I received my 3rd paper back today in my creative writing class and to my astonishment, I earned an A+.
I wasn't sure what kind of grade I would earn on because I didn't feel nearly as passionate about it as I had with my previous paper (which earned an A). I felt like there was no possible way that I was going to top the work of my lyric essay. After all, the paper was framed around drugs, alcohol, and addiction.
What I ended up writing was an essay about writing an essay, which according to the teacher is very hard to do. Included were personal photography and screen shots of a Facebook status that I had posted asking for suggestions on the topic at hand. I wrote it like I was sitting there considering the idea of writing about the one and only really good story I had to tell, a personal experience of my own.
I wasn't sure what kind of grade I would earn on because I didn't feel nearly as passionate about it as I had with my previous paper (which earned an A). I felt like there was no possible way that I was going to top the work of my lyric essay. After all, the paper was framed around drugs, alcohol, and addiction.
What I ended up writing was an essay about writing an essay, which according to the teacher is very hard to do. Included were personal photography and screen shots of a Facebook status that I had posted asking for suggestions on the topic at hand. I wrote it like I was sitting there considering the idea of writing about the one and only really good story I had to tell, a personal experience of my own.
How I posted the Facebook status and with each response and the accompany screen of the response, I replied in depth to each person in which ever way seemed fit. There was so much content than just the responses, but you get the gist. In the end, it was a 13 page paper and it earned me an A+.
Should I be complaining? Absolutely not.
I've been looking back on old journal entries between here and my blogger, laughing about how foolish I once was (and still am for that matter) and how I used to hate the fact that I couldn't write a paper to save my life. Now I yearn to write. I get so much pleasure out of writing that it's almost surreal to know that just a few short years ago I was once hiding behind my own fear of ability, blinded by the constant bad grades and internal feelings of stupidity.
Should I be complaining? Absolutely not.
I've been looking back on old journal entries between here and my blogger, laughing about how foolish I once was (and still am for that matter) and how I used to hate the fact that I couldn't write a paper to save my life. Now I yearn to write. I get so much pleasure out of writing that it's almost surreal to know that just a few short years ago I was once hiding behind my own fear of ability, blinded by the constant bad grades and internal feelings of stupidity.
Comparing myself to the next person, who could write a decent paper with trouble, was probably the dumbest thing I'd ever done. It didn't solve anything. It didn't improve my writing skills. It only weighed me down to an unspeakable level of humiliation.
Out of fairness and complete truth, I contribute a lot of my writing ability to blogging. It helped me develop and organize my thoughts, thats for sure. But I also attribute my ability to the old fashion practice makes perfect mantra.
Out of fairness and complete truth, I contribute a lot of my writing ability to blogging. It helped me develop and organize my thoughts, thats for sure. But I also attribute my ability to the old fashion practice makes perfect mantra.
What really meant the most was the teacher's comment, which said:
"You've written an essay about writing an essay (meta discourse). That's really hard to do. Excellent job, Lauren. I was riveted throughout. You truly do have a very creative mind and you are a superb writer."
If anyone wants to read the essay, let me know and I'll email you a copy.
2 comments:
Lauren my love,
like any skill, it takes some instruction and practice, even if it's in your own personal education, before a true knack for writing is recognized. All writers have studied other writers - Meyer went to Uni for it, JK Rowling studied the classics - we stand on the shoulders of giants (so that we can reach higher and further into the realm and scope of creative writing).
Your teacher obviously recognizes this same ability in you, engendered in a mind that learned to see things differently, and with the ability to do it intelligently...so keep learning, and reading, as one would take to an unpolished gem, take to your gift.
Sincerely,
Ben
Also, I forgot to mention...
YOU ARE THE BOMB.COM
Awesome job on your paper - based on how she graded your first paper honestly, saying you should be more daring (a challenge that you met head on and earned an A, A+), your know her encomium is genuine.
I can't wait to read your next paper...
--Ben
Post a Comment