#16

What is the most important thing I learned about writing in this course?
I learned that there are many categories that fall under the umbrella of creative writing non-fiction. Such as literary journalism, memoir, personal essays, rhetorical analysis, nature essays, reflective pieces. I learned about using some helpful tools within my writing that expand and explore my essays such as using journal entries.

What did I learn from one of my papers?
In my memoir I used an old journal entry from my hand written journal, it helped to shed some insight into my past and make my situation clearer. Segmenting my writing made my essay more clear and helped it to flow without having to write out word for word what I wanted to get across.

Which essay was the hardest to write and why?
I got very hung up on my nature essay which I originally thought would be one of the easiest. I have a ton of incredible stories that I have encountered which have been in the outdoors. This essay proved to be difficult because it had to take place in the present, I couldn’t re-tell an experience. It had to be as if it were happening right now. I currently bounce from work to school to home, a rigid routine that does not include the outdoors except walking to and from my car and building to building.

Which essay pushed me most as a writer?
My memoir is the piece I am most proud of, mostly because it is about an experience that is so incredibly important to me and I’m thankful that it happened. The story pushed me as a person and helped me to move on and let go, writing about it brought back feelings of pride and ambition. I had often recounted this story to my family and close friends, but putting it down into words made it even more real and each time I read it I can feel as if it is happening all over again.

What do I want to write about for my reflective essay, my relationship and process to writing? Some observation for how my process worked.
I will be writing about my memoir which I refer to so often because I am proud of it.What don’t I want to write about in my reflective essay and why?I do not want to write about my nature essay, firstly because I am not proud of it which makes it painful to read. My nature essay to me isn’t even about nature, it is about my mundane daily routine which I do not dislike per say, but it is such a routine that I don’t want to relive it anymore than I have to.