After speaking with my group members, I found out what my story will really be about. I am going to mix segments about me being at a soccer game and the story regarding my accident. I am going to connect it in a way that sends the reader back and forth and finally, in the end, they realize its all about me from my prospective.
This story is going to very special to me as its going to be driven in a direction that I have never gone before. When I write stories, I just write about one subject. There are many parts of it, but its all about that one thing. For this story, we have to do segments. Therefore, I will write about two very important events in my life where in one of them I was sad and in the other I felt at home. One was one of my saddest places while the other was one of my happiest.
To write about it here in this blog would not do it justice. Therefore, I want to leave it at that and hope that everyone who reads my story truly enjoys the content.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Blog 5
The first story will be very important for me as a writer. I will attempt to connect love and soccer into one story. The goal is to write a story about my favorite past times in life. It will be a non-fictional story involving soccer, love, and life.
The focus will be how I connect soccer with love. Not just love for the sport, but trying to balance out friendships, relationships, school, and work as well. To fit it all into 4 pages, I will have to be truly creative and honestly, I am okay with that.
I will have to sit down and think about where to start and where to place each different scene/part. This is going to be the first piece we write for this class, so it has to be good. Being able to write about something that I love leaves me with no excuses but to write the best piece possible.
I would like to write about a soccer game that I witnessed or took part in. The scenery, atmosphere, good plays, and everything that went on will all be in this piece of writing. That is the sports segment of the story.
The love segment will involve love for everything and everyone else. It is supposed to be a story connecting everything together. It is hard to describe it in this blog. I hope to make sense of it all in the piece itself.
The focus will be how I connect soccer with love. Not just love for the sport, but trying to balance out friendships, relationships, school, and work as well. To fit it all into 4 pages, I will have to be truly creative and honestly, I am okay with that.
I will have to sit down and think about where to start and where to place each different scene/part. This is going to be the first piece we write for this class, so it has to be good. Being able to write about something that I love leaves me with no excuses but to write the best piece possible.
I would like to write about a soccer game that I witnessed or took part in. The scenery, atmosphere, good plays, and everything that went on will all be in this piece of writing. That is the sports segment of the story.
The love segment will involve love for everything and everyone else. It is supposed to be a story connecting everything together. It is hard to describe it in this blog. I hope to make sense of it all in the piece itself.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Blog 4
In Silent Dancing, Cofer brillianty used segments by transitioning from one part of her story to another. The first one that caught my eye was when she was explaining how ehr father told someone that he was Puerto Rican, but according to her, she could have passed for European. Then all of a sudden, she begins to describe how her family is sitting in the living room, and does it by writing "The movie opens."
The next one was how she explained that her father's greatest wish was to move way from the barrio, but it was her mother's fear. Then she transitions into the next segment by explaining what happened next in her home movie. By doing this twice already, I was hooked onto the story. I wanted to keep on reading in order to find out what had happened next. Also, I learned something very valuable about writing creative non-fiction.
When writing CNF, it is tough to keep the reader interested, if the writer keeps writing about one general topic. Of course, it is understandable to me that it is the point of writing CNF; to write about something in particular that the story is built around. However, segments in a story keeps the reader thinking about two things at once. With Cufer's story, I was thinking about how the father and mother both want different things and then I had to put that in the back of my mind, because she then went on to explain the home video in the next paragraph. Maybe a reason she did it was that she didn't want us to focus on just one general thing. She wanted us to think back and forth about different points that all added up to complete her piece.
This story was the best for me when thinking of segments. The other stories had them as well, but this one stood out for me. Cufer may have unintentionally did it, but I did learn about how to place segments throughout my stories.
The next one was how she explained that her father's greatest wish was to move way from the barrio, but it was her mother's fear. Then she transitions into the next segment by explaining what happened next in her home movie. By doing this twice already, I was hooked onto the story. I wanted to keep on reading in order to find out what had happened next. Also, I learned something very valuable about writing creative non-fiction.
When writing CNF, it is tough to keep the reader interested, if the writer keeps writing about one general topic. Of course, it is understandable to me that it is the point of writing CNF; to write about something in particular that the story is built around. However, segments in a story keeps the reader thinking about two things at once. With Cufer's story, I was thinking about how the father and mother both want different things and then I had to put that in the back of my mind, because she then went on to explain the home video in the next paragraph. Maybe a reason she did it was that she didn't want us to focus on just one general thing. She wanted us to think back and forth about different points that all added up to complete her piece.
