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- Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
- Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
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- Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading
Creative writing is an art, words used to paint a picture in the readers mind. From Stegner’s book I found creative writing being defined as a writing style that seeks to find a deeper meaning out of everyday anomalies. Creative writers structure and piece together words in a way that connects with each reader. The words used and how they are used must be original and honest. In order for them to have true meaning and emotion they cannot be copied otherwise they are “less than nothing” (Stegner 13). To be successful in writing creatively, the words used should be so enticing they aren’t overlooked or easily forgotten; they remain embedded in the readers mind, provoking deeper thought.
ReplyDeleteThere is a method to the madness of creative writing. It is a process that begins with thoughts and feelings (senses), it is achieved via usage of words, and the aftermath is whatever the reader/learner acquired or realized after reading it (insight). In my opinion after reading the portion of Stegner’s book, in order for creative writing to be effective, the writer must be able to trigger an emotional response from the reader. Take concepts that are plain and simple and turn them into something dramatic and iconic for readers to chew on and really connect with. I got from Stegner’s description that all the senses should be addressed in creative writing. Usage of descriptive words and literary language to give the words dimension and really drive home the message that is being sought after.
There is no real way to teach creative writing by the book. To be a creative writer takes experience, practice, and time, at least that is what I got from the reading. By reading anything and everything, we as students will be influenced (directly and indirectly). This will help shape us into the writers we naturally are. By writing repeatedly we will develop ways and “styles” that work for us and also along the way discover what does not work for us. There should be no suppression of language within creative writing, just get the words out onto paper or word document and worry about “barbarisms” later.
-Freddy Montemayor
I completely agree with Wallace Stegner and how he compares creative writing and having a gift of words to hunters saying that “possession of a weapon does not make a warrior or hunter, but no man is a very good warrior or hunter without one.” Having more words to express something is so much more visually appealing to the senses than a simple flat word with no depth in its meaning.
ReplyDeleteTo me, creative writing is like a river, it can flow fast as well as flow slowly, it can cascade down a giant waterfall, or carve a political statement into society, it can pool and stop, or flow forever finally reaching the ocean.Wallace Stegner expresses a lot of use of expressions and experiences in order to describe certain things. And I completely agree, Creative writing is just a literal form of your experiences to which those experiences are dependent on your race, and gender as well as your social status thus making these experiences and words we use to describe them different for everyone. I really like how Wallace Stegner uses real authors as examples like earnest Hemmingway, Shakespeare, mark twain, F. Scott Fitzgerald as well as including his own past experiences with creative writing how and use of the correct word to express something can make a huge difference in a novel or newspaper article. In class we talked about if creative writing can be used to destroy something and if that’s necessarily a bad thing to destroy something. I immediately thought of Donnie Darko in which he says “Destruction is a form of creation.” Creative writing and Expression is a powerful tool used to destroy social barriers that have been built over decades of social norms and thus gives birth to a whole new form of creative writing, one that will make people think, one that isn’t so flat and straight forward, one that allows us to feel, to see, one that prompts us to question reality, to question the government, to question everything around us, to hear the words in a deeper more personal experience and open up new worlds.
-Lowen Sauceda
Wallace Stegner’s “Creative Writing” gives the reader insight on his definition of what creative writing is. He says that creative writing is imaginative writing, writing as an art. There is no right or wrong when it comes to writing creatively. It is all about what you want the reader to take from your work. Stegner also says that there is no rules when it comes to writing creatively and that the only exception is that we must read to fill our minds and be able to express them. He says that as writers we should dabble in a little bit of everything and eventually we will fall into our own “style”. The more we read the more we find ourselves forming our writing styles. Stegner tells us that the best practice for figuring out our writing style is to just simply state what we see in front of us. We as writers must paint a picture for our readers and get their imaginations running. Stegner indicates that the writer’s choice of words is what paints the picture for a reader and I cannot agree more. I can appreciate when Stegner states that there is nothing more likely to make a writer feel unenthsed than being “corrected”. Language that is being used creatively is something that should be able to be played with. He mentions that Mark Twain’s unique use of language in Huckleberry Finn had more effect on literature than any other book. There is nothing “correct” about the way Huck Finn or Jim speak, and yet Mark Twain used their real form of speech to help the reader paint an even more lucid picture of these characters. To convey the message in our creative work, we must be able to communicate vividly, to paint the scenery, the characters, the emotions. Either we put into our works or we take out, we speak figuratively and symbolically to create the scene. I also agree with Stegner when he says that we must not limit ourselves and should be able to grow and invent at any level of language. We must use our words to captivate the reader, to grab their attention and hold it, take them into our world and let them experience a little piece of our imagination.
