Thoughts on class, and a little bit of life and the secrets of the universe

What an interesting experience watching everyone listening to our nonfiction essays in class. For me, that was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in college--and I've been doing college for 4 years now (I don't want to talk about how I'm not graduating just yet ;) ) It really helped me learn about making something that you are proud of. I've been blessed with just getting by with my work, I'm not a bad writer, so it's pretty easy for me to put minimal effort into an assignment and manage to pass. But this was different: I not only had to write, but also hear myself reading what I wrote. That gave me more of a sense of ownership over what I wrote, but it also gave me a greater sense of vulnerability that I've never experienced before. It's scary stuff that is happening in this class!

In regards to genre, I have the "wonderful" opportunity to be taking 3 different writing classes this semester. This one, fiction, and nonfiction. I am forced...I mean blessed...to think about genre CONSTANTLY. Sometimes, I feel like I'm wearing so many hats. I have to keep reminding myself who I am writing for. This has actually helped me out in a weird way. I think that this genre is something that I feel really comfortable writing in. For now. I am also a little concerned that I am trying to emulate other's writing, and not finding a voice of my own. Maybe I'm trying too hard to fit into the genre. Maybe that's okay. All I know is that nonfiction essay was really fun for me to write. I do think that I took the whole, "flash" concept a little too literally though. I was forced to add words while recording my essay. It went okay though...I hope.

Speaking of recording, that part of the project was the least fun. While the program, "Audacity" isn't that difficult to maneuver, I had more trouble with the microphone. It really hated me, but it also made me feel better knowing that another student had trouble too. Maybe it wasn't my technological incompetence after all. I did enjoy using the sound booth, though. It helped me focus and gave me a quiet place to record without feeling self conscious.

Comments

  1. BballengerJanuary 31, 2018 at 10:10 AM

    I'm really interested in why this genre--the audio essay--is one that you "really feel comfortable in." That's wonderful, of course, but I think most of us struggle, especially in the beginning, getting used to writing to be heard, and most of all, sensing in a very real way that our writing is literally embodied. We are our writing. In some ways, this is the opposite of more formal academic writing in which we work under cover, relatively speaking. There is a kind of vulnerability to this genre, don't you think?

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  2. UnknownFebruary 2, 2018 at 2:10 PM

    I have also been switching between vastly different genres this semester in my writings. It is often difficult and takes a moment to slip back into the natural pace of writing. I wonder how adding voice while writing affects the process of slipping back and forth

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  3. UnknownFebruary 2, 2018 at 2:14 PM

    Don't feel too bad about not graduating in 4.

    I took my first class in 2011, and if nothing impedes my progress, I'm scheduled to graduate in 2021.

    I think that it is really cool that you are able to be taking this, fiction, and nonfiction all at the same time. You are able to compare and contrast what techniques are interchangeable and which aren't in real time.

    You express concern about emulating other writer's voices, and I think that is one of the benefits of having to record what we write and hear it out loud. You mention the ownership that recording gives as far as effort, but I think it gives the same boost to the concept of voice: you'll hear yourself and know that it isn't really you that you're hearing.

    Or, that's my guess, anyway.

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  4. UnknownFebruary 12, 2018 at 12:39 PM

    The sound booth is an awesome resource!
    I appreciate your point about how reading your own writing aloud increases your accountability to your own writing, and your vulnerability. This is so true!
    I'm also taking fiction and a creative nonfiction independent study this semester, and, while it's hard to wear so many hats, I am finding that there is a lot of crossover between these classes. They inform each other in really neat ways.
    Also, you did very well the first time! So keep your chin up!

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