Errors are not the same as “mistakes.” The later implies the person who did something wrong has no hope of correcting an acknowledged consequence without apologizing first. Making mistakes connotes a negative side of learning that I find the term error avoids. Improper grammar, unvaried sentence structure, and poor word choice are among some of the more common errors in writing. Yet, these grammatical “oops” are mostly unavoidable and too often dismissed as criticism. Instead they should be accepted as opportunities to grow and develop throughout the writing process. Just over the course of this fall semester I have learned to accept not always matriculating an initial idea, become more open to new writing techniques, and appreciate all the errors along the way.
While my first course project involved writing a personal narrative, I was also encouraged to keep a journal (hopefully writing at least 200 words/day). When asked if the quantity of words would be evaluated over the quality, our professor surprisingly answered that words themselves have no quality it is the thoughts behind them. She then went on the explain that our journal entries could even consist of pictures, drawings, and additional elements that evoked words in the audience, whether spoken or contemplated. This was a new and exciting concept to me. So among the first of my entries I clipped a littered mint wrapper to the 9/1 submission I posted in the “Entries” page of the portfolio. Had I not been inspired to make the journal multidimensional, the thoughts behind the “thank you” recognition would not have made it onto the lines of my paper and ultimately the blog.
The beauty of unexpected revelations is just as noteworthy as the blessing of intentions left unrealized. Before being reassured from my English professor that rough drafts are exactly that--“rough,” if some piece of idea was left unfinished or incomplete it was WRONG. Wrong to the point of failure. Well, if not failure than very close to it. I was trained to think that incomplete means laziness and incompetence. As noted underneath my first journal entry, accommodation to what works for you is better than frustration with that accompanies not following your intentions. The process of drafting the narrative itself involved multiple interactive and adventuresome components such as hypothetical “balloon rides” of thought to navigate an initial topic to inspirational advice from elders such as Sam Watson (quoted on the “Entries” page).
NOLS, the destination of my balloon ride experience, exuded throughout not only my written personal narrative but also within my life outside of the classroom. For instance, the lesson of my soul being cleansed despite my skin becoming soiled continues to impact my appreciation for internal over external beauty in myself and others. Surviving the wilderness with a group of other error-prone individuals taught me tolerance for adversity and uncertainty and collaboration for a common goal. Writing assignments in English 1103 have also encouraged the interplay between group members and incorporating our various external experiences towards developing group dynamic. In one assignment we were asked to interview another classmate as a meet-and-greet situation. Coincidently the person to whom I was assigned and I became roommates and wonderful friends all because of our pairing. The process of finding an audience and addressing them directly was another new form of writing I had yet to experience but defiantly came to appreciate. In my blog I attempt to invite the audience to think through my thoughts/ideas and even laugh at my quite personal images (before/after cooking pictures found on “About the Photos” page).
In addition to learning creative forms of pre-writing, appreciating the errors within ideas and/or structure, and admiring the coincidence of fate interactions, Honors English 1103 has guided me towards pursuing my writing potential. Like the instructors who guided us along the trails of Wyoming until the final three student led expedition days, my English professor has led me into the less physical path of the writing process and enabled me to form my own new and exciting adventures I can’t wait to share with you. I hope you have not only felt inspired by at least some of my words but will also seek your own means of personal expression either a similar experience blog or other form of writing. You will only be able to realize how far your thoughts will carry you when you allow your pencil to start stepping across the page.
While my first course project involved writing a personal narrative, I was also encouraged to keep a journal (hopefully writing at least 200 words/day). When asked if the quantity of words would be evaluated over the quality, our professor surprisingly answered that words themselves have no quality it is the thoughts behind them. She then went on the explain that our journal entries could even consist of pictures, drawings, and additional elements that evoked words in the audience, whether spoken or contemplated. This was a new and exciting concept to me. So among the first of my entries I clipped a littered mint wrapper to the 9/1 submission I posted in the “Entries” page of the portfolio. Had I not been inspired to make the journal multidimensional, the thoughts behind the “thank you” recognition would not have made it onto the lines of my paper and ultimately the blog.
The beauty of unexpected revelations is just as noteworthy as the blessing of intentions left unrealized. Before being reassured from my English professor that rough drafts are exactly that--“rough,” if some piece of idea was left unfinished or incomplete it was WRONG. Wrong to the point of failure. Well, if not failure than very close to it. I was trained to think that incomplete means laziness and incompetence. As noted underneath my first journal entry, accommodation to what works for you is better than frustration with that accompanies not following your intentions. The process of drafting the narrative itself involved multiple interactive and adventuresome components such as hypothetical “balloon rides” of thought to navigate an initial topic to inspirational advice from elders such as Sam Watson (quoted on the “Entries” page).
NOLS, the destination of my balloon ride experience, exuded throughout not only my written personal narrative but also within my life outside of the classroom. For instance, the lesson of my soul being cleansed despite my skin becoming soiled continues to impact my appreciation for internal over external beauty in myself and others. Surviving the wilderness with a group of other error-prone individuals taught me tolerance for adversity and uncertainty and collaboration for a common goal. Writing assignments in English 1103 have also encouraged the interplay between group members and incorporating our various external experiences towards developing group dynamic. In one assignment we were asked to interview another classmate as a meet-and-greet situation. Coincidently the person to whom I was assigned and I became roommates and wonderful friends all because of our pairing. The process of finding an audience and addressing them directly was another new form of writing I had yet to experience but defiantly came to appreciate. In my blog I attempt to invite the audience to think through my thoughts/ideas and even laugh at my quite personal images (before/after cooking pictures found on “About the Photos” page).
In addition to learning creative forms of pre-writing, appreciating the errors within ideas and/or structure, and admiring the coincidence of fate interactions, Honors English 1103 has guided me towards pursuing my writing potential. Like the instructors who guided us along the trails of Wyoming until the final three student led expedition days, my English professor has led me into the less physical path of the writing process and enabled me to form my own new and exciting adventures I can’t wait to share with you. I hope you have not only felt inspired by at least some of my words but will also seek your own means of personal expression either a similar experience blog or other form of writing. You will only be able to realize how far your thoughts will carry you when you allow your pencil to start stepping across the page.
