Habits of a Good Author Journals
February 8, 2013
Entry 1:
This week I really tried to use other influences in my writing. When I was starting off my story, I decided that I would use the writing styles of one of my favorite authors. So far it’s turning out really well, and I think the style suits my plotline nicely. It gives it a good vibe that goes along with the story, if that makes any sense. Hopefully I can keep the style going the whole story, even when I use character dialogue.
February 14, 2013
Entry 2:
This week we did a lot of show not tell writing. We did a few exercises, one of my favorite being the blindfold trust walk. We took turns with partners, one being the guide and the other being blindfolded, and vis versa. After we got to touch, smell, and feel everything around us while being blind (which really sharpened your other senses) we came back inside and wrote about it with everything fresh in our minds. I actually ended up using those ideas in my writing to enhance how real the characters are supposed to be.
March 1, 2013
Entry 3:
Lately when I’ve been writing, I find having music playing really helps. Especially when I’m reading as well. I think it’s because it keeps my other senses occupied so I’m not looking for reasons to be distracted unconsciously. It keeps my mind going, and it also drowns out any other noises going on outside. I also like to remind myself of other pieces of writing that are like or similar to mine, it gives me ideas and also puts my mind into the state of what my writing is really about.
March 11, 2013
Entry 4:
For some reason I felt like the critique on my story did not help, only because I felt really strongly about my story and I wasn't really open to other people reading and giving me ideas because my story was personal. Now because of this, I did a lot of self critique. I read my story over and over trying to think of ways to make it better, because at one point I didn’t think my story was appropriate to the age group that the books were being sent to. But eventually I toned it down and took out a few things that made the story less intense for young readers. I didn’t plan my writing, just when ideas came to me I wrote them down, I didn't have my story all planned out from the very beginning.
Something that I felt really helped me with my writing were the touch and feel exercises we did. Since my short story was based off the outdoors, going outside and being able to sharpen my senses was really enlightening, because I was able to transfers those feelings I had into my writing, which gave my story a more realistic feel to it. I also made my story really deep, and according to some other people I delved deep into emotions that are hard to get across in writing. That was one of the reasons why I had to tone down my story for the readers, because they were only middle schoolers and they probably wouldn't know how to handle it very well. I got really frustrated with my writing on several occasions, feeling like I wouldnt be able to finish it in time or that it wasn't as detailed as other people's writings. So I proved to myself that that wasn't true, that I could make my short story feel very real without writing an entire novel. I also had trouble figuring out a climax for my story, but I eventually made one that was very different, and my plot line was not ordinary, which I really liked. So through this whole writing process, I learned a lot about my own writing style and what works for me and what doesn't, and I’m glad I was able to further enhance my writing through this.
March 14, 203
Entry # 5:
This week I think I used Plan and Predict. We did an activity where each group of three got a certain amount of food, fire, and shelter cards. You had to have a few of each kind to survive each night, and the goal was for your group to survive the longest. You had to barter with other groups for the supplies you needed, and we planned who we would do business with and what we were willing to trade. At one point people got the idea of stealing from other groups, which ended up being quite popular. I predicted that would happen, because people started getting frustrated that they couldn't get what they wanted right away. I think it really showed what people resort to, even when its all just a game. I think it would be fun to take this activity to the next level, and see how people react to it.
Entry 1:
This week I really tried to use other influences in my writing. When I was starting off my story, I decided that I would use the writing styles of one of my favorite authors. So far it’s turning out really well, and I think the style suits my plotline nicely. It gives it a good vibe that goes along with the story, if that makes any sense. Hopefully I can keep the style going the whole story, even when I use character dialogue.
February 14, 2013
Entry 2:
This week we did a lot of show not tell writing. We did a few exercises, one of my favorite being the blindfold trust walk. We took turns with partners, one being the guide and the other being blindfolded, and vis versa. After we got to touch, smell, and feel everything around us while being blind (which really sharpened your other senses) we came back inside and wrote about it with everything fresh in our minds. I actually ended up using those ideas in my writing to enhance how real the characters are supposed to be.
March 1, 2013
Entry 3:
Lately when I’ve been writing, I find having music playing really helps. Especially when I’m reading as well. I think it’s because it keeps my other senses occupied so I’m not looking for reasons to be distracted unconsciously. It keeps my mind going, and it also drowns out any other noises going on outside. I also like to remind myself of other pieces of writing that are like or similar to mine, it gives me ideas and also puts my mind into the state of what my writing is really about.
March 11, 2013
Entry 4:
For some reason I felt like the critique on my story did not help, only because I felt really strongly about my story and I wasn't really open to other people reading and giving me ideas because my story was personal. Now because of this, I did a lot of self critique. I read my story over and over trying to think of ways to make it better, because at one point I didn’t think my story was appropriate to the age group that the books were being sent to. But eventually I toned it down and took out a few things that made the story less intense for young readers. I didn’t plan my writing, just when ideas came to me I wrote them down, I didn't have my story all planned out from the very beginning.
Something that I felt really helped me with my writing were the touch and feel exercises we did. Since my short story was based off the outdoors, going outside and being able to sharpen my senses was really enlightening, because I was able to transfers those feelings I had into my writing, which gave my story a more realistic feel to it. I also made my story really deep, and according to some other people I delved deep into emotions that are hard to get across in writing. That was one of the reasons why I had to tone down my story for the readers, because they were only middle schoolers and they probably wouldn't know how to handle it very well. I got really frustrated with my writing on several occasions, feeling like I wouldnt be able to finish it in time or that it wasn't as detailed as other people's writings. So I proved to myself that that wasn't true, that I could make my short story feel very real without writing an entire novel. I also had trouble figuring out a climax for my story, but I eventually made one that was very different, and my plot line was not ordinary, which I really liked. So through this whole writing process, I learned a lot about my own writing style and what works for me and what doesn't, and I’m glad I was able to further enhance my writing through this.
March 14, 203
Entry # 5:
This week I think I used Plan and Predict. We did an activity where each group of three got a certain amount of food, fire, and shelter cards. You had to have a few of each kind to survive each night, and the goal was for your group to survive the longest. You had to barter with other groups for the supplies you needed, and we planned who we would do business with and what we were willing to trade. At one point people got the idea of stealing from other groups, which ended up being quite popular. I predicted that would happen, because people started getting frustrated that they couldn't get what they wanted right away. I think it really showed what people resort to, even when its all just a game. I think it would be fun to take this activity to the next level, and see how people react to it.
May 17, 2013
Entry #6
This week I used the habit of an author critique and be critiqued. After star testing, we worked a lot on our trial projects. Even though I’m a lawyer and don’t have anything due until next week, I did a lot of critiquing of other peoples work. This week the evidence people and the witnesses had their essays due, so pretty much the whole time I just critiqued other peoples work because I can’t do my assignment until their assignments are completely done, critiqued, and turned in. So I did a lot of reading and crossing out and filling in, trying to get their essays to the best that they can be for the trial. And the better the witnesses essays are, the better my questions will be and the easier my job will be.