Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Future
What's next for me as a writer? I'm not quite sure yet. I have definitely learned a lot from this class and have become inspired to write, but there's still a long way to go. When I was younger, I used to love to write. I actually wanted to become a writer, but as I grew older, I became more busy and less interested in writing. Writing became a task, an obstruction, a nuisance as I was in high school, but now it actually seems like a good time. I hope to one day write something amazing that can be published and shared with the world.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Post Secret
I really enjoy reading these post secrets. I find it interesting to see what other people have to say but are hiding from those they love. I also enjoy reading Live Journal secrets, and have actually made a few secrets and submitted them to the site myself.
Some of the secrets are hilarious while others are depressing. Some are just down right terrifying while others are just boring. It's nice to find ones I can relate to. Occasionally I will look through them and save the ones I relate to and post them in journal or blog entries or sometimes on Myspace or Facebook just for other people to see. I especially love the ones that talk about appreciating life :)
Here is the link for LJ Secrets in case you're interested: http://community.livejournal.com/ljsecret/
Some of the secrets are hilarious while others are depressing. Some are just down right terrifying while others are just boring. It's nice to find ones I can relate to. Occasionally I will look through them and save the ones I relate to and post them in journal or blog entries or sometimes on Myspace or Facebook just for other people to see. I especially love the ones that talk about appreciating life :)
Here is the link for LJ Secrets in case you're interested: http://community.livejournal.com/ljsecret/
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Killing Yourself to Live
This was probably one of the most random books I have ever read. It had the ability to be boring and intriguing at the same time. Although the book was supposed to be about all the places he went to and what he experienced while there, I'm glad Chuck Klosterman mostly talked about his own life and the random things that happened while he was on the trip. If the book had only been about the people and the places, I would not have been able to read it, especially considering that I did not even know who half of the people were.
The strengths of the book was definitely the humorous way he talked. He could be talking about something serious but would make a joke out of it and that made the book more interesting to read.
It definitely could have been improved by not jumping around all the time. He would be in the middle of one story and then start telling another! I was confused about what was going on way too often. I also couldn't keep track of Lenore, Quincy and Diane. I still can't remember which one is which, I just know that he was obsessed with all of them.
Overall, I did kind of like the book. It is not one I would go advertise to everyone, because it's not exactly the type of book the people I know would enjoy reading. On the other hand, I would probably recommend it to a few select people. I know for sure that my dad wants to read it!
The strengths of the book was definitely the humorous way he talked. He could be talking about something serious but would make a joke out of it and that made the book more interesting to read.
It definitely could have been improved by not jumping around all the time. He would be in the middle of one story and then start telling another! I was confused about what was going on way too often. I also couldn't keep track of Lenore, Quincy and Diane. I still can't remember which one is which, I just know that he was obsessed with all of them.
Overall, I did kind of like the book. It is not one I would go advertise to everyone, because it's not exactly the type of book the people I know would enjoy reading. On the other hand, I would probably recommend it to a few select people. I know for sure that my dad wants to read it!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Halloween
My favorite monster is Sully from Monsters Inc. because he is cute and nice! Plus, he's not bad, and what's better than a good monster? I loved how sweet he was in the movie to Boo, the little girl. He is a monster because he is extremely strong and has horns. He also has the ability to be scary, but in the end, he chooses not to.
A few other monster I like are Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street and of course the Cookie Monster. Oh, wait... isn't he the fruit and vegetable monster now? LAME!
Friday, October 16, 2009
The Birthday
We all gathered around as family and friends. We had bought the biggest cake we could find in her favorite flavor: white with chocolate frosting. We sang happy birthday, slow and steady. Each and every one of us avoided another's glances as the song neared the end. “...happy birthday to you...” The song was over and no one clapped. The cake was ready but no one yearned for a piece. The awkward silence hovered as the wind shook our coats and blew our hair. Her mother began to cry. It was then, as I stared down at a new grave – her grave – that I realized how incredibly messed up this was.
I really don't know what inspired me to write this poem. It just kind of clicked in my head to do something about a birthday and then the surprising end of the birthday girl being dead came to me. I really didn't have any challenge in writing this but I could tell from when I read it in class that everyone was shocked and didn't know what to say. I wanted the story to have a shocking end but I didn't want to freak people out too bad! Maybe my challenge now is make it still surprising but less traumatizing.
I really don't know what inspired me to write this poem. It just kind of clicked in my head to do something about a birthday and then the surprising end of the birthday girl being dead came to me. I really didn't have any challenge in writing this but I could tell from when I read it in class that everyone was shocked and didn't know what to say. I wanted the story to have a shocking end but I didn't want to freak people out too bad! Maybe my challenge now is make it still surprising but less traumatizing.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
May Swenson
I've decided to tell the world about the poet May Swenson through my blog. I had actually never heard of her before this class but found one of her poems through our last assignment. I enjoyed it because it was different, and after reading some of her other works as well, I see that she even has a creepy side. I like reading things with a twist or that are a little disturbing because that's not something you see everyday.
May Swenson was born in Utah in 1913 and enjoyed writing even as a young girl. Surprisingly, English was her second language as her parents were Swedish immigrants. She graduated from Utah State University in 1934 and worked numerous jobs while writing and publishing poetry. She has written many collections of poems and has received numerous awards including a Distinguished Service Gold Medal from Utah State University. She also served as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. She died in 1989, but four months before her death, Swenson said, "The best poetry has its roots in the subconscious to a great degree. Youth, naivety, reliance on instinct more than learning and method, a sense of freedom and play, even trust in randomness, is necessary to the making of a poem."
More information about the history of May Swenson can be found here:
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/168
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poet.html?id=6702
The original poem I read was called Bleeding and can be found here: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=179699
Here is another creepy, yet great poem. This is actually an audio clip of May Swenson reading it:
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15945
Other interesting poems by May Swenson:
Motherhood
Women
Question
I think everyone should experience May Swenson's work because it is different. It feels almost depressing, but also enlightening. Her works have a realistic side to them and present true feelings, even if controversial. I appreciate her way of writing and what her topics are and I think others will too.
May Swenson was born in Utah in 1913 and enjoyed writing even as a young girl. Surprisingly, English was her second language as her parents were Swedish immigrants. She graduated from Utah State University in 1934 and worked numerous jobs while writing and publishing poetry. She has written many collections of poems and has received numerous awards including a Distinguished Service Gold Medal from Utah State University. She also served as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. She died in 1989, but four months before her death, Swenson said, "The best poetry has its roots in the subconscious to a great degree. Youth, naivety, reliance on instinct more than learning and method, a sense of freedom and play, even trust in randomness, is necessary to the making of a poem."
More information about the history of May Swenson can be found here:
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/168
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poet.html?id=6702
The original poem I read was called Bleeding and can be found here: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=179699
Here is another creepy, yet great poem. This is actually an audio clip of May Swenson reading it:
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15945
Other interesting poems by May Swenson:
Motherhood
Women
Question
I think everyone should experience May Swenson's work because it is different. It feels almost depressing, but also enlightening. Her works have a realistic side to them and present true feelings, even if controversial. I appreciate her way of writing and what her topics are and I think others will too.
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