Hello All,
So, we've really gotten boring with this blog idea. However, I'm an internet addict and still check for new postings on a daily basis. I KNOW we're all interesting people, so let's have some fun conversation and questions. I'll start:
What (do you feel) is your best piece of writing, and why?
My best piece of writing is a piece of writing that I felt most accomplished with once I finished it. I had to write a metaphor poem as an undergrad, that seemingly, was going to kick my butt. The instructions were to use an "orange" as a metaphor for my life. My professor consistently said, "You need to 'be the orange.'" Weird, right? Yeah, I agree. She even physically gave us an orange to sit and stare at in class.
So for about three nights after the poem was assigned, I went back to my dorm and would lay on my bed with this orange on my head, repeating to myself, "Be the orange" (Oh yes, the room mates have pictures of this, haha).
To make a long story short, it was my most challenging piece of writing, but I was so proud of the result I ended up with. Even though I thought my professor was crazy by telling us to, "Be the orange," I came to realize it was a great teaching strategy to truly have her students think critically about comparing our life to an orange.
And that's my story.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
Kayla - I love your question and your story! I will have to give myself some time to think about what my favorite piece of writing is...that's tough! I remembered from last night that I promised that I would check out the blog, and I think it's great that you're trying to spice things up!
I'll make an effort to contribute as well! (being a fellow internet addict!)
Thanks Kayla and Taryn. I agree that I need to ponder this a bit more. Please, felow, compsters; add your posts! We would love to see them.
Taryn and Linda--you both ROCK. I was getting ready to post another looks-like-I'm-going-to-talk-to-myself post--haha!
Nonetheless, I look forward to hearing your responses! woot!
Okay, I've been thinking about this is a lot, mulling over all of the academic stuff I've written for courses and published. But everything I thought of just left me kind of cold. Then it hit me! Did any of you ever write one of those "I Am From" poems, where you sort of trace your background in the form of images (people, places, foods, cultural influences, etc) that you are "from." I hope I'm making myself clear, but I'll bring a sample to class just in case. For my parents' 60th anniversary party (thrown at my house 2 days before my mom started chemotherapy), I wrote them one of these poems. I cried while I wrote (and revised) it, they cried when then read it, and it is definitely the piece of writing I'm most proud of today.
Kayla,
I am sitting in the WC writing to you, as you stand next to me (cool huh?). I think that the best thing that I had ever written has to be my short story which I got published. It was a Christmas story about the year that my dad lost his job, and we had very little money to get any Christmas presents, and with the little money that we had, my mom went out to buy a Christmas tree, which like the Charlie Brown story, was the ugliest scraggle stick that she could afford. That night, which happened to be my birthday, we decorated the tree in our finest ornaments as we sang along with the carols that played on a record player. It was a very beautiful moment, not only because we were decorating the tree, but because it is the only time that I can remember the family as a loving unit, sharing the wonderful moment of decorating the tree. And yes, the love that we shared with each other that night did make the tree more beautiful than any other one we have ever had since.
So how was that?
Jen
That's a great question! My favorite piece of writing is a short story I published in Shoofly. It was about me in high school and my obsession with poptarts. It's one of the few times I feel my writing really reflected something about me...obviously i feel passionate for pop tarts!
Jen, I love your description of your story--"scraggle stick" is one of my new favorite phrases ;-)
I can picture it perfectly.
Dr. C, I've never written a poem like that...but now I'm very entrigued. If you remember, definitely bring a sample to class; it sounds interesting and i loooveeee poeeetryyyyy.
Jen, thank you for your contribution despite me having to tell you to answer my question ;) Seriously, though, I'd love to read your story sometime. With having the chance to get to know you through the Big WC (not water closet), I'm aware of your past... and when you said, "it was the only time I can remember my family as a loving unit" it made me smile because of the person you are to see something SO SPECIAL in a not-so-good situation. And I agree with Dr. C--YEAH scraggle stick!
Lauren, what Shoofly edition is your story in? I believe I have all three editions, and would love to endulge on your poptart obsession, HAHA
I finally got my invite to this! Woo!
anyway, this is such an interesting topic. I read this a few days ago, and I honestly still can't think of the answer. it's just so hard to think of one piece of writing.
for me, the best thing I've written is probably one of the songs I wrote about my dad after he passed away. I never gave it a title, because I never knew what to call it. there was so much of me in the song that I have yet to think of a title suitable. it was my first big step in "recovering" from the entire experience. I wish I could go into more detail, but I really don't know how. I remember playing it for friends, and they just sat there with tears in their eyes not knowing what to say. I didn't really have much help from my friends when my dad died, mainly because I don't think they knew what I was going through. this song puts it all into perspective.
that was a total ramble and I apologize. I'm pretty doom and gloom usually, but it really is a beautiful song. I'm really proud of it. if anyone wants to hear it, I could probably play it sometime. any recording I did of it never did it justice.
John, first of all, I'm so glad you're finally with us! And secondly, wow! Would you really consider playing the song for us?
Post a Comment