Assignment: Portrait
On Day One of this class, you wrote a brief portrait of a person who, early in your life, influenced your views on food.
Well, here’s your chance to extend that portrait, or to write a new one.
Please keep in mind “The Queen of Mold” by Ruth Reichl, “My Education in Cooking” by Judy Rodgers, and “Bread Winner” by Susan Choi. These essays gained much of their life from vivid images and concrete details. Your portrait essay can do the same.
If you’re stumped for an idea, consider the following possibilities:
1. Imagine you are at a tribute dinner for your portrait subject. Tell a single story about that person.
2. Imagine you are writing to your grandchildren, telling them about your food person and his or her influence on you.
3. Imagine you’re at a funeral for your portrait subject. You have only two minutes to say something. What can you say that will be suitable and memorable? What story can you tell that will best illustrate a key aspect of the person’s character, and do it so well that the people in attendance will nod with recognition?
HINT: Don’t say “My grandmother taught me that food was important” and leave it at that. Instead, tell and show (or just show) her influence on you. Be specific. Write a scene or tell a story. Define your character through what he or she says and does. Write with nouns and verbs. And keep in mind what Anne Lamott once suggested: Don’t try to fill a large picture frame. Instead, fill a one-inch-square picture frame.
Well, here’s your chance to extend that portrait, or to write a new one.
Please keep in mind “The Queen of Mold” by Ruth Reichl, “My Education in Cooking” by Judy Rodgers, and “Bread Winner” by Susan Choi. These essays gained much of their life from vivid images and concrete details. Your portrait essay can do the same.
If you’re stumped for an idea, consider the following possibilities:
1. Imagine you are at a tribute dinner for your portrait subject. Tell a single story about that person.
2. Imagine you are writing to your grandchildren, telling them about your food person and his or her influence on you.
3. Imagine you’re at a funeral for your portrait subject. You have only two minutes to say something. What can you say that will be suitable and memorable? What story can you tell that will best illustrate a key aspect of the person’s character, and do it so well that the people in attendance will nod with recognition?
HINT: Don’t say “My grandmother taught me that food was important” and leave it at that. Instead, tell and show (or just show) her influence on you. Be specific. Write a scene or tell a story. Define your character through what he or she says and does. Write with nouns and verbs. And keep in mind what Anne Lamott once suggested: Don’t try to fill a large picture frame. Instead, fill a one-inch-square picture frame.
posted by Pink Lady at 9:17 PM
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