Growing as a writer...

So often I pass my writing off as something that I do in order to complete an assignment or meet a deadline.  But writing is so much more than some assignment.  Sure, homework and deadlines matter, but if I am not writing anything of substance, then what I do means nothing.

Each semester, I write a reflection on what I have learned throughout the semester.  For some reason, this year seems so different.  I always learn more about deadlines and ways to ensure they are met by not only myself, but the writers in my section as well.  On top of the typical things during the semester I learn... deadlines, photo opportunities, unique story ideas... I learned overall how to communicate effectively.  

I worked really hard this summer to try to keep in touch with each writer in my section regardless if they were in class or not.  I think that as a section editor, it is so important to make sure the writers in the section are comfortable with what they are writing.  If there are questions, I need to be readily available.  If they have trouble finding a contact for an interview or to use as a source, I need to be there helping each writer.  If their story does not get done on time or correctly, then I have not done my job.

I enjoy working with new writers.  I have been working with a newspaper for the last six years.  I enjoy editing stories after they have been put together.  But most of all, I love seeing the stories come together throughout the writing process.  Not only do deadlines come extremely quickly and stress levels rise, but the articles need to be produced with a high level of quality. I enjoy seeing the reporters work hard on a story and then seeing the result of hard work.   

As a journalist, I have grown because I have learned that the best ideas come from bouncing ideas off other students.  Though I may not be able to come up with a strong story idea or a creative edge, I can mention my story to the class and develop it based off other suggestions.  I think that team work is the best aspect of working on the school newspaper.  I have enjoyed this semester and working with the students on campus.  I look forward to growing more in the area of journalism and working with reporters in the future.

The wonderful world of books

Social media is an ever growing trend, moving at a rapid pace. Blogs are becoming more and more popular and face to face communication does not seem to hold the same effect as texting or facebook does. If one chooses to google a subject area that they hold an interest in, thousands and thousands of hits will arise on the server.

To put this so called assumption to the test, I took my recent area of interest and googled away. My recent area of interest has been books lately. Between Megan Cabott and Nicholas Sparks, it is a wonder how I have time for homework. I have a million worlds I am able to escape to and enjoy.

Googling “Book Blogs,” roughly 28,100,000 hits came about. Out of so many blogs, I chose three that I actually read.

· Readers Read- http://www.readersread.com/
· Fine Books and Collections- www.blog.myfinebooks.com
· The Millions- www.millionsblog.com

The Readers Read blog consists of a reading blog, book reviews, and author essays and interviews. On post on the book blog entitles John Lithgow Talks Children's Books. This semester I am in a children’s literature course, and reading children books have become my favorite past time. The blog includes the author John Lithgow singing part of his book I Got Two Dogs. I enjoy when authors can make light of books and appeal to children on a different sensory level outside of just text.

For the Fine Books and Collections blog, on October 10, the blog consisted of promoting book collecting. The author of the blog talked about taking care of old books and treating them well. I find that there is reward when you walk into a used book store and find the first edition of a Jane Austen classic, or a book from the 1800’s that no one has heard the title. There is something that brings joy to me as I walk in to a used book store, not knowing what I will find, but walking away with a new treasure.

On The Millions blog, my favorite post was entitled Oprah Incurs Booksellers' Wrath. With Oprah endorsing many different things such as books, movies, artists, towels, jeans… anything she can label as something with her name… I loose my respect for different brands. A few years ago I read William Faulkner’s The Sound and The Fury. Without a doubt, the next year, the same book…in fact the entire series… appeared on Oprah’s must read book list for the summer. Not to put down a person who loves to write and create, by all means I have the upmost respect for authors… But The Sound and The Fury was one of my least favorite books that I read in high school. But as soon as it went on Oprah’s book list, my parents decided to read it because the books she chooses are most of the time, reasonable. My parents attempted to finish the book, though they did not enjoy it. After the first section, my dad stopped reading and decided he would stick to his own book choices. But the Oprah show praised this book. Ironic, that when Oprah puts her name on something, people explode with wonder.

People have different tastes in books. Some love to sing aloud books to make them more interesting. Others enjoy the search of old books that keep some sort of classic feel about them. Some want to find and follow someone who endorses books to get a book suggestion. My thought is find something you love… a subject, an author, a genre… and read as much as you can.

Timeless...

"These past few months I've wondered and I have figured out that life runs in four sizes"

Life flashes by in the blink of an eye.  Time is wasted on so many different things.  What is time anyway? Time is the only earthly thing that is constant. It is always the same. One minute is always made up of sixty seconds.  Sixty minutes will always make up an hour. Time is the one thing I find running everything.  I could have done...(you fill in the blank)... if only there were more hours in the day.  Days go by one by one, but time seems to go faster each day. And I think I have figured out a way to put it into perspective... When you were one year old, time was slow... no you probably do not remember but stick with me here... One year was your whole life.  When you were two years old, time went by a little quicker... Why? Because it was 1/2 of your whole two years of life.  When you were 5, time flew by even faster.  The year when you were five was 1/5 of your life.  When you were 15, time went by faster than that.  The year when you were 15 was 1/15 of your life.  My point is, as you grow older, the years get shorter because it becomes a smaller fraction of your whole life.  So in all reality, the days do really grow shorter as we grow older.  

Twists and Turns

Sometime life throws unexpected twists and turns into life and our job is to figure out how to deal with different situations. For instance, when a friend makes a choice without any consideration of others, it may back fire. Being on the outer edge of a decision, one now has the choice to let go and move on, or keep their thoughts and feelings on their sleeve. How we deal with incidents after being hurt helps shape who we are and who we become. Though life gets difficult at times and we feel as if we are trapped and cannot breathe, life is still something that should be enjoyed to the fullest.  

"Being happy does not mean that everything is perfect, it means that you have decided to look beyond the imperfections."

Life is not perfect. It never will be. But through smiles and laughs, life becomes something we can enjoy. Finding the purpose Christ has set forth for our lives and us living out that purpose, gives life a meaning that we did not have before.