Reflections on Mute Dancers: How to Watch a Hummingbird

     This week we are transitioning from fiction writing to creative essay writing. At first, I was a little confused on how to write a creative essay. Ever since high school, I've written a lot of essays, but they were not like this. They were often full of information, but often bland. From what I understand, creative essays are a more detailed version of an essay. A topic is needed, as well as a flow of what the content is talking about. It needs to be informational enough to have a point, but it's laid out more loosely than a typical essay. It's almost like fiction and essays melt together to make a combined masterpiece. For some, this can be challenging. For others, creating an essay like this is a walk in a park. Still, I have been having trouble with learning how to create these unique essays and I think this story, Mute Dancers: How to Watch a Hummingbird, is a great example of a creative essay.
     This story is has a pretty simple topic. The author talks about hummingbirds and her experiences and knowledge about them. When I first read this, I thought that it was amazing that she was able to put enough information and detail that made the topic brighten and bloom. If hummingbirds were a subject for a regular essay, there is a great chance that the content would be bland and have a lack of interest. Through each paragraph, the author reveals different facts about hummingbirds and shares her stories that back up and create fluffy details. She describes the fast, little birds in such a way that it perfectly creates a beautiful image in the brain. I thought that the way she was able to combine imagery details with facts was brilliant. An example of this is, "In the dark night of the hummingbird, it can sink into a zombie-like state of torpor; its breathing grows shallow and its wild heart slows to only 36 beats a minute," When she talks about her and a friend's personal experiences, it flows really nicely and compliments with the topic. That is something that I know I need to work on. I can put information down and I can talk about my personal experiences, but I cannot flow them together well.
     What's unique about this story and the author is the fact that she is able to put enough detail to make it believable. The content could be nothing but pure imagination, because how the story flows is what makes everything believable. I think that is key for these type of stories. Although they should be truthful, the story needs to feel like it is real. So some writers might put little white lies in their work, however if they form it right, no one will know if what they are saying is right or wrong. Like the example in the previous paragraph. The author talks about the fact that hummingbirds slow their heartbeat down to 36 beats per minute while they sleep. Since she writes this in such a descriptive sentence, we are to believe that she is telling the truth. Whereas she could merely guessed a number that sounded right. That;s the thing though, I believe that stories should be true and are mostly, but a story with so much detail can have many made up facts. For me, this keeps me thinking about the story even after reading it. I often wonder if that fact was true, so I looked it up, and it is possible that she is right. I think that is key to create a story where it questions the reader if it is true or false, because it leaves a memorable mark on them. This goes the same with stories that have extraordinary detail, or ones that are very relate-able to the readers.
     Overall, this story is very interesting in a simple way. It is all about one single, tiny bird and because of the great detail, it keeps the reader entertained to read to the end. The combination of facts and details really make the topic and content intriguing. The way how the details are described is really unique to the point where it is imaginable to picture in your head. This creative essay is a great example on how to write one, especially because the whole story flows very well. When writing future creative essays, I will look back onto this story to help guide me to create one a good as this.

Thoughts about Dawn Lundy Martin's Poems

     Dawn Lundy Martin's poems are quite fascinating. They are simply descriptive and that's the best part. The two poems we are given to read are a little tricky to decipher. Martin is an activist and some of her work involves history, domestic violence and activism. Knowing this, it can help figure out what the poems mean. Although we are in the fiction portion of the class now, her work can still be a tool on how to show readers and writers how to "Show versus Tell" when writing a story or poem. The details are so mysterious and straight forward that it can gives us a sense on how to do something similar with our own work. 

     The first poem that is given is called Violent Rooms. It is very short, but greatly descriptive. It is almost cryptic. There can be multiple meanings from this poem. One idea that can be found is that the character in the story is talking about her father's life. By reading the page before the poem, it discusses that a character wants to talk about her father's life and what he was like before he was dead. When reading the poem, You don't get the feeling on who she is talking about until you start reading the second part. The character describes a bar stool, which with the page before, the character looks at a picture of her father and he is at a bar. The question is that is this poem showing what the father did to someone else, killing that person, or is it showing what someone did towards him? Overall, there is some display of some sort of violence. When I read this poem, the thought of maybe this was a odd way to describe a child. I say this because in the beginning, the character is describing someone else slowly pronouncing the words girl and suck, something a small child often does when they learn how to talk. The pronunciation can also be a way to show emotion from the other character. Like all other poetry pieces, this one can be deciphered in different ways and scenarios.

