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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.