Week One - Learn to Blog

Who knew? Here I am posting my first-ever blog. I knew this course would challenge me, but I am finding in this first week it is a challenge in ways I didn’t expect, and I am up for the challenge. I was intimidated reading the syllabus, and thought I would have to involve my teenage sons in creating a blog. I think I’ve got the basics down, at least enough to begin my blog.

I was relieved when I read chapter 2 in our Magazine Article Writing text. The title alone gave me comfort. “Good Writing from Good Reading.” I’m a good reader, does this mean there is hope I can be a good writer? I was feeling nervous about this class, but this chapter calmed me a bit. “You can profit immensely from reading the kind of writing you admire.” (Graham, 8). Ahhhh, there is hope.

One part of the reading that brought up a simple point, but one I hadn’t thought of, is rearranging your story. A story doesn’t have to be in chronological order, even if it started out that way. Once you’ve got it written, it’s perfectly okay to move it around. If it works better and captures the reader’s attention to flip the end, to the beginning…then do so. However you can best state your thesis and make your point is the way it should flow.
After reading chapter 2, I looked at the prompt question. How does this chapter speak to me as a writer? I realize, I don’t yet think of myself as a writer. What does it make me consider? The importance of the thesis. Without a thesis, my article will be pointless.

“On Writing Well” chapter 11 gave me some insight. I like that I’m not alone in the fact don’t aspire to write a bestselling book. I just want to write, and write well. I want to be able to write and have someone enjoy what I’ve said. I want my point to come across with clarity. I would love to know someone really enjoyed what he or she have read and could relate to what I have written, and it doesn’t have to be “literary” as in the 19th century definition. I don’t have three names, so maybe that’s the first inkling as to why I have no desire to write like the three named authors of the past. I’m an ordinary person and I’d like to write for ordinary people.
I liked Zinsser’s remarks regarding people learning to write most often lean towards nonfiction as a good place to begin. I think writing about something I know or can learn about is less intimidating than throwing myself into attempting to write fiction. Since I am just learning how to write, and hopefully write well, I think this is as good a place as any to start.

I was intimidated by the fact I have never blogged before, but again, I am up for the challenge. If I were a betting woman I would venture to say that even my boring, random thought, disconnected blog will become more enjoyable to both others and me as I progress through the next eight weeks.