To say that I've learned many things in this class is an understatement. I am a dual major (Writing Arts/Education) and I've always wanted to teach. After taking this class I've learned and realized that I can have a writing career if I wish. I have always feared that my writing was never good enough to get published, but now I realize that if I have the "garbo" I can get my work published. While there are no newspaper ads that say "Writers Wanted", that does not mean that there are no jobs for writers. For one to pursue a writing career, they must explore all opportunities and send their work to many different publishers. Dedication and hard work will get you published, and I just may try and pursue that, now that I've gained the courage and knowledge to do so. 
 
1. So, what are you “war stories” What has kept you from writing that novel?
What has killed momentum, what are your excuses? Or, if you’ve never attempted a
novel, what’s stopping you? Do you think you ever will try it?

I feel like I have several war stories, if you will. All that stem from betrayal, deception, or some other "deadly sin". I would love to write a novel but I fear it would read like so many others, and that's not what I want. I want to write something that is so good that the readers are like "that was one damn good book". In a way, I fear I would not accomplish that because it wouldn't be good enough, or that it would read like so many others.

3. What do you think your strong suit is? Love of words? Sense of humor? Sense
of drama? Structure? What are your weak points? Like John Robinson, do you fear
plot or character? Do you use description to mask your weak points?

I think my strong suit is structure. Sometimes I concentrate so much on having a thesis, plot, etc., that I lose focus on the content and details. I definitely fear plot more than character. It's good to establish character through dialogue, which is one of my favorite parts of a piece to write.

5. Have you ever taken part in a writing marathon? How did it feel? How did it
affect your writing? If you have not, would you like to? What do you think you
could get out of it?

I've never taken part in a writing marathon, but I would love to. I feel like I work best under pressure  so I'd fit in well, if you will. I also think this would be a unique and exciting experience that would serve well as practice.

14. Do you have a piece of writing you are working on (or plan to work on) that
you wish to be published into a book? If so what is your motivation for writing
this book? Do you believe you are “realistic” about the certain outcomes of
selling your first book?

I do have a piece of work that I would love to be published. It would need to be expanded as it's only about 2000 words. It's a personal piece regarding an emotional upheaval my family and I suffered that ultimately resulted in betrayal and death of a close family member. A legal hurdle I'd have to jump is to get consent from all mentioned parties, and I'm not so sure I'm ready to do that yet, as some of their  wounds are still fresh. Maybe somewhere down the line I'll try to have it published.

 
a) I have had several professors that I would categorize as my favorites. They each brought something to the table that helped maximize my learning of material, whether they spent extra time with me outside of the classroom or even just gave some words of encouragement. One professor told me I was an excellent student, and as a result I pushed myself even harder. The best essay I  ever wrote was probably a personal essay about my father, as he was highly influential in my life. I cannot identify one single most influential book - they've all influenced me in one way or another.  One of the single most important concepts I've learned is go with your gut feeling, as it is usually right.
b) "You are wonderful with children, and you'll make a true difference in their lives." One of my professors from Camden County College told me this, and I will never forget it. Once I heard that, I knew I was meant to be a teacher.
c) When I was about 10 years old, there was one particular day at school where we had to dress up as what we wanted to be when we grew up. Some kids dressed as doctors or firemen. I wore the fanciest clothes I had back then to show that I wanted to teach. Now as an adult, I still want to teach, but I'm also thinking about writing a children's book.
d) I have loved children for as long as I can remember. I currently have 13 nieces and nephews and became an aunt when I was 12, so children have always been a steady part of my life. I have a passion to make a difference in their lives and to hopefully better the world in some small way. In more recent years, I've had the desire to write a children's book and I hope to do so at some point in my life.
e)  I have prepared myself to succeed in several ways. First, I work hard and go for what I want. If I don't get it, it's a lesson learned that you can never try hard enough. I've also had rejections in this past regarding jobs and such, and this has also seasoned me for success. As long as I try my hardest and give everything my all, I've succeeded in my eyes.
f)One major skill I have honed through the experiential and educational choices I have made is the way I write. Several years ago, if I were to write an essay, it would be lacking important details and a bit hard to understand, as it wouldn't flow. Now, with the classes I've taken and the skills I've learned, my writing has improved. My pieces now have enough detail to make the reader feel like they are there with me.
g)I feel as though I have several personal attributes that will make me likely to succeed. I am a hard worker and determined to succeed. I am also very personable but I maintain professionalism. Things I have experienced personally and within my family have helped my problem solving skills and have prepared me for just about anything.
 
4. How would you handle yourself if your carefully crafted resume was sent out to employers and no response?

There have been several occasions where I sent my resume to different companies and never received a response. How I reacted depended on how badly I wanted the position. For example, about 10 years ago I sent my resume to a company whom I knew was hiring. A friend of mine worked there and recommended that I apply. There were lots of good perks with this job - good benefits, good pay, great atmosphere, and because of this, I was extremely interested in this job. After sending my resume and interviewing, I didn't hear back from them. I vowed that I would call them once every week for an update. The first couple of times I called, HR said that they had a good amount of applicants to sift through. Shortly after I called on the third week, they called me and offered me the position. Had I not been so persistent and not called on a weekly basis, I'm convinced that I would not have been offered the position. So, if it's a job you truly want, go after it. Be persistent. It worked for me!

5. What is the hardest task in creating a resume? What is the easiest?

For me, the hardest task is updating my resume and trying to determine what information to add or omit. The accepted structure for resumes always seem to be changing, and because of this, I'm always worried that my resume is not good enough or seems to be outdated. I also worry about the structure and organization - is it structured correctly and does it flow? I've never really felt confident in my resume, and I'm hoping this exe
 
With the degrees you have, you probably aren't limited in what you can do. To date, what has been your favorite occupation and why?

How often do you write, and how long does it typically take you to finish a piece of writing?

What ideas and strategies do you recommend for someone just coming into the writing business? Do you recommend an agent?
 
It's no secret that drama makes for good writing. Reality shows are popular for this reason; if seventeen year-old Janelle on MTV's "16 and Pregnant" wasn't out getting beat up by her new boyfriend while her mother was raising her child....well, most people wouldn't really care. But it is this drama, this ado, that attracts attention and makes for good material. 



"The Road to PUBLICATION" instantly caught my attention, as memoirs and personal pieces are some of my favorite forms of writing. Unfortunately I have had some crises and drama in my life, maybe a little more than most. I am by no means a "drama queen" but I have used these life-changing experiences as writing material, and I feel that I have definitely excelled, and will hopefully continue to do so.


Have you ever read a book where you felt like you were actually in the story, experiencing everything as if you were one of the main characters? Putting this drama down on paper is what makes for reading a good story. Easier said than done, right?!
 
"Welcome to the Real World" was a very interesting and informative article to read. I plan to teach children after obtaining my degree, however I've always enjoyed writing and would like to maybe publish a children's book in the future, so this article has provided me with some insight.

One aspect of this article that surprised me was that "there are no jobs for writers." There are many different avenues a Writing Arts major can pursue (editing, etc.) and because of this, one would think that there are ample jobs out there. I think this misinformation lies in the fact that there are no ads in the newspaper that say "writers wanted". A true writer should actively pursue all possible venues; they should contact publishers and continuously send their pieces to publishers. Getting work published is not an easy task as it requires patience and perseverance. Many people share the belief that a good way to get your foot in the door at a publisher is to initially take an editing job. I personally would love to have an editing job, as I am a phanatic about grammar, punctuation, and spelling, so I think I would do well.

This article also stated that "this is a business, folks".  It is a vocation; writers must fully commit themselves if they want to be successful. And this means never giving up.