Ron Koertge, the author of the short story Geeks bearing gifts, used strategies that made his writing very likeable. One of the techniques he used was making his writing releatable. The short story is about a "popular" teenage girl named Renee. She tries to interview the " unpopular" highschool peers for the school newspaper. The "unpopular" kids are looked down upon, called names, aren't respected and gossiped about regularly. Kids who have a rough time in school can easily relate to this story because they have experienced what some of the "unpopular" kids have gone through. I can use this technique in my writing to make it more likable. When a story is more relatable, the reader will develop feelings and an attachment for the characters and story line.
Another writing technique that the author used is humour. Humor made the story better because it makes readers laugh. A funny story is a good story, people generally like funny stories. The characters used sarcastic, funny dialogue which made me laugh. I could use humor in my stories to make it better. humor would make the story more appealing and make readers more happy to read it. Relateability and humor are two strategies that made the story Geeks Bearing Gifts, a good read for me.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
A Worn Path Discussion Questions
1. The title of the short story A Worn Path, is significant to the whole story. The title signifies love and determination that Phoenix Jackson feels for her grandson. She travels, by foot long and far for her beloved grandsons medication. She has walked the path many times before, and knows them so well she closes her eyes sometimes and her feet just know where to take her. Each time she travels the worn path, she won't let anything turn her back home. She is determined each and every time to get the medicine that her grandson needs.
2. Phoenix is the name of the protagonist of the story for many reasons. A Phoenix is brave, promising, fierce and is a fascinating gentle beast. A Phoenix is part lion part eagle. Both of these animals are noble and majestic creatures. These are all characteristics of Phoenix Jackson. Another reason Phoenix is a fitting name for the character of this story is because a Phoenix never dies. Phoenix's regenerate and live on, their heroic spirit never dies. And that's how Phoenix acts throughout her journey along the path.
3. A recurring symbol throughout the story is birds. In the beginning of the story, Phoenix's can tapping on the frozen ground sounds like a little birds persistent chirping. I think the birds represent many things in the story. One of the birds represented God watching over Phoenix as she stole the nickel from the hunter she met in the woods. Then later on, the birds represent Phoenix and her grandson. When she described her grandson as a little bird peeping out from nude his patch quilt and she was the protective mother bird who loved her baby very much.
4. Another symbol that I saw was the main character, Phoenix herself. In the beginning it said that Phoenix had a gold color running underneath her skin and her cheeks were illuminated by a yellow light. Also she had a red rag tied around her head. These are all colors of a Phoenix's plumage. Phoenix's will fly great distances to heal people with their tears; just like Phoenix did for her grandson.
5. Phoenix's journey back home symbolizes the rebirth of a Phoenix. After the Phoenix travels its long journey, it turns into ashes only to be reborn again. I feel that when Phoenix froze up in the nurses office, that symbolized the death of the Phoenix. Then when she unfroze it was the birth of the Phoenix.
2. Phoenix is the name of the protagonist of the story for many reasons. A Phoenix is brave, promising, fierce and is a fascinating gentle beast. A Phoenix is part lion part eagle. Both of these animals are noble and majestic creatures. These are all characteristics of Phoenix Jackson. Another reason Phoenix is a fitting name for the character of this story is because a Phoenix never dies. Phoenix's regenerate and live on, their heroic spirit never dies. And that's how Phoenix acts throughout her journey along the path.
3. A recurring symbol throughout the story is birds. In the beginning of the story, Phoenix's can tapping on the frozen ground sounds like a little birds persistent chirping. I think the birds represent many things in the story. One of the birds represented God watching over Phoenix as she stole the nickel from the hunter she met in the woods. Then later on, the birds represent Phoenix and her grandson. When she described her grandson as a little bird peeping out from nude his patch quilt and she was the protective mother bird who loved her baby very much.
4. Another symbol that I saw was the main character, Phoenix herself. In the beginning it said that Phoenix had a gold color running underneath her skin and her cheeks were illuminated by a yellow light. Also she had a red rag tied around her head. These are all colors of a Phoenix's plumage. Phoenix's will fly great distances to heal people with their tears; just like Phoenix did for her grandson.
5. Phoenix's journey back home symbolizes the rebirth of a Phoenix. After the Phoenix travels its long journey, it turns into ashes only to be reborn again. I feel that when Phoenix froze up in the nurses office, that symbolized the death of the Phoenix. Then when she unfroze it was the birth of the Phoenix.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Your Voice
Recently I read two articles about recognizing and how to find your voice. The first was titled On Writing Well and the second article was Finding Your Voice. Even though the articles were about the same topic, they both gave different advice on how to achieve the goal of gaining your own style and voice.
In the article Finding Your Voice, the author explains that imitating other writers styles brings you one step back from finding your own voice. The author says it's very hard to find your voice when you assume somebody elses. But the other article couldn't disagree more. The author of On Writing Well, says that imitating your favorite authors styles will help you shift into one that feels most comfortable until you're ready to develop your own. This author also says you won't lose your own identity by imitating other writers styles.
One thing the two articles agree on is to make your style of writing relaxed and relateable. This will help readers get a good image of what you're writing about and make you your writing understandable, therefore more likable. On Writing Well states that even though your style should be relaxed, it shouldn't be breezy. Breezy style includes writing with slang and non-formal words. It's like your'e talking down to the reader.
On Writing Well explains that finding your voice will be easier if you stick to the rules of writing, such as using techniques provided by other authors and not using cliches or slang words. The other article says to dig deep and plunge into new things that will enhance your writing and define your voice. It also says to go with whatever you find inside of you.
Another thing that these authors agree on is keeping your writing fresh, relaxed and simple. This helps your style of writing become more memorable and less complicated which attracts readers. By keeping your word choice fresh and surprising, it will keep the reader interested. And to top it all off keeping your style of writing relaxed will soothe the reader and make your writing seem more realistic.
Finding your voice isn't easy, but as you can see, there are many different strategies to find it. You just have to find one that suits you.
In the article Finding Your Voice, the author explains that imitating other writers styles brings you one step back from finding your own voice. The author says it's very hard to find your voice when you assume somebody elses. But the other article couldn't disagree more. The author of On Writing Well, says that imitating your favorite authors styles will help you shift into one that feels most comfortable until you're ready to develop your own. This author also says you won't lose your own identity by imitating other writers styles.
One thing the two articles agree on is to make your style of writing relaxed and relateable. This will help readers get a good image of what you're writing about and make you your writing understandable, therefore more likable. On Writing Well states that even though your style should be relaxed, it shouldn't be breezy. Breezy style includes writing with slang and non-formal words. It's like your'e talking down to the reader.
On Writing Well explains that finding your voice will be easier if you stick to the rules of writing, such as using techniques provided by other authors and not using cliches or slang words. The other article says to dig deep and plunge into new things that will enhance your writing and define your voice. It also says to go with whatever you find inside of you.
Another thing that these authors agree on is keeping your writing fresh, relaxed and simple. This helps your style of writing become more memorable and less complicated which attracts readers. By keeping your word choice fresh and surprising, it will keep the reader interested. And to top it all off keeping your style of writing relaxed will soothe the reader and make your writing seem more realistic.
Finding your voice isn't easy, but as you can see, there are many different strategies to find it. You just have to find one that suits you.
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