Peer Review & The Flu

Though I have had the flu for the last few day's the web access in this class has enabled me to continue to participate in our assignments leaving me feeling that 'Google Docs' is quite handy indeed. I hadn't had the chance to complete my whole paper but did end up posting the portion of it I have thus far been able to finish. In peer editing another persons paper through this website I found it to be much more proactive than doing so in the classroom primarily because we can continue a conversation about our work outside of class as we are going through the process of creating our final drafts.
Overall I have found this tool to be useful and efficient in assisting us in the peer review process. Though it took me a minute to figure out how I would make the corrections I wanted to on the papers I read, I eventually figured it out and was quite impressed.

Style

I like to write on paper the most primarily because it was the first writing technology I was introduced to. As a child I would write in my diaries, that later turned to journal’s, usually with a pen. Watching the wet ink dry behind my turning thought’s inspired me to continue on. It is a hobby I have been infatuated with for much of my life. Last year I bought my first computer with money my grandmother left me after she died and I tried to familiarize myself with the tool so as to write down my thought’s and save some trees. Try as I may I can’t find myself able to completely abandon the bound pages beneath a leather journals smooth cover. The texture of the art is part of the cycle itself. It seems strange to forget how it began. It isn’t that I avoid the computer rather I use both these tools equally in practicing a pastime. Right now I find myself to have stumbled first upon the keyboard to compose this blog entry. When time is in a pinch and things need to be done in a timeframe I find myself using this particular tool and not bothering with the pen and paper at all. I find that having a variety of technologies to use in composing a piece of literature is an advantage, for expression is a reflection of all surrounding components.

Nothing In Particular

The dictionary states that style is something particular. In attempting to answer the question for today's blog, "What is Style?", it would seem rather complicated to lay down some distinct and particular answer. In today's world style is a thing that is placed upon a pedestal in the world of fashion and if one were to fall off of this particular categories pedestal one is left in shame and open to criticism. In the world of writing there are a number of pedestal's from which to fall. Due to the large variety of writing styles an author must first establish themselves within a particular category of writing and than be scored accordingly with whichever group they assimilate to. Recently I have found myself to think much more deeply about writing and critique. It seems that no matter the category one chooses to be placed within one is susceptible to criticism none the less.

The world of writing is a harsh world to be a part of because there is always some way of doing things that is most favorable to the elite few we feel are worthy enough to tell us whether or not our work is good. To me it seems silly that writers are so turned off from sharing their work with the public because of this system of critique. I find it disheartening that so many writers are left questioning their work primarily due to the definition of style. Style should be something unique and open to change with nothing placed upon it so as to fit inside some particular idea. If not for the worlds vast majority of styles there would be nothing interesting for us at all. Therefore I think style is anything and everything that anybody finds fitting with him and/or herself.

My First Blog

Not really sure what to write when there is no given topic to center my thought's around. Usually I write about whatever it is that's on my mind when I'm in front of a blank screen and/or sheet of paper. I have kept journal's since I could write. The first few book's are difficult at times to decode and I find myself in awe of how much I had to say when I could barely say anything at all. It was because of those journal's and their uncanny ability to put my emotional character at ease that I originally thought I would major in writing and make a living out of it. Though as I have grown older I have come to realize that I prefer writing for myself more so than for anything and/or anyone else. My grammar skills and spelling have always been mediocre and thus have left me frustrated and unwilling to specify my studies on perfecting my pass time activity. Last semester I finished my last required class for my Women and Gender Studies Major and this semester I am beginning to conquer my minor in writing. I guess I wanted to learn more about the things I think about the most so I could write about them more clearly and therefore change something through the art of writing. Knowledge is power as you know and thus I figured knowing as much as I could about the things that I think about would ultimately equate some form of literature.