAN -- especially those who have completed it. Perhaps my fears are unfounded, and OYAN can keep interest and momentum going for the whole year. That is my only concern regarding the program. Thanks to anyone who can give input or insight regarding this -- I appreciate it! AmeliaBinMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Amelia, Do you happen to belong to the Yahoo group hs2coll? There is a post there by someone whose child completed OYAN. I'm not comfortable copying the post here, but it is post #29805. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenneinCA Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 My daughter has finished writing her novel but has not started the editing process yet. According to the syllabus she is supposed to take a break away from the novel for a while between finishing and editing. I don't know much about the actual process of writing it. I gave her the dvds and the books and let it go. If you have specific questions I can ask her for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmeliaBinMO Posted March 22, 2010 Author Share Posted March 22, 2010 Kareni -- Thank you so much for taking the time to post! I joined the group and checked out the message and responses -- it was very helpful! It made a lot of difference knowing that the novel writing portion lasts one half year, rather than extending the whole year. I really think that dd would love the program (and she does, too). Thank you for mentioning the yahoo group, also! It looks as if it will be a great resource! AmeliaBinMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmeliaBinMO Posted March 22, 2010 Author Share Posted March 22, 2010 Thank you, JenneinAZ! If your daughter has finished her novel, it sounds as if she is doing quite well with the program! That is great! Your comment of, "I gave her the dvds and the books and let it go," is very helpful to hear. That will help free up my time during the day for my younger. I suppose the only question that I would have for you (now that you've used the program) would be, "Would you recommend this program?" Thank you so much for your input! It is truly appreciated! AmeliaBinMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenneinCA Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 I would recommend the program for a student who wants to learn to write fiction and wants to learn about how novels are put together. It talks about pacing and characters and plot and climax and how all this is put together. It has made my daughter a more enlightened reader of fiction. She can see the steps in novels now and can see the road map to how a novel works. It does not teach literary analysis of any particular novel but it sure explains how it all comes to together. But I wouldn't use it for a younger student or one that didn't write well and want to write a novel. My younger kids watched the dvds too but got little or none of the literary parts. They just liked watching Cyrano de Bergerac on tv. It is a good program but only for an advanced writer and a serious reader of fiction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmeliaBinMO Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 JenneinAZ -- I can't thank you enough for taking the time to help me out with this. I truly appreciate it! Your insight has given me a lot to think about. Thank you very much! I wish all the best to your dd on putting the finishing touches on her novel! What an awesome accomplishment! AmeliaBinMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Have you looked at the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program? The idea is to write a novel in a month (not counting pre-planning and revision), but you can really use it however/whenever you want. During the month of November (National Novel Writing Month ~ aka NaNoWriMo), they have a forum where kids can post their progress and cheer each other on. (There's an adult version as well). The workbook is free to download and it's basically a step-by-step novel-writing curriculum. There are 3 levels: elementary, middle, & high school. Click on the workbook icon: http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/ Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumiller Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 JenneinAZ -- I can't thank you enough for taking the time to help me out with this. I truly appreciate it! Your insight has given me a lot to think about. Thank you very much! I wish all the best to your dd on putting the finishing touches on her novel! What an awesome accomplishment! AmeliaBinMO Amelia, My son is also working through this program this year. He has completed his first draft and is taking his required break from it. He absolutely loves this program. And everything that JenneinAZ has said, I agree with 100%. I would however like to add that there are two components of the program that I found most valuable and they are the online forum where my son can interact and discuss with other the students and the webinars hosted by the Schwabauers. These have really helped my son stay focused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmeliaBinMO Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 Hi, Jackie! Thanks so much for sharing that website! It is just packed with great information! I think that I'd better wait until dd is finished with her schoolwork today before I tell her about it -- she is going to flip! :001_smile: I would not have known about this opportunity if you had not pointed it out. Thank you so very much. My dd is an idea machine, who spends her spare time writing stories, poems, or screenplays (which she then has fun acting out and filming with her younger sibling). Writing is certainly something which I know nothing about; it is definitely an innate passion of hers which I am attempting to help foster. I am so appreciative of those of you who are chiming in with these wonderful ideas which will help me with this process. Thank you again! AmeliaBinMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmeliaBinMO Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 Sue -- thank you also! It is great hearing another success story, especially when this will be a fair investment of both time and money for us. I appreciate the input also about the online forum and webinars -- very good to know! Thank you again so much for your time! The program really sounds like a great fit for my dd! AmeliaBinMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmeliaBinMO Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 Jackie - I just had to write you another message after checking out that workbook at the NaNoWriMo site. That is amazing -- and huge! And FREE! Woohoo! :001_smile: Thanks again! AmeliaBinMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 (edited) Jackie - I just had to write you another message after checking out that workbook at the NaNoWriMo site. That is amazing -- and huge! And FREE! Woohoo! :001_smile: You're welcome! :) Jackie Edited March 23, 2010 by Corraleno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natalieclare Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 (edited) Hi! Sophia here, Natalieclare's second oldest daughter. I'm doing OYAN, and I love it! A year is a long time to focus on one story, but not on a novel. There are two ways of doing the program: three days a week or five days a week, so the speed at which you finish it kind of depends on the writer. In the last half of the program, how quickly the book is completed relies on how quickly the author chooses to write. It doesn't get old or boring at all. :) I know several kids on the OYAN forum that are writing 2-4 novels at one time. I have chosen to focus on one, especially as this is my first year. It is a blast! I absolutely recommend it. Edited March 24, 2010 by Natalieclare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmeliaBinMO Posted March 24, 2010 Author Share Posted March 24, 2010 Hi, Sophia! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with OYAN! Your input as one who has used the program is very valuable. I am reading many glowing reviews of this course, and that is making the decision of whether or not to use the program an easy one. It is great to hear the enthusiasm of someone who is doing something that they enjoy so much. Thank you so much for lending your expertise to help answer my question – I truly appreciate it! Please send a big, “Thank you!†to your mom also for allowing you to help me out! :001_smile: All the best to you as you complete your novel! Go Sophia! :001_smile: AmeliaBinMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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