This week I did something in this class that I have never done before. I have never rewrote a story or folktale in my own words and honestly, I had trouble starting it. Even though I write a lot for my major and on assignments, I haven't done a whole lot of creative writing. Maybe some in high school, but it's been a long time. I started the assignment multiple times and switched stories a few times before being satisfied. I think this also comes from my inner perfectionist with my work. However, I realized that it wasn't that difficult to write once I started. I learned that staring at a blank page can be the hardest thing, and just getting words on the paper helps to keep the story flowing. In the end I was happy with my story and glad to finally have figured out a way to start writing.
(mouse)
(elephant eating)
As I completed some of the assignments for this week I read quite a few Storybooks written by other students. I noticed the ones I liked the best related pop culture or modern aspects to older folktales or stories. I enjoyed seeing the connections authors drew between two seemingly different subjects. I know at the end of the course I will have to write something similar, so I hope to find my own connections between some story I enjoy today and a historical one featured in the class. I think it makes assignments more enjoyable and entertaining to read.
As far as my other classes, they have just started. I'm not sure any of them relate to Mythology and Folklore, at least not directly. I am in Business Finance, Public Relations Publications and Mass Communications Law. I'm excited about my classes this semester, maybe less about Finance, and think they can really help me further my knowledge and understanding of public relations. Other than that I moved in to my apartment (with four other housemates) and am still in the process of unpacking. I think this semester is off to a great start!
Jessica, I can relate to you on the fact that I have not done much creative writing since high school and struggled in the beginning. I took one semester of expo writing freshman year of college but mostly focused on research papers. I also had to rewrite my first storytelling post multiple times as I kept changing my mind on how I wanted the story to go. I was afraid I had not changed enough, or changed too much that the meaning was lost. Staring at a blank page can be intimidating for sure! I have read some of your recent storybook posts and it seems like you have developed a sense of how to creatively recreate these tales. I also like taking the stories and modernizing them because it seems like it makes it more realistic and easier for us to relate to when it is in our own setting.
ReplyDeleteJessica, it is really interesting to go back and read your "famous last words" all the way from week one! A lot has changed since then, as I am sure most of us struggled with the creative writing and telling stories and now we are all probably pros with how much practice we have gotten this semester! I can see your in a lot of PR classes so you must be a public relations major. That's what I am!! Hope you enjoy your semester in those courses as well as this one!
ReplyDeleteI remember doing the first rewriting of a fable for the first storytelling post, it was definitely my first time doing anything like that as well! I remember it took me forever just to come up with an idea for the story. Then I rewrote and rewrote that story several times. The storytelling posts have gotten much easier after a little practice.
ReplyDelete