     The second poem is called The Morning Hour. This one is a little longer than the first poem, as well as a little more detailed. This poem can also have different meanings. The first thing that came to my head was that this was about a mother and her daughter, doing their daily routines. The more I read the story, the more I felt like these two women were slaves. The mother has "infinite lines of welt." Which was a form of wrongful discipline. It seems like the mother tries to do everything to protect her daughter and make sure she isn't harmed, but the mother gets harmed instead. The only care in her world is Olivia. The more the story goes on, the more it sounds like the two are in a ship or a wagon, traveling where to we do not know, The sentence, "And Olivia, what no memory can recall lost eternally inside covered wagons." shows this. The narrator, who may be the mother, has hope that these ways in that era will change and that her daughter will no longer live in that kind of life. This poem can also have meaning behind how it can be a struggle to others to get over hard times and hope and want to make sure that their children do not suffer like they did. 

     Overall, Martin's work is very intriguing and eye catching. Her work pulls the reader in and does not let go. She paints the images really well, even if the poem is short. Not a lot of people can do that, nor can they show so much power with only few words. Martin is a really good poet/writer and I would love to dive into more of her work. It would be very interesting to learn what her meaning is behind the two poems. 

Reflecting on the Chapter "Blue Lipstick and a Cigarette Hanging out of Your Mouth"

     As we are progressing in Fiction section of this class, this week we reconnect with the book, Writing Down the Bones. In previous posts, I've said that I loved some chapters from this book and again I am confirming that opinion. This week we are reading the last third of the book and I found many chapters to be interesting and helpful for getting better at the art of writing, however, these tips are also great to help us give a better outlook on our lives. There are multiple chapters in this book that are truly inspiring. One chapter, however really spoke to me.  This chapter is called "Blue Lipstick and a Cigarette Hanging out of Your Mouth." It's only one page, but just the way how Goldberg gives advice in this chapter really opened my eyes in the writing life and in life generally.

     In this chapter, the author explains that there may be times while we write material, that we may get sick of writing the same stuff over and over again. Whatever we do that helps us get into the writing may even get boring. She writes that once this happens, you must find something else that can help. You have to find something out of the box, something that you don't do regularly. Let's face it, doing the same things or the same rituals over and over again, can be a bit boring. Our human brains often get bored and we get stuck thinking, "What am I doing with my life? This is so boring." Eventually, we get so tired that we stop doing what we were doing or we get unmotivated to do it anymore. Like writing or other hobbies that we do every day. I do this all the time. I'll write everyday or listen to music and then I am bored. I get sick of writing the same stuff or listening to the same song. Soon, I just stop doing them all together. After reading this chapter, if this sort of thing happens again, I will listen to a new genre of music or maybe write in a different place or in a different state. 

     Another piece of advice Goldberg gives is that this out of box thing that we do should be able to do these things in a different angle. That's what you have to do to make things everything, you have to see/ be in a different angle. A different light or scenery. In writing or in our lives, having the same cycle continuously can make us feel like there is no excitement anymore. So we get the urge to dye our hair a different color or get a tattoo. And Goldberg encourages that. Do something that reminds you that there is substance in writing or in life. If it just takes a small prop that gives you another place to write, use that prop for a while. For example, when I write, I always have a cup of milk to drink. Milk usually makes me feel relax and I always write better when I'm relaxed. Sometimes I get sick of drink milk, so I'll drink hot tea instead. I especially like to write while I am drinking tea because I write all the flavors I taste as an exercise. This usually helps me think of a more descriptive language/ detail and that really gets me into the mood to write. 

       For some people, it is hard to get motivated when it comes to writing a story, poem, etc. When they are motivated, repetitiveness is always one of the factors that makes them quit. A simple fix is to just do something out or their comfort zone, something that gives them material that can be written. Or it can help if they change their setting when they write, This goes for other things that we do in our lives. If your not motivated to do house chores, then maybe start with outside chores first. Plant a garden, then do the dishes. Or simply put favorite song while you do the dishes, to make doing the chore fun. There are many things out there that are unique and can help you motivate yourself to do your every day list of things to do or the story you need to write. One simple change can make a hobby or life more exciting.