ReplyDelete-Stephanie Salazar
Throughout the reading, creative writing is clearly defined by a series of examples and personal points of view by the author. Wallace Stegner begins explaining his definition by stating, “Creative writing means imaginative writing, writing as an art.” Like any other art form, whether it be dance, theatre or art, what lies beneath the first layer is what truly counts. The underlying message of anything is what draws an audience, and the creation of any type of art is inspired by a person who has something to say.
ReplyDeleteIn the middle of the reading, Stegner states young writers do not need to worry on whether they will be a romanticist or a surrealist, but focus on writing in his/her own way (Stegner 23). The way a writing connects with readers follows a simple process: it starts off with the writers senses, their senses are formatted into words, and it finishes off with communicated insight from the readers (Stegner 15). A good writer does not care about the manner of style in which they format their writing, only that it grasps the reader’s attention and hopefully impacts them. Creative Writers, unlike any other form of writers, do not write to please others, but write to make sense of themselves and things around them. Stegner states, “information is not what any true novel is written to communicate,” rather, it is the writers mind trying to makes sense of the images they wish to write down (Stegner 11). In class, we spoke of writing about things we have seen or experienced. It was seen again in the reading when Stegner spoke of young writers choosing to get personal through lyric poetry. It is much easier to write about something personal than going in blind. Point of view is where the problem lies with fictional stories, or really with all stories; it is where the writer cannot speak of what he sees, only the character can. And according to Stegner, very few writers can be successful in that area.
Whatever the writing may be, the writer has to throw themselves into their work and be, “cocked and aimed like a gun” (Stegner 13). Stegner goes on to state, “If he isn’t a little dangerous, both to himself and others, he is not living up to his calling.” By constantly reading and writing through trial and error, anyone can have the ability to become a successful writer, but only someone creative and daring can become a creative writer.
-Alyssa Ramos
Wallace Stegner defines creative writing as “imaginative writing,” saying that it is a gift of words that comes with having something to say and finding a way to say it. I agree with Stegner in the sense that creative writing is not like other mediums of writing. When you are reading something such as a newspaper, you are reading solely to obtain information, not an experience. When the writer is writing creatively, he or she is writing for an audience that is looking for a deeper meaning.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the reader must look for deeper meaning uniquely in each piece of work because creative writing is a fluid, breathing concept, reconstructing its own anatomy with each writer. I say “uniquely” because creative writing can become very subjective considering the experiences, beliefs, views, and cultural background of every writer. It is the expression of human emotion as well as ideology and contains the ability to create new ideas or destroy old ones; as Stegnar says, “he is potentially both destroyer and victim, priest and sacrifice.”
I enjoy how Stegnar used excerpts from other authors’ works to help further explain his own personal definition of what creative writing is. I completely agree with the definition he portrays throughout the reading, however, as I don’t believe it is the only definition. As I stated earlier, I feel that creative writing is a fluid thing that is very much alive. Definitions of it exist almost like a virus; it transmutes with each reader and writer the same way the emotions of the pieces do. Stegnar does say a few things about creative writing that I believe to be standard across the board and unchanging when trying to define creative writing. Such as when he states that writers must write in a visual way, saying that the work must intend for the reader to be able to vividly see the world inside their head. Creative writing must also arouse emotions to the individual reading and give them a new aesthetic experience.
While there are some standards in creative writing, it is predominantly changing and reconstructing constantly.
