What's the best take-away from following your writer? Did you steal a pattern? Learn how to do something? Figure out what to avoid? Think about three take aways and share them, please. I value honest and insightful ideas, so please don't feel like you have to love this part of class. I'm always open to new ways of having students read writers with whom they have a connection and a shared interest.
Thanks for your time and energy on these posts. I love reading them.
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From my writer, I learned the importance of varying sentence structure. I was never bored from her writing because she continued to use new and unique sentence structures and patterns. Not only were they present in her writing, but they also stood out. For every post, I found it easy to pick out good things in her writing because they occurred so frequently as well. I will continue to be conscious of the variations in sentence structures in my writing in the future, because the less repetitive the more engaging.
Since my blogger was a food blogger, there were always pictures that accompanied her posts. I found that pictures make a big difference in whether I'm initially interested in reading the post. For example, there was a post about Restaurant 101 with a faded unappealing picture of a restaurant kitchen. I didn't like that article. In her most recent post, she wrote about mac & cheese and the picture was a mouthwatering bowl of creamy, cheesy goodness topped with a crispy breadcrumb crust. Yum. I read on. Pictures are, indeed, worth a thousand words.
Lastly, I learned that it's okay to use the occasional or not so occasional - or (parenthesis) in my writing. I learned not to be afraid of abnormal and unfamiliar things like these, and how to use them properly.
I loved following Jennifer McHenry and her baking blog, bake or break. She is so incredibly talented as a baker, writer, and photographer. I also feel like she really understands people. She is able to connect with beautiful photos, eloquent writing, and with the tasteful aesthetics of her site. She is adventurous, yet very skilled. I not only am inspired by her vast recipe index, but also by her talent to succeed while branching out and trying new things. I hope to one day be as confident and skilled as her. I want to be a baker when I am older, but after reading McHenry I also hope to be able to photograph and write just as well. I also learned about how she is sponsored by so many big companies, which allows her to be a baking blogger as a career. This is intriguing to me, as I had never thought of that as a career. I have subscribed to her posts, and know I will continue to follow her journey and create her recipes.
I learned a lot from my writer Susie Boyt, who I now feel I can affectionately call Suze.
Thank you Suze, for you have taught me some extremely valuable things about what makes a good writer.
My favorite take away from your writings is the way that you used descriptive narratives and told your stories using a dry humor which I really connected to. That is something that I hope to incorporate in my writing as continue developing a personal style and voice.
Another thing I took away from your writing was your fabulous use of vocabulary which was added to your pieces in a way that flowed well and was complimentary of the rest of the sentence without seeming too forced or unnatural.
Lastly, you taught me that it is important to vary your structure as a writer because sometimes strict and unwavering or differing structure for every essay you write can get a little dry for your reader. It got a little dry for me Suze, I'm gonna be honest with you because I feel like were close like that now.
Despite that, I am really glad that I got a chance to get to know you better as a writer and am looking forward to continuing reading your column in the future in order to pull inspiration from your witty anecdotes and interesting style. Don't worry Suze, just because this class may be ending, doesn't mean our great friendship has to.
Thanks for the memories girl.
I learned that calm argument with many facts and sources can make a topic, even one that I may have different viewpoints than the writer on, seem reasonable. David Brooks is slightly more conservative than I am, but he did made his points well and backed his statements up. This allowed me to accept his point of view as a valid one, and to not reject it out of hand.
I learned to not eclipse my own piece of writing with other people’s. David Brooks had a tendency to include too many quotes from other people, making it seem more like an iteration of those people’s point of views and not his own. A few quotes and facts would have sufficed, with his own analysis providing the bulk of the writing.
I learned that not every point needs to be argued with long and eloquent phrases and quotable sentences. A solid point will make the argument just as well. David Brooks is not the most flowery writer, but it works for him and he is just as effective.
Thanks Dave
Though my experience reading Maureen Dowd's pieces has been up and down, I am glad to say that I am ending on a good note with her. I have learned the importance of a strong first sentence that really hooks the reader and how a little humor can go a long way. In all of her writing, Dowd's first sentences have been fabulous. Though sometimes weird and obscure, she knows how to draw a reader in, even if the topic is not appealing. I have never met Dowd, but from her writing, I know she is a funny person. I don't think I am funny enough to make my writing humorous, but she has helped give me confidence to try new writing styles, structures, and techniques.
Another important thing I learned was I will never have any interest in writing about politics in Washington D.C.
I would say I've simply enjoyed reading Woody Paige's writing more than I have studied and analyzed it, but there are a few things I picked up on.
The first thing I learned was how to improve writing with comedy. Using comedy is one of the most difficult things a writer can do, for a number of different reasons, but Paige does it effortlessly. I always catch myself chuckling whenever I read one of his articles.
Another thing that I've noticed in his writing is the use of a strong opening sentence. He always starts his pieces with a captivating line, which really engages the reader. I've tried to incorporate that into my writing, as I feel it is an essential part of a piece of writing.
