28 January 2009

Won't You Be My Friend, But Not Arnold Friend

In my English Comp class my instructor is talking about the importance of fast writing, or should I say methodology. Even when I don't like doing it. This is a method of writing furiously and you can stop when your fingers bleed out something worth reading. I edit as I go because I'm a perfectionist and can't stomach looking stupid. Fast writing does not appeal to me but I must relinquish control. Resistance is futile. (I did not make that up) I'm attempting to fast write this, not because I want to grow as a writer, but simply because I have zero time to write anymore, let alone shower or wipe properly.

I got my first paper back in English and I got a B. It does not make me happy because I know I could do an A and I was just short of an A grade. Part of my problem has to do with basic formatting of my paper, and seeing I've never written a class paper, I do stupid things my fourth grader already knows. Double spacing? Properly formatted bibliography? I am just learning what these are. I feel like I've had my head under a rock. A LARGE illiterate rock. We are doing critical essays in English. I get to read an essay and talk about it. This is supposed to help me get to my dream job radiating patients and making sure I properly wedge their heads in the MRI machine. I don't know how Joyce Carol Oates' essay on a stalker and his victim makes this possible? If you have read this essay, I hated it and therefore I loved it. Does this make sense? It made me feel icky but I have to turn in a paper saying that in 750 words. Can't I just say "I haaayted this" 250 times?

For those who have commented lately, I am sorry to be awol. Like a fledgling duck, I am leaving the comforting nest of blogger peeps and trading it for a crash dive into the deep end in the pond of instructors criticism. Believe me, the nest is looking so comfy right now.

I won't be able to write before tomorrow so I will add that Doozie has a birthday tomorrow.

This concludes my official first bloggy fastwrite.

~Bee gives herself an A for effor

12 comments:

That Janie Girl said...

Glad you're doing well in school!

Heffalump said...

I found it interesting that as soon as you said you were fast writing the post, I felt that I had to read it faster (or in my case, listen to your voice in my imagination, narrate while I read along).
So to me, your fast writing was a success!

Doozie said...

let me very quickly say, "how long did it take you to grow that mustache?"

The Rev. said...

Two things are important in life:

First, always grade yourself - it's crucial for a multitude of reasons. On a related note, congrats on your well-deserved A!

Second, never (never) apologize! Unless you've done something truly awful, that is...

holly said...

i so wish i'd have read this yesterday. but then, i almost never wish people happy birthday on *time*.

you know, one day when you're wedging people in that mri machine, you'll think of that essay.

and you'll smile.

Anonymous said...

As a professor I must admit that I grade more stringently on formatting and correct grammar even though it is a psychology class...and of course most of my students take their biggest hit in that area. You will get the hang of it and be an A student with the next paper. (this is why I am so strict as a home school mom on my daughter's book reports/personal narratives/essay questions...etc.)

Thanks for the heads up on Doozie's birthday!

Lynellen said...

See, "making sure I properly wedge their heads in the MRI machine" will not in fact be aided by your English class. What is supposed to be aided is your ability to write up the technician notes in the patient chart to clearly explain why the patient's head exploded.

Jeff and Charli Lee said...

Nicely done. I read it fast too. I'm like you right now... too damn busy! My blog visits have taken a serious dive these last few months, so I hope you'll forgive me if I don't stop by as often as I used to for awhile. I still read you faithfully though in my reader. That is when you eventually get around to writing something. ;-)

Dapoppins said...

Someone had a birthday? I must have fast read over that part...

... Paige said...

Yea, you did it! and I understood each word in order and everything.

I'm a bit slow so your fast writing was lost on me, but just a little bit.

Jaina said...

Glad to hear you're doing well. I thought it was great for a fast write...just as excellent as your other posts.

Foo said...

Fast writing?? That's insane! If I ever went completely stream-of-consciousness in a blog posting, two things would happen: those of you who actually know what proper grammar looks like would openly mock me, and when I actually gave in to my OCD and read back over it I'd be so horrified I'd have to delete it immediately.

Let's face it. I'm not a writer; I'm a craftsman. We're not talking fine furniture craftsmanship here. I'm one of those guys who hauls a U-Haul trailer to flea markets and uses a router to make wooden signs with people's names on them.

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"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words."

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe