The voice within

Just a final post to say goodbye to this wonderful semester.

My final author wrote a chapter on finding your voice, How I Discovered the Voice - or rather, How the Voice Discovered Me. That's what this class has helped me to do, find and listen to the writer's voice that I have always had.

Thanks to all for sharing voice and listening to my voice!

Final Blog

A few days late, but I wanted to finish this book before my last post. And to be honest, the first few chapters in the book, I really liked their points of view on certain aspects of writing. But towards the end I didn't feel like I was getting as much out of it. But I still think Ellen Gilchrist said it best about writing. Some of the few key phrases that stick out in my mind are, "Writing is Rewriting," "Writers read," "Just write what comes to mind," "you're allowed to have a shitty first draft," the list goes on and on. But I think there is something I have learned in class that is even more important than the act of writing. I think having confidence about whatever you write about is one of the top few things about writing. I dread and I mean dread reading my work out loud due to the fact I'd rather write and leave it on paper. I just don't have the most confidence in what I write especially after hearing all the talent we have in class. But really this class has made me face it and I think that is the most important thing to have when it comes to your writing. Anyone can write, but I think it takes more to read your own work or let other people read yours. And I think that is the most valuable thing I take away from this class. So thank you.

Finally

Well, I'm about to finish my book, The Spiral Staircase, by Karen Armstrong, and frankly there's nothing much in there as far as tips about writing. Toward the end, however, she says something that I thought quite appropo to what we have been learning. Her book is about her travels through finding herself after having spent 7 yrs. as a nun, and after Googling her I find that she has written several books about different religions. Her quote which touched me follows.

"Like the words of a poem, a religious idea, myth, or doctrine points beyond itself to truths that are elusive, that resist words and conceptualization. If you seize upon a poem and try to extort its meaning before you are ready, it remains opaque. If you bring your own personal agenda to bear upon it, the poem will close upon itself like a clam, because you have denied its unique and separate identity, its own inviolable holiness. I found this to be true in my study of literature. As soon as I had stopped trying to use it to advance my career, it began to speak to me again. Now I was having the exact same experience with theology."

Maybe sometimes we try too hard instead of letting things just evolve to a point we're ready to absorb and understand them. Of course, when "Teacher" says "do it," you can't always wait for the "aha" moment. OUR teacher has been very flexible about letting us do things at our own pace, and that is very much appreciated! Thank you, Kim.

last blog

As this course is coming to a close this will be the last blog. My last blog will be different from the rest. It will include not only something from the book, but also somethings that I have learned throughout this course from the classroom.

The end of the book speaks about style in great degree. It says that "writint at high speed is usually a good thing. " It further says, "It suggest enthusiasm, confidence and knowing what you want to say." I agree with that. When you write and you can do it at a high pace then you really know what you want to say and the energy is flowing. I have found that when I am really working on an assignement and have thought about it and know what I want to say, then I am able to write it and have the thoughts keeps coming to me. However, on the reverse end when I am having a hard time it is hard to get into any kind of pace.

If anyone has anything to say and writes about it is a writer. I believe that a writer is simply is person that writes. Now there are things that seperate writers but on average any person who writes can be a writer. The most important aspect of writting to me is to just get whatever you want to say on paper and then go from there.

Bird by Bird

Dialogue...Dialogue...Dialogue....the importance of Dialogue...how great art thee??? Lamont definitely believes that dialogue plays a big part to becoming a good writer. When doing your writing...your dialogue should have a voice to it that readers can hear. She said that, "in the right hands, dialogue can move things along in a way that will leave you breathless." Lamott says to help you along with your dialogue you should listen to all the conversations from people who are around you. Also you should be able to identify each of your characters from their dialogue. Not saying that this will happen overnight, but you definitely should put ur time and effort into it.

This was definitely useful to me because in a sense, what advice she gave, I've already began to do so. Its fun for me to make characters and not so much describe them, but let your dialogue tell the tale of who they are.

I love this story . . .

Check out this link: http://www.slate.com/id/2292099/pagenum/all

Found this on slate.com. A writer that uses his wife to edit his work and they are still married and in love! LOL.

Thanks to Ellen

I have always wondered what makes a good writer. I have also always wondered if one persons eccentricity could help or hinder what they write. The similarities in Ellen's personality and mine are scarry. Please do not misinterpret my intention. Our personalities are very similar in that when she is totally focused on something, everything else is secondary, and she talks about the ways to get to that point. Truly, she dives into her writing and her focus isn't sidetracked by anyone or anything. To tap into this kind of dicipline isn't easy but I believe she gave me the right direction to go in order to achieve this kind of centerd focus. THe five main points that has helped me immensely , and that I owe total gratitude to Ellen are:
1. To sometimes break the rules a bit, because that is where creativity can sometimes strike an awsome and critical point in writing.Another words, something great can happen outside of the box and that is really where it originates.
2. Ellen's attention to detail in what others may not give a second thought too. Ellen has a way with her writing that the mundane becomes unique upon her perception of it .
3. To READ is a very important element in fueling a writer with creativity and to inspire as well as direct where the writer can go .
4. Sometimes, not always but sometimes, our direction that we go in seems to take a completely different route in life than we anticipated, but the destination is still the same. Very much so is our writing in that sometimes, we have to stop, reword, rethink, subtract, add to, and start over but to be persistent and patient with our work.
5. I love the fact that she expressed what contribution someone's writing truly gives to others. If you write something that appeals to others, satisfaction that knowing you are a part of what your society found not only intersting, but sometimes enlightening and that in itself is a reward that cannot be substituted monetarily.
Ellen gets a thumbs up from me on every level.