This story was the best for me when thinking of segments. The other stories had them as well, but this one stood out for me. Cufer may have unintentionally did it, but I did learn about how to place segments throughout my stories.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Blog 3
Kidder believes that non-fiction writers tend to write in the first person. This allows them to become characters in their own stories. Lopate believes the word "I" is absolutely necessary when writing a non-fiction piece. They both agree that the one writing the piece should be able to comfortably write the piece in first person. It is CNF which means they can be as creative as they wish, as long as they keep it non-fiction.
Lott's definition of CNF is slightly different. He believes people like to use it as a way to keep record of the moments they'd like to remember throughout their lives; such as diaries. It is about writing about one self in relation to the subject at hand.
Their definitions are similar to mine in the sense that I tend to write CNF in the first person as well. The difference is that I think it can be written in any person as long as it sticks to being non-fiction. For example, an author can write about a real-life event that occurred to someone he/she knows but not include himself/herself in it. As long as it sticks to the truth, no fiction whatsoever, it can be considered as CNF.
All three authors had a good sense of what CNF is, and of course, their definitions are more wide re-known than mine is so therefore, I like their definitions as well.
Lott's definition of CNF is slightly different. He believes people like to use it as a way to keep record of the moments they'd like to remember throughout their lives; such as diaries. It is about writing about one self in relation to the subject at hand.
Their definitions are similar to mine in the sense that I tend to write CNF in the first person as well. The difference is that I think it can be written in any person as long as it sticks to being non-fiction. For example, an author can write about a real-life event that occurred to someone he/she knows but not include himself/herself in it. As long as it sticks to the truth, no fiction whatsoever, it can be considered as CNF.
All three authors had a good sense of what CNF is, and of course, their definitions are more wide re-known than mine is so therefore, I like their definitions as well.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Blog 2- Lowry, Vowell, Bellow adding to CNF
These essays turned a somewhat boring subject into something decently fun to read. Abraham Lincoln was a hero and what he said is simply what he said. I her essay, Vowell elected to favor him in every possible way. She hung on his words and made it absolutely obvious she really loved the guy. She even compared him to other presidents--George Washington and Thomas Jefferson by claiming " The Teachers taught us to like Washington and to respect Jefferson. But Lincoln-him they taught us to love." That is by far my favorite sentence in her essay because it really made me think.
Lowry, in one essay, described the marriage between an inmate and a regular citizen and how much they truly loved one another. Her descriptions forced me (in a good way) to picture how they sat in chairs opposite one another with Plexiglas keeping them apart. That right there is creative non-fiction; taking something normal and transforming it into something beautiful.
Bellow described a few things here and there and simply added spice to them with her words. I wasn't as intrigued with her essay but there certainly was creativity in it throughout.
All three essays take different paths that head to the same place, creativity. It is truly a good tactic in writing. When someone wants to explain something in words on paper or on a computer, they shouldn't just write it as it is. They have to choose words that will get the readers excited by grabbing their attention and forcing them tow ant to read on. When someone explains something with his/her mouth, the excitement is there with the tone of voice, facial expressions, and movement of the arms and head. It is harder and slightly a bit more work on paper but it is truly worth it in the end.
Lowry, in one essay, described the marriage between an inmate and a regular citizen and how much they truly loved one another. Her descriptions forced me (in a good way) to picture how they sat in chairs opposite one another with Plexiglas keeping them apart. That right there is creative non-fiction; taking something normal and transforming it into something beautiful.
Bellow described a few things here and there and simply added spice to them with her words. I wasn't as intrigued with her essay but there certainly was creativity in it throughout.
All three essays take different paths that head to the same place, creativity. It is truly a good tactic in writing. When someone wants to explain something in words on paper or on a computer, they shouldn't just write it as it is. They have to choose words that will get the readers excited by grabbing their attention and forcing them tow ant to read on. When someone explains something with his/her mouth, the excitement is there with the tone of voice, facial expressions, and movement of the arms and head. It is harder and slightly a bit more work on paper but it is truly worth it in the end.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Creative Non-Fiction?
Creative non-fiction is adding spice, creativity, angle, flavor, and juice to something that is simply true.
If someone were to write an article about a soccer game and began with: " Real Madrid scores five in good win," the reader would be bored out of his/her mind.
If it began like this :"Real Madrid rip five past sorry opponent in pure domination," the read would be jumping in joy. It's about how a writer puts the words together to make the sentence flow like a river in front of a reader's eyes to grab their interest by the throat.
People enjoy fiction because it is made up. It could be a dream, fantasy, or a simple piece of magic someone comes up with by using a pen, paper, or computer. It is really not that difficult to do, if one has the heart and passion to do so.
To write non-fiction is simply writing the truth. It could be something that happened, will happen, or is happening. To make real life exciting, one needs to liven it up.
Creative non-fiction is good for writers who want to tell a story, any story, that is nothing but the truth. It can not be fictional, at all.
