Journal Entry 4

I FINALLY finished my narative. OH MY GOODNESS, I think my fingers have actually become a part of my keyboard. One minute I was in love with my story the next I thought it was worthless. Then I began to wonder, will this get me an "A" on this project? My answer to that was, well if it doesn't at least it was a great experience even if the bones are now poking through the tops of my fingers. I wrote a story about experiencing the death of a friend, it touch my heart and I feel that writing about it gave a little closure. I only hope that the emotion I felt when I found out was conveyed well and that the story evokes interest in the reader. I am a student not of this class but of life and perhaps this was a good way to see one of life's lessons and have to realize it and own the reality.
On another note, I fell behind a little on the reading but I know that I will take it to bed and use it as some bedtime reading. Tonight is eggplant parm, or I would snuggle and read right now. Occassionally, food, especially a good eggplant parm. can rip even the most diligent studen from the text.

Journal Entry 3

It's official I am a neurotic mess when it comes to writing. I relate very well to aspects of Bird by Bird. I have found my self really enjoying this book, I think it is great that Anne Lamott speaks as a real person in this book. I have found that every first draft I have ever written coinsides with this books chapter on "Shitty First Drafts" I have found her approach to writing thus far as a refreshing look. I never thought to sit and just put down every aspect of an occassion in order to develop a concept. I find it funny that when I want to tell a story to my friends I can emote laughs or sighs or tears. But when I sit down to put it on paper, my story becomes a mess and a mere fragment of the tale that was once told. Maybe it is trying to hard to make everything perfect or funny or sad por whatever. I guess it is just very intimidating to realize that you have a blank page to fill and if it sucks it has your name on it. I now know why research papers are easier for me to just write than a creative task, even though I tend to be more interested in the creative.

Journal Entry 2

I have started writing my draft for the first paper. I have decided to write this story in first person, even though the event was recent I feel I have conquered the emotion that I held on to for so long. Realizing the potential therapy that writing is becoming for me is making each paragraph a little easier to write. However, I have found that sometimes I almost give to much information and have to rewrite several lines in order to keep the major secret of this paper until the end. I hope that the story comes full circle and my readers will feel at least some of the emotion that I have/had about the happenings I am writing about. The subject matter itself is important and I think a lot of people don't realize the dangers of epilepsy. In any case I can only hope that after the revision of my other numerous revisions will make an impact on the readers of this literary non-fiction piece.

Journal Entry 1

This first week has been interesting. I have enjoyed the text a lot more than I anticipated. typically writing text drone on and bore the pants off me. Three Genres however has captured my attention and ignited a passion for learning the way to write. I particularly found it interesting that most good writers are avid readers. I have to say I often read Dean Koontz and the mans mind intrigues me. He has to get his material from somewhere, perhaps he reads King. Overall I have tried to read a litle from each of the books. I think Bird by Bird may be a read that I recommend to my family. I love the tone that the book has, conversational and real. Going back to the text, Killing Chickens was an amazing short story. The passion and emotion of this story really touched me. It is amazing the way she stressed and thought about the next days activities, true to a woman, always looking forward even when the here and now is dragging us back.