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[ENGL 3203] So it goes.
Apr. 14th, 2007 02:42 pmSo since I can't comment on Ian's blog, I'll just have to reply here:
Let's see... what else do I have to say.
I have the distinct impression that I'm going to be doing the sit-down exam for this class all by my lonesome. Occasionally I get the thought that I could do the take-home, but I know from experience that I'm not likely to actually sit down, voluntarily, and write another paper. Here's the thing: I like papers. And I hate papers. Once I actually get past the "oh god, I am a fraud and a failure and I can't do this, why do I do this to myself?" phase, I really get into it and enjoy it. I am either going to get over this before my undergrad degree is done, or I will thoroughly hate myself for having decided to major (partly) in English. We'll see.
This would be why I like sit-down exams. Three hours of my life in which I get to just sit down, forget the world, forget angsting about my sentence structure and how well my overall argument is working, and just spew my guts (figuratively... maybe not even figuratively, ew.) I don't have TIME to angst. I just have time to write like the dickens, and get a cramped hand. (And as a bonus? The sit-down is at 9AM - a time when I am normally asleep UNLESS I'm up early finishing a paper! PERFECT! I'll be in just the right frame of mind.)
And that's the last of the expressly school-related stuff to appear on this blog (until the fall, at least). Thanks, everyone, this was a fun class and I enjoyed reading your blogs. As a general FYI: It might not seem like it since I'm so outspoken in class, but I am actually super-timid when it comes to, y'know, making friends and the like. So if you see me and I'm all lookin' at the floor trying to avoid eye-contact with you, I don't mean to come across as unfriendly or antisocial. (I'm an extrovert trapped in an introvert's body! Help!)
And now, back to the blog's actual purpose: My crappy writing.
It's going to be a little sad to say goodbye to the school aspect of this blog - if nothing else than for the dedicated readership. Now I'm going back to my LJ friends (hi, LJ friends!) who probably are just pretending to read these entries to make me feel better. That's okay - all I post here are campy, not particularly great short stories and ramblings about my novice novel-writing endeavours.
If you (ENGL 3203 peeps, normal LJ peeps, whatever) want to read or comment on anything, great. Enjoy! Be brutal, be kind, whatever you want. Mostly I'm posting my own forays into story writing on this blog for these reasons:
1) Anyone in the world can read them. CAN. Probably won't, but can. There's some motivation there not to, y'know, suck too bad.
2) I effectively give up first publication rights. Which means I can't sell them - so that pressure to do so goes out the window.
3) Really, I should be writing because, first and foremost, I like doing it, and I want to get better at it. If I don't want to post something because I don't like it, why am I writing it?
Keep in mind that I am a novice writer and am claiming the full benefits of that position: I get to write uncomfortably and I get to use clichés and I get to break the rules and learn why they exist in the first place. I get to write wince-worthy dialogue scenes and boring descriptions and characterizations that just don't work. I get to not be perfect. Capisce? Great. Though it should be noted that these posts are fair game for comments pointing out my weaknesses, which I, recognizing the many benefits of my novice-status, must endeavour to correct. Short of an all-out flame, I will gratefully accept as 100% true any comment made about my writing.
The song is David Bowie's Life on Mars from his album Hunky Dory. I am laughing my butt off re: this particular song choice, because I am just learning that song on guitar. I'll have to make the "alternate" lyrics part of my repertoire.
Let's see... what else do I have to say.
I have the distinct impression that I'm going to be doing the sit-down exam for this class all by my lonesome. Occasionally I get the thought that I could do the take-home, but I know from experience that I'm not likely to actually sit down, voluntarily, and write another paper. Here's the thing: I like papers. And I hate papers. Once I actually get past the "oh god, I am a fraud and a failure and I can't do this, why do I do this to myself?" phase, I really get into it and enjoy it. I am either going to get over this before my undergrad degree is done, or I will thoroughly hate myself for having decided to major (partly) in English. We'll see.
This would be why I like sit-down exams. Three hours of my life in which I get to just sit down, forget the world, forget angsting about my sentence structure and how well my overall argument is working, and just spew my guts (figuratively... maybe not even figuratively, ew.) I don't have TIME to angst. I just have time to write like the dickens, and get a cramped hand. (And as a bonus? The sit-down is at 9AM - a time when I am normally asleep UNLESS I'm up early finishing a paper! PERFECT! I'll be in just the right frame of mind.)
And that's the last of the expressly school-related stuff to appear on this blog (until the fall, at least). Thanks, everyone, this was a fun class and I enjoyed reading your blogs. As a general FYI: It might not seem like it since I'm so outspoken in class, but I am actually super-timid when it comes to, y'know, making friends and the like. So if you see me and I'm all lookin' at the floor trying to avoid eye-contact with you, I don't mean to come across as unfriendly or antisocial. (I'm an extrovert trapped in an introvert's body! Help!)
And now, back to the blog's actual purpose: My crappy writing.
It's going to be a little sad to say goodbye to the school aspect of this blog - if nothing else than for the dedicated readership. Now I'm going back to my LJ friends (hi, LJ friends!) who probably are just pretending to read these entries to make me feel better. That's okay - all I post here are campy, not particularly great short stories and ramblings about my novice novel-writing endeavours.
If you (ENGL 3203 peeps, normal LJ peeps, whatever) want to read or comment on anything, great. Enjoy! Be brutal, be kind, whatever you want. Mostly I'm posting my own forays into story writing on this blog for these reasons:
1) Anyone in the world can read them. CAN. Probably won't, but can. There's some motivation there not to, y'know, suck too bad.
2) I effectively give up first publication rights. Which means I can't sell them - so that pressure to do so goes out the window.
3) Really, I should be writing because, first and foremost, I like doing it, and I want to get better at it. If I don't want to post something because I don't like it, why am I writing it?
Keep in mind that I am a novice writer and am claiming the full benefits of that position: I get to write uncomfortably and I get to use clichés and I get to break the rules and learn why they exist in the first place. I get to write wince-worthy dialogue scenes and boring descriptions and characterizations that just don't work. I get to not be perfect. Capisce? Great. Though it should be noted that these posts are fair game for comments pointing out my weaknesses, which I, recognizing the many benefits of my novice-status, must endeavour to correct. Short of an all-out flame, I will gratefully accept as 100% true any comment made about my writing.