If I were to go to a soccer game, I would describe the action with as much electricity as possible. If I want my readers to sleep, I would simply write: " The team in black scored a goal from inside the area in the final minute to win the game." Yes that is very cool but the way it is written does not even come close to how exciting the moment really was; magical, unbelievable, heart pounding, and simply amazing.
" The game has been a back and forth battle from goal to goal and finally, in the 90th and final minute, the captain of the home side strikes the ball from close range into the top corner passed the outstretched arm of the helpless goal keeper to win it." That is how a moment such as this one should be described on paper.
This type of writing is what makes non-fictional writers shine among others. J.K. Rowling used creative fiction to capture the minds and hearts of people all around the world. By using that technique, she produced an absolute masterpiece. Creativity is the missing ingredient that all non-fiction writers should add to their beautiful recipes to make it taste perfect.
If someone were to write an article about a soccer game and began with: " Real Madrid scores five in good win," the reader would be bored out of his/her mind.
If it began like this :"Real Madrid rip five past sorry opponent in pure domination," the read would be jumping in joy. It's about how a writer puts the words together to make the sentence flow like a river in front of a reader's eyes to grab their interest by the throat.
People enjoy fiction because it is made up. It could be a dream, fantasy, or a simple piece of magic someone comes up with by using a pen, paper, or computer. It is really not that difficult to do, if one has the heart and passion to do so.
To write non-fiction is simply writing the truth. It could be something that happened, will happen, or is happening. To make real life exciting, one needs to liven it up.
Creative non-fiction is good for writers who want to tell a story, any story, that is nothing but the truth. It can not be fictional, at all.
If I were to go to a soccer game, I would describe the action with as much electricity as possible. If I want my readers to sleep, I would simply write: " The team in black scored a goal from inside the area in the final minute to win the game." Yes that is very cool but the way it is written does not even come close to how exciting the moment really was; magical, unbelievable, heart pounding, and simply amazing.
" The game has been a back and forth battle from goal to goal and finally, in the 90th and final minute, the captain of the home side strikes the ball from close range into the top corner passed the outstretched arm of the helpless goal keeper to win it." That is how a moment such as this one should be described on paper.
This type of writing is what makes non-fictional writers shine among others. J.K. Rowling used creative fiction to capture the minds and hearts of people all around the world. By using that technique, she produced an absolute masterpiece. Creativity is the missing ingredient that all non-fiction writers should add to their beautiful recipes to make it taste perfect.
Grealy, beautiful on the inside
Her story is heart wrenching due to the fact that it is hard for me to imagine living her life the way she did. Going through operations, living through the pain, and having people stare at you negatively seems simply awful.
Operations, comments, pain, and suffering is what she felt throughout her life, especially in the early stages. She beat cancer, and then had to deal with the way she looked. Her point is simple: "normal people" complain about every day things such as traffic jams and expensive clothing. For her, these are such small issues that they don't affect her in the same way. Her stories with the operations, cancer, pain, and nasty comments just prove that her situation is way worse than the people who complain over meaningless things. This is a woman who went through "hell" just to attempt to get a better looking face, and unfortunately, to no avail.
Even though she didn't enjoy her looks, she would look into the mirror to think about everything she was going through. Since the operations weren't working, she wanted to look into the mirror until she finally believed with her heart that she was truly beautiful in a unique way. By looking into the mirror, she was able to conquer her worst enemy; herself.
The ending is remarkable as she was sitting in a cafe after a year away from the mirror, meaning she is finally accepting how she looks to be a part of who she truly is. It was a touching piece written by a brave woman.
Operations, comments, pain, and suffering is what she felt throughout her life, especially in the early stages. She beat cancer, and then had to deal with the way she looked. Her point is simple: "normal people" complain about every day things such as traffic jams and expensive clothing. For her, these are such small issues that they don't affect her in the same way. Her stories with the operations, cancer, pain, and nasty comments just prove that her situation is way worse than the people who complain over meaningless things. This is a woman who went through "hell" just to attempt to get a better looking face, and unfortunately, to no avail.
Even though she didn't enjoy her looks, she would look into the mirror to think about everything she was going through. Since the operations weren't working, she wanted to look into the mirror until she finally believed with her heart that she was truly beautiful in a unique way. By looking into the mirror, she was able to conquer her worst enemy; herself.
The ending is remarkable as she was sitting in a cafe after a year away from the mirror, meaning she is finally accepting how she looks to be a part of who she truly is. It was a touching piece written by a brave woman.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
English 4017
Creative Non-fiction covers many areas of writing. Being that my main area of focus and interest is sports writing, look out for many pieces on that.
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