-Ryan Bluhm
After reading and meditating on the words Wallance Stegner wrote, I was able to get a better understanding on what exactly creative writing is meant to be. Of course I myself already had a base understanding on what creative writing was, but to be able to understand it in more detail maid me get a bit more excited for this creative writing course. Wallance compares a writer to a gun, which I believe was my favorite part of this reading, the way he expresses that a write should not be worried, but be on the dangerous side, as if to have more of an impact to the reader, to be remembered by his words. He also expresses that writer has to be able to accept new questions, doubts, and be able to stand up for what he believes in. After reading this, there was no doubt in my mind that creative writing for many is a way of simply expressing themselves when they can’t speak up and express themselves with their vocals. Many of these points were touched up on when discussing our personal definitions of creative writing out first class session. Each and every one of the students that was in class was able to express their thoughts and personal understanding on what creative writing is, and by reading this I am sure we were all able to understand that creative writing is more then what we thought it could be. It is simply not words put together to entertain the reader, but an expression coming from a deeper understanding of some-ones personal thoughts, emotions, believes, political, or cultural point of view. Wallance by the words he used was not just able to give us a better understating, but was able to catch the attention of everyone by his vocabulary and comparisons. Being able to back up his thoughts on creative writing with some great detailed examples about what other writers had to say about this topic. The way Wallance expresses himself that creative writing is for the hardworking, and creative really brings this whole reading into a perfect ending, we must be able to have our readings be noticed, not by cheating or mere vanity, but by motivating and pushing ourselves to be better writers each and everyday, beacuase if we simply don’t do that, we are less then nothing.
ReplyDelete-Alicia Lucio
In Creative Writing, Wallace Stegner takes us through what creative writing really means to him. Comparing a creative writer to the person who writes textbooks or scientific articles, he makes it clear that information is not what is important when it comes to creative writing. To Stegner, offering the reader imaginative recreations, thoughts, and feelings is a creative writer's priority. I could not agree more and In order to accomplish this, the writer must create pictures for his readers with words. Stegner mentions that "literature as art depends helplessly on the artist's control of his medium..." That being said, a writer must carefully chose his words by using his senses and experiences to allow his audience to hear, feel, and see as they are reading along. If a writer can use words to create an image for his reader, chances are he will be a successful creative writer. Without the correct wording, a writer will not be able to convey an image to his reader hindering the creative flow.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the reading, Stegner stresses that there are no rules for the creative writer. He explains that there is a difference between right and wrong however, preparing ourselves for growth and invention is why we should not be setting rules for ourselves as writers. "If he isn't a little dangerous, both to himself and to others" Stegner says, "he is not living up to his calling." I completely agree with this because, as good creative writers, we should always take chances and never fear being wrong. "Nothing is so likely to let the wind out of a young writer's enthusiasm for creation as the rigid, genteel "correctness" that the schools too often try to impose" (Stegner 24). In order to express ourselves vividly, we should avoid putting limits on our creative writing. By placing a limit on our thoughts, we will inevitably lose our creativity and subsequently our reader. Wallace Stegner also provides advice to young writers which is to try out and question everything. While getting a feel for different writing styles, he reassures us that our style will come to us naturally as our strengths come through.
As I read through this reading, it became clear to me that creative writing isn't for everyone. A writer must be fully engaged to his senses, bound to his experiences and not afraid. He cannot be lazy or "part-time thinkers" as Stegner puts it but instead imaginative and limitless.
