Month: April 2018

During this learning cycle, I learned there are many important elements that go into writing poetry. I also learned that poetry is a pretty difficult art form to get the grasp of. Poems seem simple to write and understand, however, there is a lot of thought that needs to go into a poem in order for the author’s story to be properly told. Poems can also come in a variety of different forms and art styles.

For this learning cycle’s final summative, I decided to redo writing prompt #2. I chose to redo this one because of the lesson behind it. The assignment was to either compose a prose piece or a poem about a topic listed in the lesson. I had composed poems for every assignment in this unit, and I wanted to challenge myself with writing a prose piece instead.

I’ve always had a slight interest for poetry. My interest being the aspect of how writers can move such a large number of people with just a few sentences. To me, this is really empowering. Having a unit primarily focused around different versions of poetry, taught me many new things about the art form, and how authors actually achieve this task. I am excited to see what the next unit has to offer in my ever-growing education of writing.

Final Summative
For my final summative, I decided to develop my poem from Writing Prompt #2, and recreate into a prose piece. Since I’ve written a poem for every prompt in this course so far, I decided to challenge myself.

 

The Girl

             Streetlamps flickering above chain-link fences cast shadows across her bony figure. The rain pouring over her filled the buckets on her shoulders with an unnecessary weight. She prayed that they would tip over, so that they could wash away some of the scars he had etched onto her limbs.  The alley in which she found herself at 2:37am, was dark and dreary; yet it was more comforting than the worn-out mattress she had been forced to use for months. She felt alone, but for once, that was perfectly fine for her. Out of the pounding from her chest, the twisters in her mind, and the unsteady balance in her walk, she still couldn’t believe it; she’d managed to escape. Escape with a little bit of her sanity still at her fingertips.

Looking at her, she was beautiful. At least, she used to be. Now, all you could see was the hurt and pain that she had been living through. Her eyes bloodshot from crying, with one centered around a sea of blues and purples. Her lips cut, red, and swollen. The only thing untouched was her small button-like nose, reconstructed for his approval of course. Her hair, jet black as the night sky was ragged and greasy, as if she had not showered for a week. Her clothes oversized, old, and torn. This shirt wasn’t hers. The only shoes on her feet were socks with stretched elastic, barely gripping onto her slender ankles. The only thing keeping her warm were the soft lights of dying lightbulbs, and the determination to find home.

This whole time, she clutched tightly onto the only inanimate object she was able to snatch as she ran out of the building’s doors; an old necklace. The thing that brought back so many memories. Every bit of hope, love, and trust that she had. He had taken that away from her. Yet, she could not let go of this thin golden chain she was gifted from him. She did not know why, but somehow, this necklace brought her peace and comfort. Almost like a child’s teddy bear, it acted as a safe-haven. A safe place for her to inhale sharp breaths of the crisp air she had been so longingly confined from. A safe place for her addled head to stop spinning, and look forward onto her new path of freedom.

During this learning cycle, I discovered that there are many different skills, mindsets, and elements that go into (what is defined as) a good piece of writing. I’ve come to realize that writing is developed over a long period of time; that you cannot just write some random sentences on a lined piece of paper and call it a novel. Writing is an art and a craft that many authors devote their lives to, and are proud of the pieces they compose.

I chose to further develop writing prompt #3 for this learning cycle’s final summative. I was unable to complete writing prompt #3 in the learning cycle, so I wanted to try and develop this piece for my final. I was also unable to receive any feedback for this piece (which I understand is a large part of the marking scheme), however, I feel as though this is the most I have ever developed as a writer.

This course has shown me all that goes into writing, and it has helped me further develop my skills and understandings as a writer. I am very excited to see what is to come in this course’s next unit, and I am fully prepared to ‘step up my game’, stay on task, and put my all into each new writing piece.