S-h-i-t Drafts

I really enjoyed Lamott's piece about "shitty rough drafts". That is my kind of writing. Sarcastic, humorous, but in the same breath sticking to the point, and getting her point across.

3. From what Lamott has to say, is writing a first draft more about the product or the process? Do you agree in regard to your own first drafts? Explain.

I will use Question 3 to guide in my response to this.

I believe that writing a first draft is ultimately about the final product-- or else why would you be doing it in the first place? With that said, I also think that it is just as much about the process. You are not going to get to that final product, or achieve that goal without going through the process of writing various drafts. Even if it means that first draft is literally a few jumbled words or phrases jotted down to get your ideas out.

I could relate to almost everything in this reading. Every single person is different-- even when it comes to writing. So, there will be those who can write something perfectly the first time, just how they want it. Then, there's the people that rely on those shitty rough drafts and sketches in order to achieve their product. For me, personally, I think I need that rough draft. My thoughts pour out so quickly. There's no way I could organize all of my thoughts on the first try. Just to relate it to the memoir assignment- it is important for me to make a Rough Draft, not only to get a good grade, but to make sure I explain all of the events in my mind the way I need them to look in order to convey that message to the reader.

This reading illuminated the idea that it is perfectly okay to need a shitty first draft. I love that a well known writer worded that into a piece. So many people do it, so it should be more recognized, and I'm glad that she did.

I am definitely going to approach the rough draft differently this time, and not stress when something is not perfect. Before, I would try very hard to get it right on the first try. By the time I would go to finish the final product, I would barely change anything with the exception to grammar and spelling.

Memoirs, not of a Geisha.

Funny How much this actually means...

After reading Denise Grollmus' (also, my English teacher) memoir of her experiences on tour with The Black Key's and her boyfriend, I noticed many elements of which a powerful memoir should include. From the unique and powerful descriptions of what really was, to the actual experiences in which can pull on one's heartstrings, Denise 'hits the nail on the head' of what a memoir should be.

The key element of a memoir that really impressed me in this particular memoir, was the dialogue she chose to use. While shocking, and vulgar, it really allowed me to understand the circumstance, and scene of the "grungy london basement music"...that's what I'm going to call it.

I am sensing some sarcasm in this dialogue here, but at the same time it's what really was

"Blow," answered Har Mar.

"Nobody does cocaine," I said. "It's so '80s."

"That's why I like it," he said.

Also, while recalling a woman she had met, this particular quote really takes everything she wanted to tell the audience about, and wraps it into one quote:

These are my old stomping grounds," she said. "I blew John Bonham in a room upstairs. Keith Moon fucked me with a banana and licked Marmite out of my hair."

I love it. It's so real. I really would love to be able to discuss my most interesting moments, not leaving behind any details. The spacing on this blog is really bothering me, I'm not sure how to fix it.

Another characteristic she uses from Harbrace, is significant experiences. What she choe to share with the audience (and judging by the fact that it was in SCENE, an alternative scene magazine, she was aiming at those who are aware of The Black Keys, The Bright Eyes, and those kinds of bands. However, I believe this story has more meaning than to simply get out information of the tour. I think it had to do with life as we know it, how Home really isn't just where your love is. It's where you are comfortable. It's where you can be yourself. It's where everything you know and love is a phone call away, and you can meet your friend at a coffee shop. Denise found that upon return. She was home in Ohio.

But anyways, Significant experiences are important because they give the purpose, in my opinion. What experiences are you going to take into account that will really get the point of the story across? THose are significant.

Pathos is most certainly present, for I was able to connect in many ways throughout the memoir. The emotions are everywhere.

* I just want to say I know who the Black Keys are and most of the bands that were mentioned in this memoir. I thought it was more interesting because of that...

1.11.2011

This is new to me. Thinking about it now, I have never exactly assessed my writing, for every time I have written something; it was never on the subject of my own writing. Thinking in terms of my strong points, I would say that I tend to do well in creative writing, random prompts, poetry, and descriptive writing. I despise writing term papers, lab reports, and informational essays. They're boring. I just can't get into it. I love looking at a picture such as this one:

and writing something random about it. The colors, the randomness of it all; it just inspires me to write. I would choose writing over math and science any day of the week. I believe that writing above all, is the most important skill to learn. It is the first thing someone notices about you. How well you are able to communicate speaks volumes. This all right now, me writing, is reminding me of one of my weaknesses when it comes to writing; organization. My thoughts spill out ten times as fast as I can type, so things are usually pretty scattered. That might be why I choose to write creative pieces and poetry, because there really are no rules for those. If it's truly your own thoughts, I don't think there is a need for format.

Grammer and punctuation: Well, I don't really know what to say about those. I tend to pay more attention to those issues in formal writings.

Another weakness of mine would be finishing strong in a paper. I will have great initial thoughts, but I will get to a certain point and have a hard time finishing the required amount of words. Just like I am struggling right now to reach 500...

Also, I'm not exactly sure how formal this blog has to be. Should I not be talking in first person? Oh, that reminds me of another weakness; agreeing tenses. I forget sometimes whether or not I am speaking in the past or present. That sometimes gets me into trouble.

Other random things that inspire me:

• radiohead songs http://www.greenplastic.com/lyrics/
• Anything by The Fray
• Songs that make me cry: Ungodly Hour by The Fray, Drops of Jupiter by Train, Back to December by Taylor Swift

Emotions evoke the best writing that will come out of me. Falling in love makes me sit for hours just reading lyrics; usually it ends in a headache or a heavy feeling in my chest. More times than not, I am never exactly "inspired" to write anything, instead I would just find a perfect lyric or paint something. There is always that rare occasion, however, that will actually make me write something. The hate part of the Love Hate relationship between me and writing, comes from High School. I just remember dreading those countless amounts of useless papers I had to write- except for my senior year. We wrote satires on anything we wanted; I, of course made fun of MLA format. Oh, that's another thing; MLA. I absolutely despise writing in that format. There are way too many rules. It's not even fun. I feel like I can't write any thoughts.

Well, I have just reached 526 words, well now it's more. Until the next blog...