The last major take-away is Paige's simple and stream-lined vocabulary. Writing isn't all about using big thesaurus words, but rather finding the words that "fit". His style of writing is all about connecting with the reader, and he has taught me that sometimes less is more.
Overall, I've enjoyed my time spent with Woody Paige.
Thanks
I've thoroughly enjoyed David Brooks' work this semester. Even though I was forced to only read from his archives until 5 days ago, his writing has taught me a lot.
First off, having a genuine interest in the subject is of utmost importance to a successful article. Brooks, while known primarily as a political writer, has covered everything from suicide to syria to secular society. He writes about what he wants to, and that makes his writing all the more entertaining.
With respect to his writing style, I've gained a greater appreciation for being clear and concise and building a fundamentally solid essay. His arguments are always solid, and always have plenty of logos to back up any piece of poignant pathos or ethos he invokes.
Lastly, in a not-quite-as-positive light, I've come to realize that the frills that Brooks' writing often lacks can do a lot to keep a reader's attention. His writing is very clear and to the point, and while that can be nice, it's sometimes hard to keep focus without a little comic relief or little fun facts along the way.
From following Meghan Duam, I learned a lot about how to make writing personable. No matter the topic, Duam's voice showed through, and it was her apparent character that made reading her articles so entertaining and captivating. As I have said before, she has a way of writing that makes readers feel like they are in a conversation. Yet it is never too casual to not take her seriously. It is this skill of hers that I really admire. She has found the perfect balance to connect with readers, and she seamlessly shines through her article no matter the subject. The ability to be this is something I want for myself, and what I will continue to work towards.
In addition to those two things, she has showed me that putting a little humor into pieces always adds a little something great. Whether it is a line at the beginning, a line at the end, or interwoven throughout, humor is a powerful tool and was the icing on the cake to her essays. I will be experimenting with this in the future.
I loved reading Gene's articles every week. His articles are always fun and easy to read; I'm able to read them in a couple of minutes without using a dictionary to look up words. He was always had an informal writing style that is easy to read. I've never read many sport articles, but after reading Gene's I have been reading more articles on ESPN.
My favorite take away from this writer is to be clear and simple. I have always struggled with proving my point in a clear and concise way, but I think Gene excels at this.
I'm really glad I chose him to follow. Thank you Gene!
From Gail Collins, I learned that you can make any topic interesting using a few techniques. The first is using humor to keep the reader interested. Gail Collins used this method. Even though there were times when I found the topic Collins was writing about uninteresting, her sarcasm made me continue reading. Besides humor, inserting questions into her articles was another way she kept me hooked. Some of her questions made me think about the bigger picture of her articles. The third thing I learned from Collins is that keeping it short, sweet, and simple is sometimes the best option. When Collins would use short sentences it made it easier on the reader to understand, yet summed up her point.
Voice, honesty and connection with the audience are the three things I will be taking away from Meghan Daum's writing. Her voice and tone in her articles has clarity which is something I always try to improve in my writing. Her voice is her own. She distinguishes herself from other writer by the way she voices her opinions. Daum's work is honest. She braves states what she thinks of the world and she does this along with humor and wit. It creates a balance of playfulness and seriousness. Her personality really shows through her writing. In this way, she can really connect to her audience. She can connect complex or controversial topics to everyday simple events. She writes about various topics so that she reaches out to a wide range of people's interests.
I've learned so much from Meghan Daum. She is an amazing writer.
Through the process of reading Rick Reilly's articles this first semester, I have really enjoyed and learned a couple things along the way. I have always been a diehard fan for sports teams but never wanted to read weekly articles about the teams I follow.
The first thing I learned from Rick Reilly was that you don't need to use incredibly challenging and sophisticated vocabulary to become an amazing and exciting writer. He always had a relaxing and fun tone to his articles which caught my eye, and allowed me to read more because it was interesting.
The second thing I learned from mr. Reilly is to change my style or structure of writing every now and then to make it more interesting and new. He always changed his articles from answering fan mail to doing a fake dialogue or just a casual analysis of a teams weekend. It was very fun to read and I always knew I was going to read an article in a different way.
Lastly, the third thing I learned from him was to have fun with writing. Since I do not necessarily have a good time writing, Rick Reilly always inspired me because I can see how much fun he is having through his writing and it makes me just want to try my own stuff with my writing and do what I want to do and have fun with it.
First off I really learned more about statistical and analytical writing. Usually when Dylan Desimone writes, he takes down a lot of the stats of a certain player from a certain game and incorporates it into the piece. He then analyzes the information, and after, gives his own opinion on how he believed the player did based on the stats. I believe that this is a skill I could use in the future whenever writing analytical pieces.
Secondly, I learned a new style of concluding a piece. Dylan Desimone usually does not add in a super complex conclusion, but instead ends with a cool stat or his final opinion on the writer.
