Journals

Shannon O’Roak

Journal #1

01/23/21

            After reading the interview from some creators of artists books, I can see that every book is unique, and each artist has their own sense of style, and preferred mediums. I also enjoyed reading about the different types of inspiration artists have for their books. Even after reading through the different interviews, I am still a bit confused on what an artist’s book really is. Is it a cover for our actual short story or just a different creative art piece? I’d love to share my current questions about this with the class. I would like to make my artist book related (creatively) to the short story I will be telling in class. I also want the artists book I create to resemble my personality and the things I enjoy. I envision my artists book being very bright and colorful, so that when people see it, they feel happy. Using mediums like pencil, colored pencil, and paints would probably be my preferred methods of creation. I don’t think screen printing my artists book would feel unique enough to me, I would like to craft it myself with very little use of technology such as a laptop. I used some of the linked websites in the interview to see some examples of an artist’s book, and I think it gave me a better understanding of what I want to be crafting by the end of this semester.

Shannon O’Roak

Journal #2 

1/25/20

            Almost everything I read in this first chapter of Bird by Bird resonated with me. I have definitely been feeling discouraged in my writing, wondering where to start, and just feeling like what I’ve put down on a piece of paper really isn’t very good. I thought the idea of sitting down at your laptop at the same time every day was a great idea. I feel like implementing this routine in my life will help me become more creative in my work. I also really enjoyed the poem in this chapter about self-doubt. I have definitely experienced some of these doubts before, but I had never really thought about using them in my writing. 

            I appreciate the honesty Lamott used in this chapter. There is no way any writer can be good all the time, and quite frankly most of the time what you write isn’t what you’ll end up sticking with. I agreed with her point that you have to figure out what you’re not writing before you can find your rhythm. Overall, this chapter helped my mind feel at ease in knowing that I just have to start writing and it doesn’t have to be perfect.

Shannon O’Roak

Journal #3

02/08/21

While reading shitty first drafts, I really enjoyed the comparison of a first draft to a child. First drafts are supposed to be messy and full of scattered thoughts, and you should write down anything you think of, much like a child would. I also thought the writing strategy presented by a hypnotist was interesting. I also often feel like I am being nagged by the people in my life. By putting these people and/or mice in a jar in your head, they can’t consume your thoughts. It seems like this strategy is a form of compartmentalizing.

            I was eager to read perfectionism because I often feel like I’m a perfectionist. I feel like I have a good imagination, but sometimes it’s just really hard to access it. I also liked how Lamott said perfectionism ruins writing. I agree with this statement because if your writing is perfect it’s also boring. You will have no interesting material to work with. I thought it was interesting how Lamott compared perfectionism to life. She says that people who don’t worry about being perfect still do well, and they have a lot more fun. I think she is probably correct in this statement.

Shannon O’Roak

Journal #4- Reflection

2/14/21

Reflection

            My journal was workshopped this week in class, and my story was one of the first three to be shared. This was a bit intimidating and I was a little nervous to hear what my peers thought about my story. I was very happy to receive both amazing compliments and great feedback on my story. Peyton told me in class and in my feedback letter that her jaw dropped at the end of my story. This was one of the best compliments I received, and it helped me feel more confident in my story. 

            If I decide to revise this story at the end of the semester, I will start by making it clearer that the moments of the story in Europe are flashbacks. I also want Will to be the narrator of more flashbacks and have the flashbacks tell the story of how Will and Cecelia met and found a love so powerful. I also realized from Matt’s feedback in class that it’s not clear Cecelia is traveling across Europe, not just one country. I would like to fix this in my next revision. I want to keep my idea of telling the story from two perspectives because I believe it adds more dimension to my story. Finally, I want to lengthen this story and try to come up with. A unique perspective/aspect of it. This sometimes seems impossible in writing and at times it feels like everything has already been written. I plan to brainstorm more ideas for my story while writing story #2.

Shannon O’Roak

Journal #5 

3/3/2021

            I feel like I am most creative when I am brainstorming/workshopping and have a million different ideas running through my head. This is exactly how I felt after just 20 minutes with Professor Gordon. I loved that we were given different paper choices and book options. My thought process was always to make a book and then become as creative with the pages as I could. I learned how to make the book I wanted, and I feel like I really got a solid start on my project. I have found more inspiration through my second short story for my artist book, so I would like to create a book that is representative of this. My second short story is centered around water, so I would like to have water destroyed pages. I also want to include newspaper articles and possibly a QR code since my story relates to a real-life organization that I feel very passionately about. I am excited to keep writing my story and coming up with ideas for new pages.

Shannon O’Roak

Journal #6

3/8/21

            In this week’s reading of bird by bird, I enjoyed both the school lunches and characters chapters. I feel like I gain new insights every time I pick up this book. I don’t think I fully understood the concept of just writing until a good idea pops up in your story until I read the school lunch chapter. I thought it was helpful that Lamott highlighted the most mundane things in this chapter and made them into a story. It really brought the concept of writing about anything until you come across something interesting to life. I also thought the character chapter was a good read because I’m currently having trouble creating my characters for my second story. I liked how Lamott said to get inside your character’s heads to really bring them to life. She also said to pretend you are reading their journals and think about what they would be writing. I found these tips helpful because I don’t think I was thinking of my characters the way I would think about people in real life. I’m going to try implementing this in my own writing, in hopes that my characters will become more layered.

