I think something we did in class that I really enjoyed was the first formal assignment. I really liked that we had options, and that one of them was a fan-fiction piece. I’m a creative writer, so it was cool getting to do it. I felt like I could show my writing skills to the best of my ability. It was difficult at first, I haven’t written in since high school and the assignment had to be based off something already written. I’ve never written fan fiction before, so it was a new form for me. But I ended up having fun with it.
I wrote my piece based on “The Redeployment,” which was interesting to write on. I’ve never written anything with content regarding or containing anything militaristic. I have no knowledge of what the experience of being a vet or what it’s like being back home. I was nervous about re-writing the ending because I wanted to stay true to the themes of the story and have it still realistic. I decided that I wanted to do something dark, as that sort of thing is what appeals to me as a reader and writer. I wasn’t sure what the plot was going to be as I started to write, but eventually ended up having him commit suicide at the end. I was hesitant to post the piece at first. I don’t tend to share my creative work that much if I can help it, especially about a serious topic like suicide. Writing the fan-fiction piece also helped remember my passion for writing. I know that looking at my site you probably wouldn’t know this, but I love writing. Growing up as a shy kid, I had a lot of difficulty expressing myself. That’s why my interests gravitated towards the arts, including musical theater, singing, and writing. Like I said earlier, I haven’t written since high school, which was almost two years ago. I wanted to continue to write, but could never could the drive and motivation to do it once I didn’t have to do it for a grade. So, getting to do this assignment allowed me to re-ignite my passion for writing, and hopefully I’ll continue to work on my writing skills and improve. I was drained after writing this assignment, both emotionally and mentally. I’ve struggled with mental health issues for a good portion of my life, including depression and anxiety. But it also felt good completing the assignment. I know what it’s like to struggle, to be in a dark place and not know if I’ll reach the other side. I still have dark periods sometimes, I still struggle. I felt like I could connect with Price and what he’s feeling, even though I’ve never been in the military. I know suicide is a serious and depressing topic; I could have done a more hopeful approach. But I just felt like suicide was the right option in the end. It’s areal problem for vets who’ve come home from war.
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“The Lottery” “A Good Man is Hard to Find” “The Yellow Wallpaper” “Bullet in the Brain” The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely, and the grass was richly green. School was recently over for the summer, and I was at The Tower, the best place to eat in the small town where I live. The worn out sign hung precariously above the door and read, TRY RED SAMMY'S FAMOUS BARBECUE. NONE LIKE FAMOUS RED SAMMY'S! RED SAM! THE FAT BOY WITH THE HAPPY LAUGH. A VETERAN! RED SAMMY'S YOUR MAN! My friends, Luann and Greta, were going to come and meet me there and we were going to spend the night at a lake house owned by the parents of Greta’s boyfriend. “Hey, Sammy, I’m going out back for a smoke,” I called, hopping of my stool, and heading to door. “If my friends come in let them know, will you?” "Yes'm, I suppose so," Red Sam said. My tank top stuck to my body in the summer heat, and sweat rolled down the side of my face as I smoked. Behind the Tower was a huge baseball field, and a couple of boys were just leaving, covered in dirt, and sweat. The town of Jackson was in the middle of nowhere, and was surrounded by rolling hills and tree. The Tower was on the edge, so it was deserted once the boys left. I couldn’t wait to get out of here and into college. I dropped the cigarette butt on the ground when I was done and stomped on it with my boot. I had only taken two steps when something hit me in the back of the head. Shit, is the only thing I thought before I blacked out. Heat. A baseball field. Yellow grass, the whir of insects, myself leaning against a tree as the boys of the neighborhood gather for a pickup game. I wanted to join in, but they just laughed in my face. The tree pokes into my back, and the sun shines directly into my face. I am angry and bored. My big brother glances at me and says something, but I can’t hear him. I came to slowly, the world coming back bit by bit. The dream is already gone and forgotten. The first thing that caught my attention was the pounding in the back of my head. Groaning, I rolled to my side and came face first with a blue pillow. My eyes popped open and raised my head, taking in my surroundings. It looked to be a bedroom, huge and airy. There was a window to my right with bars across them, filtering in the sunlight. There was a small window to the left also. There wasn’t much in the room, just the bed I was on, a bedside table, and a dresser that looked like it was going to fall apart any second. Crawling to the edge of the bed, and unsteadily took to my feet. Out of one window I can see the garden, those mysterious