Enjoying the writing

I had the worst time editing my short story last week. I must have sat and stared at it for over an hour thinking about what to change and I think I ended up adding more and removing less. My revision was almost two pages longer than my first draft. I did consolidate a few parts, and enhance some details without using as many words, but I think I only removed one part of my story. I am hoping that the final product provides more insight into my character, Mike, more depth.

The workshop was incredibly helpful to me though. I got a lot of positive feedback about my story which gave me more confidence during my revision.  It also brought to light some of the weak parts of my story that I needed to work on. After reading other people stories and seeing their mistakes, I was able to see some of the same things in my paper that I had previously missed. Hopefully my final story is a quality product.

I am enjoying creative writing more than I thought I would. Writing has always come somewhat easy to me, even though I never really like the actual act of writing. Ever since high school people have told me that I was a good writer, but I was always such a procrastinator. I am enjoying the freedom to write outside of research. This might also have something to do with the fact that this time around in school I am more motivated to learn and do well. My previous college experience was full or last minute deadlines, late work, and poor grades. I had always been an A student in high school, but at the academy I was so unhappy that my academic performance suffered. I am enjoying school this time around, and so far I seem to be doing well in all my classes. I am enjoying the experience of getting work done ahead of time, and not freaking out about everything. It just goes to show how happiness can play an important part in academic performance! Let's hope it continues!

Working out the kinks

I finished and submitted the first draft of my short story this past week. Up until Friday I had a hard time organizing the coherent thoughts that I had in my head into a coherent series of events. Reading other people's stories in the first workshop session helped me in a way to figure out where I wanted my story to go. I had my family read it as well and I think I am happy with the way that it turned out except for the ending. The first 2/3rds of my story builds up to one dramatic event, but I am not sure I like the event that I went with. I could have gone in so many different directions with the action and the building of the weather.

It was also hard to end the story in a way that seems to fit. Should I say more, less, something totally different? I just might end up reworking the last part of the story altogether, but I think the workshop on Monday night will give me a better sense of what I need to do.

Inspiration

I am happy with my opening scene for my story, but I need to figure out where I am going to take it from there. It is harder than I thought... I have been brainstorming for over a week now and I can't seem to decide what to write about. I am trying to draw on some of the things that we prepared for, and guarded against happening while we were underway in the Pacific, but I want to make the story believable and not over the top. There are literally hundreds of things that can go wrong on the water, but I am still having trouble.

Perhaps I lack a sense of creativity!  Who knows, I just can't help but feeling self conscious about my writing. With history it is easier because you are arguing a point and have evidence to back up everything you say. In creative writing I don't have that net to fall back on so it's all on me...

Hopefully my end product will turn out better than I am expecting, but I think the work shops will help me when I am exposed to other people's opinions about my story before the final copy is due.

I thought I would include a couple pictures so if anyone is reading this you can see the sort of situations I am drawing my inspiration from...