6-6:10pm: How are you…? What have you been writing for yourself?
6:10-6:20pm: Narrative final drafts? How do you feel? How do you want the reader to feel?
6:20-6:45: ALL IRBY… What did you think? What about her writing and ideas do you most value as a reader?
6:45-7pm: Your notes on Irby…. What did you find yourself noting most?
7-7:07pm: BREAK
7:07-7:20pm: Journal entries, OPEN MIC
7:20-7:40pm: I have an idea, as to how to end this semester…. It will be a “take-home”, even though we’re all locked in our bloody homes so that’s a moot qualifier….. I’m asking for logical responses and ideas here… what do you want to write about for your final?
7:40-7:50pm: What have you learned about yourself while being “sheltered”-in-place?
7:50-8pm: Closing… thoughts… tonight’s page.
HW: Final reaction to Irby, TYPED… That is, your final assessment of her work. If you want, add onto what you’ve already typed..
Final Prompts will be emailed to you before next class, and you will have three days to complete.
#professormikey 
I have been pretty ok, there is, of course, more corrupt work at my store and it caused 6 of us to get suspended and one pissed co-worker who quit because she was done with their shit, so the whole Starbucks crew is moving over to the Dunkin Donuts next door and 4 of us already have interview’s so that’s exciting and all our usual’s will just come there instead. Ive been writing to keep me sane and writing poems for my other class by using nature for inspiration and the rain the last couple days have been amazing for that, it’s very calming for me especially since I installed a tin sheet outside my window because there is nothing more relaxing to me than hearing rain hit a tin roof which is what I was going for. so yeah writing has been helping me keep all my thoughts intact and upon a multitude of other things so yeah, lets have a great night tonight yall!
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Like the sensory of the tin roof… good to write to keep sane..
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wow, i am jealous of that tin roof. sounds relaxing
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good luck with your job interview!!!!
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Yes. You will do well, I know.
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Nice. You got a mini starbucks revolution going on. Sounds fun, good luck with it!
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A mini-Starbucks revolution…. love that!
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I have been making lots of art lately for a class, and I have pens and pencils all over the floor. I have also been getting more houseplants and working and just doing the same things in this quarantine. For writing, I have been writing about my ideas for my art project. I am making like a “magazine” almost, hence the project’s name “zine”, with information and advice and things that are interesting and important to me.
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Sorry I accidentally replied to your comment instead of making my own post.
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Good evening everyone! I hope you are all doing well! I have been writing a lot of notes for my AP exams since they’re all this week and next week, so I haven’t been writing as much for myself. I’ve written a few entries in my journal since last class. I wrote about my dreams because Maddie told me she was writing her dreams down, and I had the weirdest dream ever so I had to write it down! I have also been writing about my feelings like I usually do, and I have been planning my days because if I don’t I feel like I get nothing done!
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Writing dreams teaches us a lot about what we don’t know about ourselves, and wished we knew about our own thinking.
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I used to write down my dreams but I stopped. For me, I feel like U have to make a habit of it to keep doing it. It was very valuable to me though. It made me feel almost excited to sleep and dream, and gain insight on the things my subconscious brain was thinking up without me even knowing.
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I am doing good. I am loving the weather, rain is relaxing and the smell of rain is heavenly to me. I feel productive and motivated this week. I feel myself getting used to staying inside and adapting to this new life. I have been writing lots of letters to myself which are mostly about motivation. I am also still writing about my weird dreams. I am sad that this class is almost over, I enjoy our weekly meets.
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Inward jots are invaluable.
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I’m gonna be sad when our meetings are over too!
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It’s only a meeting, our conversations can continue forever is we make such happen.
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I’m very good. I’ve been writing pages and pages it feels like for my critical thinking class. I can’t stress enough how difficult that class has been for me. I’ve been redoing essays and writing new ones for the past couple days and am just bracing for whatever the final could possibly be. So yeah, eng 5 has definitely been a bit of a wake up call. Haha good thing it’s almost over!
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i feel the writing and rewriting part! good luck with your final tho!
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For tonight’s class….. Have fun.