-Brittany Garcia
In my personal opinion, creative writing is a tool with means to illustrate the writers’ passion through their own thoughts and ideas. Through this reading Wallace Stegner gives us his definition of creative writing and what a writer needs to do to be a successful writer. Wallace Stegner describes creative writing as “imaginative writing” and as an “art”. In which I feel that statement is true due to the fact that the sole purpose of this type of writing is to clearly paint an image in the readers mind. Stegner goes on to say that creative writing is used to “produce in its reader the pleasure of an aesthetic experience”(Stegner 12). I could not agree any more with that quote, simply because Stegner justifies that creative writing is a form of art and is used to illustrate an individuals thoughts. In any art form you must make use of the great literary device, which is imagery. Stegner defines this as a type of sense and if you don’t make use of those senses there is no image for the reader. Stegner states a few important rules that are a concrete foundation for beginner writers. Stegner says that in writing you have to practice, have patience, and to always incorporate emotions in your writing. These rules really caught my attention because to get better in anything in life you must always practice to get better in what you are doing. Also, because patience is key in writing and not to rush a piece of work that will end up bland and tasteless. As for emotion, I feel that without including emotion there is no passion to be found in the writing. I will make use of these points from now on in my writing and anything I do in life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Stegner when he says that a creative writer must use experiences in their writing to get their point across which is key in any form of writing. Another statement that intrigued me was when Stegner stated “And a writer must knock readers down” so that way the writer can keep the readers attention and keep them looking forward to the next line. Lastly, Stegner hits the nail in the coffin by saying that “Creative writing is not for part time thinkers…the lazy, the insensitive, and the imitative”(Stegner 32). Like in any form of work, creative writing takes a strong focus and mindset that doesn’t have the time for lack of effort. Overall, this read gave me a great insight of the thoughts on creative writing given by Wallace Stegner and this will better an individual as a writer.
-Brandon Garcia
I think Wallace Stegner has a very remarkable way in showing what creative writing means to him. As he uses famous writers to point out his meaning of this art and helps us understand it clearly. As Stegner merges ideas of the meaning of creative writing and tells us about different types of literature, I understand that it is freedom writing with obstacles. These obstacles are oneself, others misinterpretation, judgment and critics. Creative writing as what I understood and agree with, on the first paragraph on page 14, is about humanity: being able to give something in return to oneself and to the reader and to be so much more than a messenger because to write one needs sense and motives. To become a writer or an English assignment to a published anything, we have to take risks like Joyce did, and as Stegner wrote, “No young writer needs to worry whether he is going to be a naturalist, realist, impressionist, surrealist, or anything else.”(pg.23) So do not have fear because there is not a wrong or right answer, so let the wing blow, be you and make it happen. Something else that caught my attention is the letter that Thomas Wolfe wrote to Scott Fitzgerald about being the inner and outers, to be remembered. To me this means to create something new, something unspoken about, and something that can make an impact in the world. Not including to where the bar preference lies. Yes, one can be mocked for their work despite being already known to the world or barely getting out of the bubble, but a solution for this is to manipulate the context. I believe and agree that the proper use of a single word can make the reader realize where the writer stands, it can make them realize that the description of that single word or how the shows the vividly situation. But one isn’t perfect, so as for Hemmingway’s advice, Stenger helped us understand that practice helps identify oneself and improves the matter of our writing. With time our words can gain power and we will be able to target the world or a specific audience. But to do so, we must dedicate a part of our life to it, since just like any other piece of art, hard work must be a part of it and talent and maybe overall patience and being humane.
ReplyDelete-Maria J. Salinas
Creative writing is what someone has to enjoy doing, with no enjoyment comes no creativity, creative writing is from the heart; it relies on the person writing it. “Like all other forms of creative writing it is written to produce in it’s reader the pleasure if an aesthetic experience, to offer an imaginative recreation or reflection or imitation of action, thought, and feeling” (Stegner 11). Creative writing indeed has many forms of use, whether it be a poem or personal essay, each form comes with various expressions and meanings. My philosophy about creative writing is that in order to truly do its justice, you must become a more open minded person, a person who is really able to get in touch with the raw parts of oneself. “No young writer needs to worry whether he is going to be a naturalist, realist, romanticist..or anything else. The intellectual currents of his time will carry him into contact with most of them, and his own enthusiasms will lead him to follow one or another, or perhaps several in succession, before he finds his own way” (Stegner 23). Creative writing indeed is a form of art, but even more so to say that it is a group of ideas, personal thought, secrets, or languages. Removing negative energy and transforming that energy into words, therefore “art”. If you are oppressed, you need to write about your tyrant. If you are in pain, you need to put your pain on the page. If you are in love with all of your heart and soul, then put all of that into a poem that can be used for all of eternity. “A creative writer not only perceives in images, he must communicate in them, and the reader must read in them” (Stegner 16). Not all but many may connect with an authors form of work, when readers are able to relate they begin to share the information that is being read. Ideas get shared and people start to find enjoyment in reading and writing.