Shannon O’Roak

Journal #7

3/10/21

            While reading the plot chapter in bird by bird, I really felt like I was understanding more about the writing process. Lamott explains that you cannot force a plot or the climax of the story, and you have to let your characters take you where they want to go. This is a hard concept for me to grasp, because I’m so used to their being a formula to follow. I thought it was helpful when Lamott explained how developing your characters and their feelings would lead you to the right plot, instead of trying to mold your characters based on a plot. I also related to her methods of having others look at her work. Often, people have a different view than you, and can give you an outsider’s perspective on if the story is working. Overall, I found this chapter very enlightening, and am going to try my best to work on developing my characters in my writing, instead of focusing on reach a plot.

Shannon O’Roak

Journal #8

03/21/21

            I am pleased with the progress I have made on my artist’s book thus far. I have completed the “construction” of my book and have thought of multiple ways to make my book pages creative. I have made some of the pages in my book blue, some have a textured Japanese paper, and I would like to add newspaper clippings and water stains to other pages. I think these elements add to the depth of my book and project. What will happen next is an analysis of my story so I can find the most important key details. From there, I can add in visual elements or quotes that are powerful. I also would like to add information on the organization that my story is based on called Thirst Project. One of the underlying themes for my project is to raise awareness for the lack of clean drinking water worldwide, and I really want to show that in my story. After I receive feedback from my peers on my story, I will begin the editing process and I also will have a clearer idea about the important aspects of my story. I will know what resonated with people and what wasn’t working as well.

Shannon O’Roak

Journal #9

3/23/21

            Through today’s workshop I got to receive feedback on my story, and it helped me figure out which suggestions I wanted to use if I revise it for a final draft. I appreciated the comments I received about my foreshadowing and the ending of my story. I’m also glad I captured the perspective of a 13-year-old girl well, because I struggled with this during the writing process. For my revision, I would like to start by adding in more inner struggles/emotion for Mandisa. I want to go into painful detail about her walk back from the village. I also want to make her rage with the American’s coming into her village more obvious. I also really liked a comment Isabella suggested about giving the village people more of a role in the well building process. This was my initial intention, but I would like to make it more apparent in my story. Isabella also gave me a suggestion about a forming friendship between the girls who fetch water, and I found this idea interesting as well. Lastly, it’s really important to me that my story raises awareness for poorer communities who may not have access to these things most Americans have so easily, such as drinking water. I also want to raise awareness about the lack of education for many young girls and water-borne diseases such as cholera.

Shannon O’Roak

Journal #10

04/06/21

I looked over many of the artist books from the previous semester and can describe my feelings towards all of them in one word: inspired. I liked all of the artist books I looked at, but some of my favorites were Alice’s, Ravin’s, Delaney’s, and Korin’s. In Alice’s books, I really enjoyed the textured sea glass she included. This inspired me to use textured materials in my book. I also liked hearing about Alice’s book because we were first time writing fellow’s together last semester, and I really believe her book embodied who she is as a person. I enjoyed the beautiful artwork in Ravin’s book, and the tissue paper she used. I like how her poem continued in small pieces on each page, and the colors were striking. I loved Delaney’s “book” because I felt very calm and relaxed while listening to her read. Her words were so impactful when tied together with her video. Lastly, I enjoyed Korin’s book because it had a symmetry with each poem matching a single picture. Her artwork was also really beautiful and detailed. For my artist book, I am tossing around ideas such as incorporating elements of nature, newspaper articles, paint splotches, and texture. 

Shannon O’Roak

Journal #11

04/06/21

There are some things in life that you just know. I am both pleased and confused that writing a story is one of them. When Lamott talks about stories not having to be perfect, this is a hard concept for me to grasp. I always feel like there is one more thing I could change or alter to make my story a little better, but usually with school assignments I decide that my writing is definitely good, but I’ve run out of time to make it perfect. I think overcoming this has to do with listening to my inner voice, and feeling when my story is complete, rather than knowing. I also liked the octopus analogy, about tucking all of its tentacles in. This formed a neat picture in my head and is one I would like to keep in mind while I finish my story. I am going to try my best to listen and feel when my story is done, instead of perfecting it.

Shannon O’Roak

Journal #12

4/21/21

Shannon O’Roak

Journal #13

04/19/21

            Over the next week, I will be focusing my revision on the “Afterward” part of my story. In our small group meetings, my peers really enjoyed this portion of my story, and wanted to see a little more of it. I also would like to make Mandisa’s feelings about Abizo’s death a bit more prominent. I’m struggling with the idea of telling my entire story from the perspective of Mandisa as a young woman, but I am leaning towards leaving it the way it is. I think her brother’s death would be less impactful if I changed it. I also think I want to create a more enticing hook at the beginning of my story. I have found it more challenging to come up with an idea for this. Overall, I thought the small group sessions were so helpful. My peers gave me useful feedback that I think will push me into the best final draft I can create.