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Hello everyone! I’ve been really busy during this time but I’ve also enjoyed the opportunity to keep myself occupied because it’s that or binge watching One Tree Hill and gaining 10 pounds…. Oh wait, I did that too.. Anyways, I had yet another order for one of my custom fence board signs and have been keeping myself busy all morning finishing that project. We are nearing the end of the school year and finals are next week. So that means everyday I’m spending hours and hours finishing up assignments and preparing for the exams. But after that it’s all downhill. My birthday is just a week after finals and shortly after that my family and I have camping trips planned throughout the summer… I mean that is if they don’t get canceled. Pleaseee don’t get canceled! I need my summer!
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Happy early birthday!!
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Thank you!
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Three words: Chad Michael Murray
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I feel, I also hope that summer doesnt get cancelled. And I get the appeal to One Tree Hill, Chad Michael Murry is hotttttttttttt
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omg yes yes yes!
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First of all, One Tree Hill has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. Yay you re watching it.
I agree as far as camping goes! I sure hope things don’t get cancelled. We just bought our trailer a year ago and already had to cancel 3 of our spring trips. Please let us have a summer!
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Seriously..
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AGREE !!
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Hi everyone, Ive been doing pretty good. I have been cleaning and going through my stuff in my room for college. So, I have just been cleaning, doing homework, working out, and working. I try and switch up my routine and never do the same thing everyday in the same order because I would go crazy. But everything has still been going good 🙂
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good for you girl!! I wish I could say I’ve been working out!
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Same I am usually pretty good about working out but have no motivation right now
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This sounds like a great routine. I bet your days go by fast.
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Yes, definitely some days more than others
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WE find all sorts of ways to stay busy, occupied, combat boredom.
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Hey Class-
Doing well. I have an pretty irrational burning desire to stay in a hotel on the beach. It’s pretty much all I have been able to think about for a week. I will definitely be planning a kidless beach vacation when this is over. A lot of my writing has gone into writing more stories from moments in my life. It has been a great way to compile big memories in my life while working on my writing. My daughter and son both see me writing and want to write too so they are constantly asking me how to spell words. It’s pretty cute, plus an awesome way for them to expand past writing the alphabet (ages 3.5 &5).
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a trip to the beach sounds amazing, I hope that you get to plan it once this is over!
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I went to Cancun in March for spring break and I already miss it!! I feel you.
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What was it like?
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Write about that… fiction, just a character getting away, and what she does and thinks about.
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So cute your kids want to write!! The old man and I were just talking about finding a hotel on the beach for our anniversary this weekend! I love the beach
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Can you even get a hotel right now? Our wedding anniversary is the 24th.. I wonder if I can book something.
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I’m not sure! I asked him the same thing. Happy anniversary! Our dating anniversary is the 15th. So we are getting married next year on the 15th 🙂
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Aw. Great Month! Congrats.
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That sounds so damn nice right now oh my! That’s adorable that your kids are wanting to follow your lead with writing!!
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Hi everyone! Glad to be in class tonight. I was having trouble with my paper but I’m really happy with the final product. I also found out this week that I’m gonna be on the diving team at the JC which is exciting! (but also scary because i have never done diving before) Hope you all are doing good 🙂
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Nice to feel good about your writing…
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diving sounds like fun!
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congrats about the diving team, and your paper!!
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Congratulations! You’re going to do great, just believe in yourself!
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Today was a trying day. My work can be so full of negativity that it gets to me sometimes. The trash talking and back stabbing. It’s disgraceful. You thought working in a company with all women is bad? Try working with all men. Yuck. At least talk shit to the person’s face.
I have enjoyed writing our personal narrative and that is mainly what I have been focusing on. It makes me feel good to get it all out. Even though it’s been a little hard to write about significant moments in my life.
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Good to see you. Write about it, about all of them. Get your revenge with what you send through pen.
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Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing good and enjoying this rain as much as I am! I’ve been doing pretty good lately, but all of my days feel like they are mushing together lately and I’m sick of it. Then again, so is everyone else! I’ve mostly been writing about what I observe about my family lately. I feel like I’m a National Geographic narrator the more I get frustrated about my sister’s loud chewing or my mom’s tendency to never finish a sentence. It’s like I notice all of their small little habits, ugh! Gives me something to jot down though! I miss you all.