ReplyDelete-Natasha Villarreal
Stegner describes creative writing in the most pure form by introducing various writers to prove his various points in the definition of creative writing. He describes creative writing as imaginative writing and being an art. A big key in creative writing is language and vocabulary and being able to use language in order to describe the mood of the scenery and essentially guide a reader to visually see the image that in conveyed in the writing. Another aspect that distinguishes creative writing from any other form of literature is style and that can make the piece more amusing to read. In addition, to style another way to distinguish a writer from other writers is the use of metaphors and symbols in order to create a mood by describing it in only way a reader can understand and he gives an example in comparing a sunset to an open clam. In regards to defining a genre for a writer, he suggests that it all depends in the personal experience and what someone is writing about and that will determine the genre of the piece. Finding the perfect word in creative writing is essential for a great writer because you can make a story far more inviting by using for example “damp cloths” or “ soggy rag”. Lastly the use of point of views is very important. A writer can sit down and not be obligated to write in his point of view but be creative and write a story of a princess, or in point of view of a dragon or have a point of view of someone else that knows the princess or the dragon. That is the beauty of creative writing with the use of words he can tell a story and make the reader feel exactly what the writer wants him to feel and see exactly what the writer wants the reader to see or the writer can also leave the reader to wonder if he desires. It is also a great way to take the reader into a whole different mindset and the reader can literally be in some one else’s shoes for a day.
ReplyDelete-Priscilla Pena
After reading Stegner’s intriguing article on creative writing it brought new meanings to what creative writing is. Stegner helps us understand the importance and the art that is behind creative writing. My definition of creating writing was that it was a form of self-expression, but Stegner describes it as being so much more. He tells us what differs between an engineer’s writing and a creative writer’s writing. It’s not so much a gift, but a talent that needs work. He teaches us that creative writing is all about awakening the senses and going into detail.
ReplyDeleteI particularly found the reason of stepping out of your boundaries as a good meaning to creative writing. One of the quotes I found very interesting and helpful was “If he isn’t dangerous to himself and others, he is not living up to his calling.” Stegner 13. I got the understanding that creative writing is our way of pushing the limit, crossing a line we feel needs to be crossed, like living on the wild side through words. Stegner teaches us that breaking rules and leaving our comfort zone is what makes us a good creative writer, that’s what brings out our creativity. Stegner follows up with this quote “He is potentially both, the destroyer and the victim, priest and sacrifice” Stegner 13. He makes it seem like going into the art of creative writing can sometimes burn you and you have to be okay and understand what exactly you get yourself into when writing, it tests your emotions and thinking as well as others.
Then Stegner goes into saying that there’s more than just art to creative writing there’s also hard work that needs to be put forth “One Macbeth play on stage is worth a thousand essays on ambition” Stegner 17. This quote came across as the thought that creative writing isn’t based on one idea; it’s based on multiple ideas and contains different elements that make it so. It also gave me the thought that creative writing isn’t just something you think you’re “born”, like as if it’s a gift that’s been passed down. Creative writing takes work and ambition; it’s not something that just happens overnight. It takes a lot of work and time. Creative writing is so much more than just a way of expressing yourself; it’s a way to connect with your readers. It gives a new insight, a new way of thinking, and it can take people to another world that you create. It’s a beautiful art that we can all gain from.
-Bibi Ann Gonzalez
It was a relief to read Wallace Stegner’s view on creative writing concerning the use of language in everyday use versus the bookish unnatural use which may seem alien to some of us (me being the some). I have encountered many red marks in my day as I tend to incorporate my normal lingo for describing my points. I have come to accept a certain saying when thinking about how my prose fits with the concept of communicating effective ideas to the reader audience and that is “If my grammar/language use gets in the way of the point I’m trying to make- then it’s time for some rearranging”.
ReplyDeleteHe approached the lingo use to prove not only a point about originality but also the tone that a piece of writing can undertake. If a language is less bookish I consider it to paint a certain picture about the character the writer is trying exemplify to the reader. I am partial towards humor and I liked how Stegner threw in the colorful example with the two sentences which even though they gave the same information different characters are present in each. The first sentence read, “He wiped off her face with a damp cloth” and the second “He swabbed off her mug with a soggy rag”. Stegner used this sentence to describe prose but I also take it to give character. The first sentence is a proper person and the second seems to be a fun person with less manners.
