Author's Note
The Introduction to the Writing minor (Writing 220) was a unique opportunity to explore my writing process in ways that I had not done before. The class forced me to evaluate myself and how I approach the discipline through experimentation with different genre, media, and modes. Within the class, I took an application essay I had written (my origin piece) and considered three ways of transforming it.
The experimentation process challenged me to consider aspects of different genre and transform my origin piece from its original genre into a new one. The transformation process took place in three parts: sketch draft, genre analysis, and reflection. In the sketch draft phase I outlined how I would transform my origin piece and in the genre analysis I focused on the genre as a whole. Writing and researching the genre analysis was the structural framework for creating a sketch draft. The last piece of each experiment was a reflection. The reflection brought the sketch draft, genre analysis, and my own perspectives together as a collective to evaluate the experiment holistically.
The first experiment I undertook and coincidentally the one I chose to bring to life was free verse poetry. The reason I chose to realize this experiment was the reconnection to a genre I had been exposed to as a high school student. Moreover, this reconnection was enhanced by the exposure to a sub-genre of poetry that was free from the rules and restrictions of the poetry I had previously been exposed to. The freedom I found here was reminiscent of the liberty I experienced in my AP Language and Composition class. The freedom of expression granted there was the foundation for my love of writing and I was eager to explore a genre in which freedom was the defining characteristic. Looking back over my reflection and original sketch draft there are a few things that stand out. The first is that I was trying to rigidly adhere to my origin piece within my sketch draft and my reflection provided the foundation for how I would ultimately craft my fully realized poem. This was my first experiment and I was not as ready to throw my origin piece readily away. This was a common theme throughout my semester. I tied my experiments very closely to the themes of my original essay. The reflection focused heavily on imagery and how I enjoyed poems that featured heavy imagery. The sketch draft and first draft I produced were certainly lacking in the department. Refocusing my efforts for my final draft, I used my reflection to pinpoint the features of the genre I enjoyed and make sure to feature those within my own work. The second is the intended audience I saw for my poem. I described my audience as those who enjoy reading poems, which is rather broad. However, I described the published poem as being featured in a coffee table book of unknown poets. This publication implies I do not expect my poem to have much exposure. I think this reflects my lack of confidence in writing within new genres I felt at the beginning of the semester. This is something I feel shifted throughout the semester as I gained confidence in the work I would potentially be able to produce.
The second experiment of my Writing 220 journey was within the genre of podcasts. Unlike the previous experiment, podcasts are something that I am extremely familiar with and this is demonstrated throughout my reflection. I draw on much of my own experience listening to podcasts as I describe how I feel about the genre and my own potential podcast. I highlighted how the variety of podcasts and their accessibility made the genre very attractive to explore. Additionally, I noted how important voice and style is. I emphasized my informal and free approach when describing what I anticipated my own voice would be. I describe a conversational or improvisational approach with a few guiding notes This relates strongly to how I have evaluated my writing process over the course of the semester. I have discovered that I write best off the cuff and when the pressure is on (deadlines approaching). I plan and research beforehand; however, the actual content is produced when I am prompted through some kind of outside force. This is something I discussed trying to change in my writing style. However, this semester showed me that I work best in this way and have embraced this process to my writing. By embracing this pressure process I have refined my research and preparation. This allows me to focus more on writing and less on the other aspects of the writing process as I go. This does not preclude further research if I require additional information or think of different ideas.
The final experiment of the semester focused on photo essay’s. I chose photo essay because I felt I would be able to get the furthest from my origin piece through this genre. The first two experiments had focused on my own perspectives. Whereas, I planned for the photo essay to incorporate the others perspective’s. Continuing with the theme I outlined in the previous reflections, I enjoyed the freedom allowed in the photo essay genre. I examined examples that varied in the amount of text accompanying the photographs and how that changed the experience of reading each. Upon reflection, I enjoyed the examples with more text. This is because I enjoy listening to another’s perspective on a subject they know more about than I. This parallels my enjoyment of writing as I enjoy conveying my own ideas and have the confidence to present them.
Looking back over the semester there are a few key points I have discovered about myself as a writer. The main point being that I gravitate towards freedom and the ability to express oneself outside the confines of literary rules. I do not want to be told how to do something. I would rather choose to do something of my own accord and see how it works or fits into a discourse community after finishing the product. The poem I have featured on this website encompasses the journey I have discussed here. I have broken firmly away from the themes of my origin piece. I have embraced the imagery of my chosen genre. And I have created a piece that is free from restriction and is unequivocally me.