Lastly, I learned a lot about his style of writing. He likes to use a lot of semi-colons and colons and his paragraphs were never very lengthy. He was quick and to the point, and got the message across very well.
I really enjoyed reading all about the 49ers this semester and really enjoyed learning a lot from Dylan Desimone.
I really loved following Michelle E. Slade this semester. But I really wish she had kept writing. Sure, America's Cup ended but I thought that she would definitely continue to post on other sailing matters. Anyway, I learned how to throw interesting vocabulary into my writing. And it is easier than I thought it would be. Though she only did it a few times, whenever she threw in a complex word it was always something that I had never heard before and made me reach for the dictionary. Also, I know that sailing can be a complex and sometimes even boring topic. However, Slade was able to "dumb it down" so that even people who had never spent any time on a boat could understand. And I think that is something that is very important.
I really loved following Michelle E. Slade this semester. But I really wish she had kept writing. Sure, America's Cup ended but I thought that she would definitely continue to post on other sailing matters. Anyway, I learned how to throw interesting vocabulary into my writing. And it is easier than I thought it would be. Though she only did it a few times, whenever she threw in a complex word it was always something that I had never heard before and made me reach for the dictionary. Also, I know that sailing can be a complex and sometimes even boring topic. However, Slade was able to "dumb it down" so that even people who had never spent any time on a boat could understand. And I think that is something that is very important.
From reading Nicholas D. Kristof's pieces every week, I've learned a ton about personal writing. Not in the sense of personal experiences, but rather emotional connections. Kristof only writes about things he truly feels passionate about, and that passion carries over into an engaging and masterful piece. I loved getting to know Kristof, whether it be through his spirited musings on empathy or his crusade against child trafficking. I feel like after reading his work, I feel much more confident about writing about what is important to me.
Kristof also uses witty titles and openers to draw his readers in. For example, seeing titles like "Danger Lurks in That Mickey Mouse Couch" and "Mandela Lives" certainly make me want to read further. I've definitely been more conscious about adding funny hooks and titles in my writing, and I have Kristof to thank for that.
Lastly, Kristof has also taught me how to effectively integrate information into my writing. He uses a lot of statistics to prove his points, but he always makes sure the information isn't too dense. He does this by varying sentence structure, adding bits of humor, and thoroughly explaining his ideas in a way that weave together the facts and statistics nicely.
I've so enjoyed getting to read Kristof's work over the past semester, and I hope to continue following his journey in the future. Thanks Nicholas!!!
The main I have learned from closely following Collins’ writing is to not be afraid of using sarcasm and humor in my writing. She jabs and pokes fun mercilessly at very serious topics with skill and bravery. Mainly, I have been impressed with how clearly her voice shines through her writing. In writing my criticism essay about swimming, I kept in mind how she allowed her humor to manifest in the writing and figured out how to do that myself. I had a lot more fun with the writing because of it and I look forward to using that skill further. I have genuinely enjoyed her posts as they are informative and often hilarious, and I plan to keep reading them at least every now and again.
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The main thing I have learned from closely following Collins’ writing is to not be afraid of using sarcasm and humor in my writing. She jabs and pokes fun mercilessly at very serious topics with skill and bravery. It makes for a more honest and more exhilarating read. Finally, someone telling the truth about how much the government sucks! It’s very refreshing.
I have also been impressed with how clearly her voice shines through her writing. I feel, after these few months, like I really know her. Stylistically, her writing is so distinct and recognizable, I would have no trouble recognizing it in the future. I hope to develop my own voice in my writing to be as strong and distinct as hers.
In writing my criticism essay about swimming, I kept in mind how she allowed her humor to manifest in the writing and figured out how to do that myself. I had a lot more fun with the writing because of it and I look forward to using that skill further. She has shown how important humor is in writing and how effective it can be in grabbing the attention of the reader.
I have genuinely enjoyed her posts as they are informative and often hilarious, and I plan to keep reading them at least every now and again.
My writer - Donny O'Neill - Freeskier Mag
What I learned most from my writer, and tied in most with our creative non fiction class in general, is the notion and essence of just simply writing. O'Neill showed me that yeah it's great to use sophisticated words and complex sentence structures but only if that is truly what the piece calls for. He showed me that often the best writing is the most simple kind and the kind that the reader can honestly say "I learned something personal about this writer, something that I would leaned if I followed him around his house for a day, instead of following him around his workplace." O'Neill showed that the most effective writing is the writing that speaks from the heart and shows true value and not the writing that says "I am doing this because my teacher is making me" but rather "My teacher is making me do this but I am going to try to show who I really am through it and make the reader think that he/she can truly empathize or understand or even just appreciate what it is that I am speaking about". Through reading Donny's essays as well as others that I read written by the Freeskier staff when Donna had no new material, I gained an understanding of the heart that personal expository writing can evoke and I am certain that I will take and use these skills in all of my future writing, both as a student and as a person.
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