Stegner mentions point of view too briefly for my good. This is an area in which I hope we revisit in class more. I am largely prone to journal writing. Stegner points out how “a young writer should try everything, but some forms will come more naturally to him than others”p30. He also credits reading as a way to figure point of view out as many times beginners will imitate what they see. He mentions short story as the practice ground so I will do my best this semester to unclench my fists and give it a try with a short story. I usually write in the first person but I will challenge myself to write something this semester in a different point of view.
Brenda Gomez
In my opinion, I completely agree with Stegner with the belief of writing means “imaginative writing.” As far as what I believe in, that is what it should be about, everyone has their own opinions about it and can take it in different ways. I believe creative writing can go as far as the person creates it. If the person is feeling any type of emotion, it can take off into another level and may become an amazing piece of work. Another statement Stegner says is “Literature as art depends on the artists’ medium.” Which to me means that it’s all about the author, the artist. They control what is being put onto paper. The control as to what emotions or feelings are combining with their work. Creative writing comes in all forms, such as poetry, short stories, fiction, some as far as art created through pictures. The audience is the one who portrays what they see, and it can either be a negative or a positive. I believe it comes from their feelings at that exact moment. I agree with what Stegner says, “It begins with the senses, it is done with words and ends with communicated insight”. Anyone who is anybody can do this and it is not hard because creative writing lives within us ourselves as human beings. I fell in love with that saying because that is the honest truth, first the person finds their inner works and lets it out on paper, then the audience is the ones who say it’s either a hit or a miss. Age doesn’t matter when it comes to creative writing, it can take process at any time in age. In all honesty, coming from my opinion I do think that someone at a younger age only has so much vocabulary – they don’t know it all but with the vocabulary they know, their words can be the best compared to an adult. I believe since it is a younger mind, they may have a different way of seeing life in their perception. Overall no matter what age, race, or religion there is a creative side to everyone and will be able to change someone life in a matter of words. Everyone is able to create creative learning and everyone will have their own critiques but that is a part of life.
ReplyDelete*Arianna Tabares
Wallace Stegner’s “One Creative Writing” speaks of what creative writing is through the forms of other artists of creative writing and the important procedures. He also mentioned the differences in a creative writer and a writer of “pure intelligence” (Stenger 26) who has the ability to “out-argue and convince” his/her reader. He talks about the importance of senses in writing because it is the senses that bring life to the images a reader creates and the writer must communicate through these senses. On page 16 he writes that a creative writer must “state not only the meaning but why it was important in the first place.” In other words, how can you take a road trip to an unfamiliar location without a reason or a routine in mind? I think that the beauty of being human is we all feel and most of our actions are done because of our emotions causing multiple senses to be used at once, as he also spoke about, and I believe it is his idea. When we write we must focus on those exact moments we were blessed enough to experience (yes, blessed because those moments became writing opportunities) and use them as a path to follow with the message we want to deliver. And as creative writers, I agree when he spoke about not having fear because we all have room to grow but of course we must stay encouraged and not live with boundaries because “a writer must be ready to question and test anything, doubt anything, and when he knows what he believes in he must devote himself wholly” as he wrote on page 13. With time a writer finds his/her voice and style but without practice and focusing on the rules we only hold ourselves back such as the “correctness” he said many schools say students should have. Reading this made me feel a bit more confident because I can continue to look for improvement and not fear the rules or limitations and continue to try to find where my voice in creative writing stands.
