Responce to Lamb and Berman

The piece by Wally Lamb and the piece Jeffrey Berman I do not believe either one was trying to target a specific audience. At least when I read both pieces I felt as if I could relate to both. In the story that Wally Lamb wrote I could relate to the events that he so carefully detailed and sketched out in his story. I could envision the christmas day and the gathering of his family. I imagined the food that he described and almost made it like I was there right beside him at the dinner table. My own family has a big celebration on Thanksgiving day. I imagined my own family there, sitting at the dinner table mesmerized by the food our cousins so diligently worked on. I feel as each person reading the story Food and Fatalism could relate in some way. Especially when talking about Nonna, his grandmother. I know that at least one person can relate some family member, whether a grandma, grandfather, aunt or uncle; the story or events are very real.
In the piece Risky Writing: Self-Disclosure & Self-Transformation in the Classroom by Jeffrey Berman, I certainly found my self relating to the story, not that essay but the meaning behind this " Risky writing". Last year my teacher had us write a " Heart on paper" essay. Here we had to write down a very descriptive event in our life that made us sad or cry. I wrote seven to ten pages about a very traumatic event in my life and after I was done I was not so sure if I wanted to share. In the end I was happy that I did because it gave me definite closure. Like Jeffrey said that not many students have the opportunity to do this because alot of teachers fear emotional or legal troubles.
I think that both pieces relate to each other because Wally Lambs story is what Jeffrey Bernam would call "risky". He wrote a story about his family, he told secrets that most would be ashamed to even speak of. While he told the story about his grandfather, he wrote how he felt bad just talking about it let alone publishing it for everyone to see. So why would he write it? One might ask. I think that only way he could have closure with the situation is if he wrote it down and let every one who was too scared to let any one no see that it is okay. Secrets within a family is very risky, making a story about it is even more. Never the less, it needed to be done, stories are meant to be told and Lamb told an incredible story.

Getting Started

Writing is never an easy procedure; in fact I even had trouble getting this blog started. There is always that underlying question of what to write about. Whether writing a blog or a novel, there are different ways to come about starting the process, it is just the matter of getting to that point that makes it so hard.
When reading all three passages I was very interested in how the material was different yet they were all basically relaying the same ideas about the writing process. All three authors essentially said that getting started as a writer flat out sucks but once you find out your mode of transportation, it’s an easy ride towards the finish line. The one that I can relate to the most is “Shitty First Drafts” by Anne Lamott. Her idea about how “Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts” is extremely true. Especially to me because almost every essay or short story I have ever written, had a pretty shitty first draft. It’s getting around the idea that it’s just a first draft that is so bothersome. It is not impossible though, Anne Lamott proves to us that even through all her struggles with critiquing, the voices in her head telling her she cannot do it or even her own voice telling her she can’t, she got through it and eventually we all seem to.
I know there was many a night where I would be up until two in the morning trying to perfect a critical lens or a descriptive narrative. Meditation could have done me some good but of course I would never think to do that. Jon Kabat-Zinn writes about the “Praise of Non-Doing” and how it is an effortless activity. How there is a difference between non-doing and not doing anything “consciousness and intention matter her. In fact they are key”. I believe that everyone should take a moment out and practice this non-doing. It might help clear the mind, which is not only good for writing but good for living in general.
I have a journal which I only open when “talking about it” just won’t do. In the passage “How Telling Our Stories Transforms Our Lives” by Louise DeSalvo the author tells a story about writing down emotions instead of describing actual events is the most helpful in even the most traumatizing events stricken you. Having a journal with some of the most dramatic and secretive moments in my life honestly helped me get through the day to day struggles that most teens endure. I highly recommend keeping one, even if not, write down your feeling when you can might surprise yourself and who doesn’t like surprises?