HOW TO READ LIKE A WRITER WEEK 7 ******

HOW TO READ LIKE A WRITER #week7

This reading was really helpful because I like to write screenplays and I enjoy reading screenplays while watching the films that where made with them. 

"As I struggled to read in this environment, I began to realize that the way I was reading—one word at a time—was exactly the same way that the author had written the text. I realized writing is a word-by-word, sentence-by-sentence process. The intense concentra- tion required to read in the theater helped me recognize some of the interesting ways that authors string words into phrases into paragraphs into entire books. "
I have had this realization before. I just really liked this reading because I could relate so much. Certain things the writer said just clicked in my head. I copy and paste a few of those things.

"I came to realize that all writing consists of a series of choices." 

"The goal as you read like a writer is to locate what you believe are the most important writerly choices represented in the text—choices as large as the overall structure or as small as a single word used only once—to consider the effect of those choices on potential readers (in- cluding yourself). Then you can go one step further and imagine what different choices the author might have made instead, and what effect those different choices would have on readers." 

"You are reading to learn about writing." - This is why I started reading some of my favorite writers books. The first book I read in years was Lena Dunham's Not That Kind of Girl. Big books are not really my thing but I really wanted to read it just because Lena wrote it and she writes GIRLS the brilliant, character driven series on HBO. I thought I would give it a shot. It was great. I could connect the writing to her tv show girls just by reading her book. it was great!

For sure a cool read. It was interesting and relatable.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS with DAVID SHWARTZ

Due to the portal being down, I have yet to be able to ask Dave if I can interview him. I was planning on asking him in class on Monday. I got in my car drove all the way to school. The entire 10 minutes it takes and when I get out of my car, a couple of my fellow classmates are walking towards my car. They inform me that class has been cancelled. I didn't know how to feel. Should I have been happy that I have a free Monday evening to catch up on some other things I have been putting aside or was I pissed that I could not ask dave and now I have to add this interview to my list of stressers. I know  Dave will let me interview him, so I'm not too worried.

ANYWAYS, here are some questions I plan on asking him.

What is the first feature screenplay you wrote?
Looking back at it now, what do you think of your writing at the time and what has changed? (style, language, genre, structure?)

You have mentioned your career in the industry quite a bit in class, you have said that you have been a director, editor, writer, reader, and director of photography. What is your favorite position? Which one was the most changeling?

Who is your favorite screenwriter of all time? What is your favorite piece of work done by him or her?

When and why did you decide you wanted to teach film history and screenwriting?

What do you think makes a good screenwriter? What does it take to be a good screenwriter?

What is your favorite genre to write and why?

When teaching students how to write screenplays, what do you find they struggle with the most?

If you could give advice to any student who wishes to be an amazing screenwriter, what would you tell them?

Crafting electronic messages CH7

Cool reading… I guess. Kind of a waste of time. But also not really because it was assigned and I have to write something on it to get a grade. Whenever I need to write a professional email or something to a professional person I usually look up a template or I'll just be super nice and proper and it works. This reading has a template and it gives some good, helpful, and usual tips to writing an electronic message. So I guess I can’t hate too hard. Ok, I change my mind it was helpful  and I’m glad I read it. It was just super boring. I also kind of zoned out, to be honest, but what I did retain I will use in the future if I remember. Which I think I will. The CREATING CONTENT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA was interesting. I’m not sure if interesting is the right word but it was what it was. I do not want to be a complainer. I just get bored really easily. All I know is that I would not really want anyone super professional and intimidating on my social media. I would never get a job. Not because it's inappropriate, but it's just weird and I look super self centered… and I type like I didn’t get past kindergarten. I should write like this reading tells me to on social media but my social media is social, not professional.

Rhetorical Analysis

The most important section of this reading, in my opinion, was the section about appealing to your audience. I used to say that whatever I read I cannot retain. Like my whole high school career consisted of complaining how I would read and read and read these school assigned readings and not understand a thing. It felt like I would black out when I was reading and not remember a thing. I realized that was not the truth. I am actually a good reader and I get super into it when I am reading things that truly spark my interest. The example they use with the bud lite and the drinking and driving was a good example. I can relate this to writing and making a good film. There are obviously a lot of well written films out there. But when you think about the oscar nominated best picture films, are they ever not rated R with super intense subject matter? Besides Avatar. But even that movie is gnarly. If a movie is written and made to appeal to all ages and genders then it is going to do better and make more money. For example Jurassic World. Kids can enjoy it because it's dinosaurs but adults would also go see it because it's dinosaurs, well made, and brings them back to the Jurassic Park days. So thats the studios saying we are making a movie for all audiences because we want to make bank. Those dark dramas that are so well written and take the emotion straight out of you and make you cry in theaters…. those gnarly sex scenes… kids can’t go and that’s the writer, producer, and director saying that okay that we took out 50% of the population from seeing this film. In the name of art, I don’t totally care about the kids. I choose to write to those who are able to understand the dark humor in a drama… so adults.

FINDING EVIDENCE

FINDING EVIDENCE

I 100% agree with this article. Finding strong, real, and persuasive evidence is really important when it comes to any type of writing. I was going to say that besides a writing that is based on only your opinion but that is not even true.  A good opinion piece is able to back up the opinion with educational evidence from research or experience. The bullet points on page 396 are really important to consider when collecting evidence or data. I went to a gnarly private school until 8th grade. I would ask my mom why she spent so much money to send me to this super hard school where I would have to wear uniforms and she said it was because they teach you how to study and research. I do not really know how to study to this day but if I learned anything from this crazy school it was how to do research and use the tools that they provided us. A shame I ended up at an Art School, not UMICH majoring in biophysch like my sister. But anyways, until recently I actually preferred to do research with books in the library and not use the internet. Then I got lazy and I figured the internet is much faster than going to the public library.

The “Collecting Your Own Data” part of the reading was interesting to me. When I am doing research for a research paper, I like to just take notes on what I am reading in my own words so that way I learn what I am writing because I have to use my own words. Once I have all the information I need to write my paper, then I will start my first draft. I wait until I have all my information so there is no chance of copying and I have the chance to learn.

EMAIL

Hi Drew,

I hope everything is well since I last saw you. I am writing to you because I would love to have the opportunity to sit down and ask a few questions for an interview assignment for my english class. As an aspiring writer and producer, it would be very beneficial to talk to you about your experience in the professional field.

I hope we can set up a time to meet.

Thanks,

Natalie

Artist Statement

I create art that has no color or shape. It has nothing visually appealing to it whatsoever. But if you are able to see what is so clearly laid out on the 8 x 11 white pages of printer paper you will not be disappointed. The words all come together to tell a story. I write dark comedic screenplays with strong characters. Inspired by the writer of JUNO, diablo cody, I enjoy bringing humor into tragic situations.

Everything is An ARGUMENT

Holler.
There are good arguments and bad arguments. Even that can be an argument, if you're willing to argue about it but yeah... I like to call the good types of arguments "creative discussions" but what do I know.
The article defiantly kept me reading and I did not give up like I usually do but it was just so much information on what? Arguing? Like do we really have to seriously in depth dissect everything in this life. Because I read it, I do not think I will argue any differently or look at arguments differently.  But what is anything if we are all arguing and fighting and what not. We should get on with out day and not think about the fact that me talking to myself about getting out of bed or not is an argument. I am just going to do it and let it be done.
It was a cool read I guess. I do not know. Maybe I liked it, maybe I did not. But I no longer want to argue about if I liked it or not. I want peace in my mind and peace in this world.