English Final

1. Explain one or two ways your writing has improved over the semester, include examples.

A couple ways constant writing has helped me improve, was my grammar,vocabulary, and descriptions.

I have improved my grammar by using correct punctuation and my spelling. because repetitive writing helps me blog regularly. I am used to using the same words, therefore helping me remember the corrections I have made to my spelling errors. In the beginning I would constantly have that red line go under my words. Recently I have noticed how much less often I need to correct these little mistakes, and it's easier for me to keep writing instead of having to go back and fix the little faults.

Another example of a way I have improved is my wider use of vocabulary. Before I would never take the care to use sophisticated words and repeatedly use the same words over and over, which made my blogs look unappealing and quite plain. I've gained better knowledge to be able to use words such as redundant or vile etc. And to use them correctly in a sentence, a lot of times I'd be unsure of whether this word had the meaning I had thought in my mind.

Thirdly what I have improved is being detailed in my writing, I try to subject into as much wording as I can, it helps out a lot because it defiantly adds more to my blogs and my simple sentences. For example if I were to state out I like to play music, that is a simple sentence with not much to it, if I were to add that I like to play the piano and guitar, and I also can write my own music, this sentence is more descriptive of my music capabilities. Another example of how I am more detailed is when I go over my blogs, I try to picture it in my mind. If I can't really picture it, then obviously I don't have enough information as I should.

2. What have you learned from your struggles with writer's block? Why do you tend to get stuck? How do you get unstuck? Notice Patterns?

What I have learned from writer's block is that the best way to keep it from happening, is to clear my head and write down whatever comes to mind. The key is to write non-stop, it makes you think and concentrate better, because stopping causes you to get distracted easily. Like me, simple things distract me, even if I stare at something, I will completely space out and it keep minutes of my time or even hours when I know I should be writing.

Another example of how I tend to get stuck is when people or noises distract me. When others fool around; talk excessively, tap their pencils/feet, or when the t.v. is on, all these things stop me from writing and it takes me longer to recover and continue writing. But the best way to keep this from happening is to just isolate myself, zone out everything around me, and pretend I can't hear a thing. It helps so much because in that way I'm not able to notice whats happening around me and helps my concentration flow quickly without any interruption.

I noticed many patterns in my writing, when I first started blogging and doing quick writes, it took me quite awhile to figure what to write, and how to conclude it, but as I continued to push myself to write non-stop, it was easier for me to just plain write. I had improved in my writing, it got quite rare for me to get stuck, and lately Ive been able to get back on track quicker. The quick writes especially helped me which Mr. Sutherland assigns us to do in the beginning of every class. Quick writes were warm-ups, and the basic concept was to write a topic he had given us within 10 minutes, writing up to 1-2 pages. That had encouraged me to keep writing when I had such limited time.

3. Where do you get your ideas and what inspires you?

My ideas can vary from historical events to current events, depending on what impacts my life the most i tend to keep the most memorable and meaningful events not only as ideas but as lessons in life for the future. Ideas can be hard to come by but in some cases can also be very easy as well, for example looking back at your life experiences or rather experiences in general can bring forth hundreds or thousands of ideas. The people that you meet in life and the people that you lose in life can also give you that drive to write your inner thoughts.
The consequence of thinking too hard leads me to end up with no ideas as well as not thinking hard enough, I find that relaxing and letting my mind wander works best for me because as opposed to searching for an idea, letting the ideas come to me helps me to be a better writer when blogging.

When writing what really inspires me, is myself. What I mean by I inspire myself is that, I set up to be my topics, my life or daily life; help me to write and come up with topics for my blog such as the things I do, my self-image, my improvements, my goals, my future, or just my thoughts in general. Another source of inspiration comes from other bloggers, reading about the interesting things that happen in their lives weather it be happy or sad funny or serious, bloggers write about their lives regardless and I can relate to them which inspires me to write about my life as well. Most of the inspiration that compels me to not only write, but to work harder at writing is the feeling of wanting to have a loud voice while not saying a word, to make a strong connection with the reader, to have that person feel what i feel when i write. To be powerful with words and to express myself in a way everyone can understand me.