Thoughts on Oate's The Girl with the Blackened Eye

    This week in class, we are reading the fiction story, The Girl with the Blackened Eye. This story is really intriguing once you read the first couple of paragraphs. The language and the details pulled me in and I did not stop reading it until the story was at its end. It truly was fascinating on how the author could write such an emotional story. Reading it, two things popped into my mind. The first thought was that I wondered if this story was based on a true story. The second, was that I wondered how she was able to put her words together, because it seems like she had a personal situation that she was able to put into the story? Or maybe she's just a great writer that can make stories very personal. That's the cool thing about writing stories. With the right words and language. you can make it seem like the story was your own personal experience, when in fact that has never happened to you. It's amazing. There are somethings about the story that I really liked.
    I thought that it was really interesting of the fact that the kidnapper of the narrator kept her alive the whole time she was abducted. He always killed his victims, but there had to be something special about her for him to dismiss his repeated actions. Was it because it was the away she obeyed him? Was it because he had a gut feeling that made him keep her alive? We will never know. The readers are just happy she was found and the killer was eliminated. Or at least, I was. Reading this, I felt horrible for her. She was just a girl, halfway through high school, and this event changed her whole life. I can't help but wonder, would her life still change if this trauma didn't happened? Would she still be married and have kids? Regardless, she was able to get over the trauma and was able to live her life almost normal again. Since she was a parent, I would feel very protective of my children, in fear that there might be some invisible cycle and they would be abducted too.
    Another thing that I thought was interesting about the story was the fact that the main character was so traumatized, she obeyed her abductor and seemed like she had Stockholm Syndrome. She knew she wanted to leave her captor, she even had an opportunity to escape, however she didn't. She obeyed him and would've never left or have been found if it wasn't for eye witnesses identifying him. I also thought it was a little weird that he would kidnap women in public places, but no one ever saw him until the end. I feel like nowadays that would be different and kidnappers would be caught earlier. Regardless, being kidnapped is terrifying and I can see why at first the girl obeyed him, so she could stay alive. Another thing I found a little odd, was the fact that she never remembered his actual face. To her, his face was always blurry. If I was in her shoes, I would do anything to get a good description of him so I could figure out away to get him exposed and caught.
      Overall, this story was chilling and great. The language and details draw you in to keep reading until the end. This is probably one of my favorite fictions we have read so far. Since the scenario is a little different than typical kidnap stories, I thought it was nice and not a cliche. I hope that we have more stories like this. This story also gives a good example on how to show and not tell in your work. The details put you right into the story, as if you were the one being kidnapped and tortured.

In Thinking About Lamott's Polaroids

     The packet called Polaroids is just as interesting and helpful as Goldberg's book, Writing Down the Bones. The only difference is that Lamott is talking about fiction, not just overall writing or poetry. In this packet, he talks about tips and how to create a fiction story and overall to be a better writer. If someone is having trouble with developing characters, plot and dialogue, this packet is perfect. There are some things I really liked in this set of pages and I thought it was great advice to beginning writers.

     In the beginning, Lamott talks about writing an article on the Special Olympics. He went with great interest, but he didn't know how or what he was going to write about it. Enjoying himself, he took notes all day and had a good time. During the twenty-five yard race, he watched a young girl trying her best to get through it. Once she did, she was stoked that she was able to finish, regardless of how long it took her. This and many other things that happened throughout that day would've been endless details to write, in Lamott's opinion. I think he is right and telling us this story is to show that people who want to write should focus on the event or surroundings that are around them. Everything that's happening can be written into some sort of story or anything, as long as the writer has the right mind or perspective. Something simple that someone else is doing can be written so beautifully, even if they are just reading a book or simply walking across the street.

     Another point that Lamott talked about that I thought was interesting was when he talked about the plot. It was really different reading his advice to not worry about the plot, but worry about the development of the characters. When you get involved with the characters, that creates the plot. I like the quote, "You are not going to be able to give us the plans to the submarine. Life is not a submarine" because in life there are no plans, so in stories, there shouldn't be so much worry or plans in the plot. With any type of story development, you must be patient. Once you are able to see the capability of the characters, you can take more action in developing the plot. He also said that your dreams, or in this case your work, mus be vivid and continuous. The material has got to work on its own, You have to roll with it. It will go smoothly with time. Beginning writers, especially me, have a hard time feeling like the plot is not good enough, or are impatient with how good the story will be. You just have to be patient and everything will fall into place.
    This packet is truly helpful when it comes to the ultimate worries of "Will my story be any good?" Reading this overall helps with letting you calm down and give tips on how to develop stories really well. Characters are the most important thing. They are the parts that reel readers in the story, and what makes the story pleasurable and unique. If a writer needs insight on how to write a story, this packet is perfect. With this, I feel that this packet boosted my confidence in writing, and I hope others felt the same way too.