deep-shaded arbors, the riotous old-fashioned flowers, and bushes and gnarly trees. “What the hell?” I muttered, rubbing my face, my headache growing worse. Before I could figure what to do next, large thumps came from somewhere outside the room, like someone was coming up a flight of stairs. Panic clawed at my throat and I dove back into the bed and closed my eyes. The door to my room creaked as it opened, and my heart raced in my chest. A minute of silence went by, and then another. I hesitantly raised my head after the silence continued, and looked up at my captor. His hair was just beginning to gray and he wore silver- rimmed spectacles that gave him a scholarly look. He had a long-creased face and didn't have on any shirt or undershirt. He had on blue jeans that were too tight for him and was holding a black hat and a gun. When my eyes landed on the gun, I threw myself against the headboard. “Stay the hell away from me!” I snarl to seem like I’m not scared shitless. His face stays impassive, so I have no idea what he’s thinking. “Why did you kidnap me?” I asked, my voice wavering. “What do you want from me?” My kidnapper remained silent, his blue eyes trained into mine, bright and piercing. My hands dug into the sheets as the staring contest went on, until he broke out into a smile that made my stomach turn. He approached me as I cringed back, prepping myself in case I needed to protect myself. His hand reached out to caress my cheek, his palm rough and calloused. He looked at me with a fond smile, then turned and left the room. *I am aware that there is no ending, but it was getting long. I might continue working on it and post more later Who did you work with to compose your research paper? Was this a good approach?
I didn’t work on it with anyone else, sort of wished I had. What rhetorical mode and genre are you using? The rhetorical mode would be argumentation. When did you write this project? Good approach? I think I wrote the entire thing the day it was due, and that was probably a terrible idea. Where did you write this project? Good approach? I wrote some of it at Delaware County Community College and some at home. I think it was a good approach. Why did you choose to write about your chosen topic? Good choice? I’m not sure, I guessed it just piqued my interest. I don’t think there was a good choice, my paper was going to be shit regardless of what I chose. How did it feel to write this argument ("during, after, and since")? Do you have any "if only" moments that can help you revise the draft? I spent the entire time wanting to stab myself in the face, I hate research papers with a fiery passion. How will you revise your argument? Not sure if I will, if I have the time I might. Depends on if I get everything else that I need to done. Who did you work with to compose your life-choice memoir? Was this a good approach?
I did not write a life-choice memoir, I wrote a fan-fiction piece. I worked on it by myself. I think it was a good approach, since it was a creative writing piece. What rhetorical mode and genre are you using? Since I wrote a fan-fiction piece, I think the rhetorical mode is narration? When did you write this project? Good approach? I wrote the entire thing the day it was due. Probably not a good idea, I did get it done but it was very stressful writing it. Where did you write this project? Good approach? I wrote some of it at Delaware County Community College, and some of it at home. I think that it was a good approach. Why did you choose to write about your chosen topic? Good choice? I enjoy creative writing, so I thought that doing the fan-fiction piece would be a good idea. How did it feel to write this narrative ("during, after, and since")? Do you have any "if only" moments that can help you revise the draft? It was difficult, but writing is. It got easier once I got going, and I felt okay about it once I was done. How will you revise your paper? Not sure that I will, if I have time I might. Who did you work with to compose your life-choice memoir? Was this a good approach? I did not write a life-choice memoir, I wrote a fan-fiction piece. I worked on it by myself. I think it was a good approach, since it was a creative writing piece. What rhetorical mode and genre are you using? Since I wrote a fan-fiction piece, I think the rhetorical mode is narration? When did you write this project? Good approach? I wrote the entire thing the day it was due. Probably not a good idea, I did get it done but it was very stressful writing it. Where did you write this project? Good approach? I wrote some of it at Delaware County Community College, and some of it at home. I think that it was a good approach. Why did you choose to write about your chosen topic? Good choice? I enjoy creative writing, so I thought that doing the fan-fiction piece would be a good idea. How did it feel to write this narrative ("during, after, and since")? Do you have any "if only" moments that can help you revise the draft? It was difficult, but writing is. It got easier once I got going, and I felt okay about it once I was done. How will you revise your paper? Not sure that I will, if I have time I might. |
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Elijah CarneyI will use this blog to explore course readings. Archives
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