Writing Review Week 8

Schippietaro, by Fredrick Richardson (1862-1937)

Link to image

The image above is from the retelling post of the Japanese fairytale Schippietaro, which was one of my favorite retellings that I did for the Asia/Pacific and Africa Units. 

I think the greatest writing successes in the class this semester have been in Week 4, where I did a retelling of Arabian Nights (specifically the Greek King and the Physician Douban), and my Frametale final project called In A World of My Own. They both challenged me imaginatively and on the subject of my cultural knowledge/understanding, which I took as a great learning experience.

The writing goals that I have for myself in the second half of the semester are: working further ahead so I can devote more time to research on the stories I will be doing my work over, and also making sure that I am able to cement my true writing style for narrative stories. I know that synthesis of a writing style is among the most achieved steps a writer can take, but I would at least like to get an idea of what my particular style is.

The strategy that I use to write for this class is primarily influenced by the fact that I do not have as much time to devote to this class as I would like in order to make my stories really standout and shine. What I tend to do is this: I will usually skim over a story earlier in the day that I plan on writing and outline the story in its simplest form. This allows me to appreciate the finer cultural and plot-related nuances when I re-read the story later in the day, but since I have outlined the plot I don’t have to worry about getting lost in the details. During my re-read of the material, I will usually do research related to the narrative to make my response or retelling more meaningful.

As for the strategy I employ to create a significant twist or change in the original story when I do retellings: keeping my research in mind, I will usually opt for a plot twist that makes the retelling of the story have a deeper meaning than the original. It’s usually not hard for me to see where the original story had an opportunity to give itself a deeper meaning, and I usually undertake that opportunity to alter my retelling.

There have been a few students who have writing that is superb: they are usually students who know the subject that they’re writing about very well and have put some real thought into their writing. And even though I find it rare that I see another student’s idea in writing that I have never considered before, I definitely appreciate seeing very good ideas that I need a fresh review on in other student’s writing.

I would have to say that the feedback that I am getting from the professor and other students is helping me on a technical level, but I would like to hear if either of them see opportunities in my writing that I may have not taken advantage of. I love adding more layers of meaning to my work, and I would like to see more comments on my work challenge me to do that.

The biggest challenge I face as a writer is primarily a technical one: I would like to get used to utilizing complex grammar and syntax correctly. That aspect of writing is definitely a weakness for me, and I appreciate it when people point it out to help me. But like I said before, I would like more innovative critique on the narrative and stylistic aspects of my writing as well.

I find that learning about yourself, your audience, and your writing subject through the writing process itself is the most rewarding aspect of my writing. I find it endlessly fascinating how those three main factors combat and dance between themselves, trying to find a balance that is not entirely serene as to be boring, but not entirely conflicted as to be sporadic. It’s finding that sweet spot that is essential for the author’s satisfaction to be felt.