My Letter

At the beginning of the course I thought my writing ability wasn’t great, but I thought that it was at least good enough to write a short story or poem. I was wrong. I expected this class to let me think of an idea, write it down, turn it in, and get a grade. Again, I was wrong. I had to push myself to think outside of the box and not just narrow myself to few options.
Looking back at my background I now realize that it wasn’t very strong. My creative thinking has blossomed in several ways because of this class, especially with the help of revised papers. I would write something, then it in and would almost instantly get it back with kind criticism. This kind of criticism is extremely helpful. The fact that it wasn’t insulting was enough to give me the push I needed to think of something more creative and to tighten up my work.

I had a decent idea of what was expected with short stories, even though writing them wasn’t exactly my strong point, but poems were a lot different. I didn’t think that writing a poem would be so difficult. I thought that poems were basically thoughts written down in any form and that they didn’t have any guidelines. To me they felt like random thoughts that were thrown together in any way, but I was off.
I learned that it takes more than just an idea or feeling to make a decent poem. Once I wrote one it looked like there wasn’t anything wrong with it, but im sure if anyone else had read it they would have been completely lost. It felt right to me because that’s how I thought it should look and sound. Now after weeks of practice I think I am at least capable of writing a decent poem or story. I can’t say that I am a perfect writer and that the work that I do is flawless, but I at least now know what it takes. I know what is expected from a decent story or poem and this class showed me that.

Postcard Front: Warm Ice

Postcard Back: Warm Ice

Poem One Draft: Pencil

Title??
This item that I am looking at
Derek, again, review my comments for direction. --GaryIt can do damage with one hit.
It can be man's best friend if used in the right way.
It's sharpe<spelling, straight and slim,
depending on how you sharpen it.
The yellow brings the sun of day,
without it I wont get an A. <avoid playful end rhymes<if you want your poems to rhyme, then use internal rhyme<I never thought that a pencil had so much such value!

Poem One Final: Pencil

It can do damage with one hit.
It can be man's best friend if used right
with it's sharp, straight and slim point
just depending on how you sharpen it.
The yellow brings the sun of day,
without it the world of writing diminish.
I never thought a pencil had such value!

Poem Two Draft: Dreams

title?
Falling asleep may or may not end well <strong / interesting openingI might just wake up with a smile
I might just wake up in sweat
A sleeping hell can be found in a nightmare <"a sleeping hell" is a nightmare so I don't understand your line<clarify<
Dreams never fail to send one thinking
Hearing the screams of the living dead
People run with death inches behind
Hide behind the strongest door
They almost get you then it stops
Thank god the dream is over <try rewriting this stanza using full sentences< I believe it will bring clarity and purpose
A new night with a new place
Snow covers the ground with stars so brightI find byself flying down a field
The speed is so great I don't want it to end
My eyes open then and realize i'm awake

Dreams mix up good and bad
Regardless the reason I'm always on the run
Something new to see and do
Fly or fall all free <try rewriting this stanza using full sentences< I believe it will bring clarity and purposeDreams are beyond anything great
Review my comments for direction, Derek. All those left margin caps: why?? --Gary

Poem Two Final: Dreams

Falling asleep may or may not end well.
I might just wake up with a smile
or I might just wake up in sweat.
A sleeping hell can be found in a with eyes closed
with dreams never failing to send one thinking.
While hearing the screams of the living dead
people run with death inches behind.
Hide behind the strongest door
as they almost get you then it stops.
Thank god the dream is over.

A new night with a new place.
Snow covers the ground with stars as
I find myself flying down a field
with speed is so great I don't want it to end.
My eyes open then and realize I'm awake.

Dreams mix up good and bad
regardless the reason I'm always on the run
for something new to see and do.
As I sleep I Fly or fall all free.
Dreams are beyond anything great.