The Message from "Morning News"

     As we go into the fiction part in class, we are reading the first fiction packet. In this packet, there are a few very interesting short stories, but this one was one of my favorites. This short story, Morning News, is by Jerome Stern. The main character, a husband in North Carolina, gets the news that his wife is sick. Her sickness is unknown, but my guesses are cancer, because the language in it seems to be more accurate to this type of sickness than other sicknesses. As he gets the news, he faints, and is automatically picturing the worse. He thinks about what he would do if he was in his wife's shoes; how he would spend his remaining life before he passes. By the end of the story, he and his wife go to a discount warehouse and buys the biggest television set they have. Although the story doesn't give a message or a moral in plain sight, I think it gives a message that we all need to learn.
     Some readers will say that the meaning of this story is to,"Live your life to the fullest," and that can be true. We only have one life and if we spend it not doing things that can give you complete satisfaction, then you'll pass on without knowing what it would've been like. However, I think that this story is telling more than that. When something goes wrong in a person's life, they either mope in their sorrow and will never get over it. Others will try to do everything that they can to fix it, or make the best of the problem. regardless, they waste their time not looking at the big picture. When something goes wrong in our life, we are so quick to fix it or deny it and it falls apart. Our lives are fragile, and one simple mistake can make everything can go wrong. The message I felt from this story was to stop, and breathe. Look at the big picture. Okay, so there is a bump in the road in my life. I can either, go slowly over the bump, or I can go really fast over it. Most people never think about taking a breather on what has thrown onto them. No one ever thinks about going the "middle" speed, or the" middle" position. I think what this story is trying to say is that, "Yes, something like this can happen in our lives, but it takes us to inhale for a second and look at every side of the situation." Realize what is happening, and try to do the best decision possible that would make you happy.
     The husband realizes that he can either rush his wife to do every glorious thing they can think of, or spend his and her life worrying and trying to not over do it. He should see that he should see how she feels about it and do whatever it takes to make her and him happy. He must take a step at a time. However, we may feel in some way that time is running out, so spontaneous things must happen. This is why he still buys the biggest television set in the store. Although there still is time to do things before they get worse, we are humans and we must act on our impulses.
     When it comes to situations like this, people are quick to go to one side or the other. No one ever thinks about the middle. If we start to think about the middle decisions in situations, I think things will go more pleasantly and no one will regret what they did or didn't do. If the husband thinks about what the middle part is in his situation, he might be able to satisfy his and his wife's wants and needs, thus lessening the chances that they will regret anything. Like I said earlier, we only have one life. If we sit back and think about what we can do to help our problems, there will be a better chance to live our lives in a better way.

Thoughts on "On My Mind" from the book Tocqueville

     Throughout the book, Tocqueville, there are a lot of interesting poems to read. Some are cryptic and some are easier to understand, just like other poems from other authors. Many poems are also a combination of this. Some parts you might understand, whereas the rest is a little more difficult to read. I thought one particular poem from this book was like this. It's called "On My Mind."

     This poem gives me two ideas on what it is about. As I read it several times, it seems like he is talking about someone he knows. Someone who had a whole different life than what he remembers long ago. For some reason, I had an idea that he was referring to his mother. However, at the end of the poem he says, "I think her name was Georgia." After I read that, I felt like it couldn't be his mother anymore. Then to think of it, maybe the narrator in the poem is stating the fact that she is so different now, that he no longer knows who she is. Another reason why it could be the mother he is talking about, is because overall the whole poem talks about a women that he loves, but it doesn't seem like an intimate kind of love. Some of the lines can give the idea that his mother was once around to care for him, but since she is consumed by other things, she is not there for him now. He still loves her and wants to care for her, because he might be the only family member she has.

     Another idea of what could be the meaning of this poem is that the narrator may be talking about women nowadays in America's society. Overall, the poem kind of creates a stereotypical image of a woman who would maybe considered "White Trash." I actually had the image of the mother from the movie Matilda, pop into my head while I read the poem. It seems like the language is saying that long ago she, or women, were not like this. As if maybe because some of the habits that we have in society have made a big impact on what we do or look like. For example, the lady in the story smokes a carton a day. This habit is unhealthy and could of changed the woman in a small way. She is so consumed into smoking, or other habits, that she could lose a part of who she was before all of this. Things like this can change people, making seem like they are not who they used to be anymore. Like how a drug addict can change their personality by using harsh drugs and will eventually lose everything good around them. Maybe with some of the choices we made as a society has changed on what we think on certain subjects, making us different to others.
     Overall, this poem is really interesting. It is a combination of a cryptic message and an easy language we can understand. I think to find the real meaning of this poem, besides asking the author himself, is to read piece by piece and try to figure out what each piece means. Poems are puzzles, with enough effort, you are able to make out which pieces or ideas will click and which ones don't. I would be really interested to see if I was right or somewhat right with the background or meaning of this poem.