ReplyDeleteLisa Marie Serna
*On
DeleteI agree with Wallace Stegner when he proclaims that creative writing is an art form. To be able to paint a vivid picture to a reader with nothing more than the descriptive words and analogies that come from years of practice is nothing short of artistic. Stegner mentions that when John Cheever was asked why he wrote about middle class life in America he said he did it to gain understanding of his own life. There's something about putting thoughts on paper that can reveal something to the writer as well as the reader, in fact, one of Galileo's three guidelines for intellectual growth was to write any and all ideas you had down. I found the prayer Stegner says that anyone with the ambition to become a writer should ask the lord to, "let me grow into such a man as has something to say!" I like this quote because I've always thought of the lives we lead as a story that has yet to be written down. Whenever I'm conflicted with whether or not I should do something, I consider rather or not it would make for a more interesting story before I make my decision. I recently began keeping a journal, not as a "dear diary, today my crush batted her eyes at me," no, as a log to keep track of the stories I've had in this lifetime that I never want to forget. Like the time I decided to make the 5 hour drive to Austin by myself...on a motorcycle and ended up stranded outside of Lyford on my way back because I ran out of gas. Writing this and many other stories down prevents me from ever forgetting these events and the lessons they taught me. Creative writing serves to do just that, preserve the stories that shape us into the person we've become. Creative writing allows us to really think about the events in our lives, and if we've dwelled on them long enough, we can turn pain into comfort and joy into laughter for ourselves and anyone fortunate enough for us to share our story with.
ReplyDeleteBrian Odom
Writing has always been a continual learning process for me. I thought that I was a good writer because I had always received above average scores in my high school classes. When I reached my college English courses I realized that a lot of what I wrote wasn’t up to standard and so I learned new methods and styles. This constant evolution is some of what Stegner addresses in “On creative Writing”, the notion that there is not one set way of being a successful writer but that even being, what some would say, completely wrong can produce some very successful products, like Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn.
ReplyDeleteStegner mentions that a writer should not concern himself with the type of writer that he is going to be, that instead that will naturally come about in time. As a writer this was one of the aspects of the reading that stuck out to me the most because it shows how writing will reveal aspects about a writer that they are not aware of. On “Creative Writing” really flips a lot of preconceived notions one has about writing, for instance, “nothing is so likely to let the wind out of a young writer’s enthusiasm for creation as the rigid, genteel ‘correctness’ that schools too often try to impose” (24). This and the anecdote of Hemingway’s past as a young writer continue to lend different approaches to writing. The manner in which Stegner was explaining Hemingway’s distance from the scene in “Big Two-Hearted River” seemed to lead towards the idea that this was the correct form to approach writing. Instead he goes on to mention the pros and cons to Hemingway’s approach.
Throughout the reading one can see how Stegner expresses the same passion he writes about. Creative writing, according Stegner, is much more than a robotic approach to the English language, it is an expression of the writer’s emotions that elaborates on those areas of life that make it worth living. Along the way a writer also has to get that idea across in a manner that will make a lasting impression on the reader.
-Alvaro Pulido
Reading Wallace Stegner's reading on Creative Writing, gave me some light and inspiration. I love writing but I don't show my passion for it. But his explanation on creative writing being a way of means to express experiences of what we have lived through makes me want to write about my experiences more. It is given me the thought that it isn't a bad thing to share your stories. Maybe it isn't so bad to let other people know they aren't the only ones going through the same things because we all pretty much experience similar life event situations. Stegner believes "any student with ambitions to be a literary artist is likely to have something he wants to say , something he cant keep still about, and he will probably discover for himself, some where along the road of his apprenticeship that poems in which words are manipulated for their color or sound alone tinkle emptily and abstractly in the mind, and that shallow or conventional stories are exposed rather than supported by a self-conscious, "poetic,"or elevated style." All this made me feel like I am not alone in this world with my thoughts of life. That maybe that can be me. Writing what is on my mind could be means of a therapeutic, stress relieving hobby I could pick up. Creative writing just may be the answer to my problems. I admire the way he describes and explains creative writing. When he says,"If he isn't a little dangerous, both to himself and others, he is not living up to his calling: a gun that clicks harmlessly on empty cartridges is hardly a gun at all, but a plaything." I swear he is talking to me but he is talking to everyone of course, the readers. Maybe I'm not living up to my calling and I should be joining other writers in perhaps breaking my barrier and others barriers of thoughts and opinions. I could make a difference in others than myself, although I do like helping others. Stegner writes a lot of great examples such as the ones I've shared my thoughts on. His views on different writing styles makes a lot of sense to me when it comes to sharing our lives or fictional stories.
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