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I also hate loud chewing….I get aggressive when someone chews too loudly or breaths too loudly…
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It is seriously a thing! My old man chews gum OBNOXIOUSLY loud and i wanna punch him in the throat
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Ha ha…. Just take it out on him as Sedaris would!!
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Holy shit! I am telling you. It’s sooooo loud. I just have to look at him now with the mom eyebrow and he totally knows. LOL!
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Yes, write it all…. write them all.
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I’ve been good. I have been writing about my day to day activities at work. I went into the office on Tuesday because I had to shred some documents. I also helped out at a food distribution so that felt good, even though halfway through it started raining on us. I’m still mostly working from home.
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Welcome! Have you been journaling at all?
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Hey guys. I’ve been STRESSED. AP tests are this week, and I am grinding! Really nervous, but I try to not think about it too much. It is what it is. To distract myself I’ve been baking a lot; I baked a whole ass three layer cake this weekend. My dad told me that park restrictions have been lifted a little bit which means I can go play tennis, which I’m really excited about. But first, AP tests.
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AP Calc had me dead, and I have APUSH tomorrow and APES on monday! Also I love tennis! I’m so glad they opened the courts backe up!!!
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Stay strong and set in your production.
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Yes Tennis is the best…I am jealous of that three-layer cake!
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Stress is permitted, remedy is drawn.
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You are not the only one! I baked a double batch of cookies over the weekend also…. and yet they’re all gone. I had no idea my family can eat so much in such little time haha.
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Good luck!! You’ll do awesome!
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Im surviving. I have been writing about what I’m going to do this summer. I like to wire about creations or inventions that would make life easier.
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I could write a whole essay on what I plan to do this summer! Crossing my fingers that my plans don’t get canceled!
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I write about the summers I hope to have. I mainly describe the days I miss, like laying in the sun after swimming in the river. How I miss eating half a watermelon and then lazily layout on my balcony. I write about ridding on the back of my friends’ motorcycle while I listen to nostalgic music. I describe how at that moment I hope that the song would never end and that Anthony would never stop driving. How I dislike holding on to him and if there aren’t cars near us I like to raise my hands and imagine that I am a bird and for a moment i am free. I mainly daydream in my notebook.
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Such as…
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Hi class! I’ve been doing well, just trying to grind out the last couple of weeks of school, and trying to stay in shape. I’ve been spending a lot of time with the ball and thinking about my long term goals as this virus could affect my initial plans. On the field I have almost learned to fully use my non dominant foot, long balls, skills, shots, etc. I have also learned a couple new tricks like the zig zag and the round the world. As far as plans, I planned to move to Maine by the end of July to continue my education and play soccer. If there is no season, and classes are online there is no point in attending that school for me. So, I’ve just been trying to adapt and to change my mindset and be open to flexibility and change of plans. Maybe I will take a year off of school, and work, I am not quite sure what my plan b is, but I am confident it will all work out!
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Love your optimism!!! ❤
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I admire your optimism, truly! It’s challenging when all of our plans get moved around, but it does no good to wish you could change something out of our control. Whatever you do I’m sure it will be for the best!
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Thanks ❤
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Welcome Ryan…. Good to see you.
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Hey everyone, I’ve been quarantined now for ten days at Sonoma State University. I had many flu-like symptoms when I finally decided to call my doctor last Monday. She requested I go get tested for Covid-19 (I’m thinking she’s full of it). Long story short, I tested positive for Covid-19 and my life has been hectic as heel ever since. I’m doing a lot better though, I’m kicking CoVid in the booty and getting ready to go back home to my family.
Anyways, I’ve been catching up on homework and classwork.
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Oh my gosh!!!! So glad you are doing OK!!!
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you are strong! I hope that you get better and that you recover quickly, I am sending good thoughts to you! ❤
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WOW i’m sorry!! But I’m glad you’re doing well and can go home soon!!
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Oh my, I’m so sorry you are dealing with all of this! Keep kicking it’s butt… I’m glad you are doing okay!
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I love your positive attitude on the situation! Your one tough cookie!
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Glad you’re okay!!! Love the strength in your voice!!!! ❤
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I’m glad you are well and safe!
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Glad you’re doing much better! Stay strong
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Kick it in the ass! Stay strong Lizabeth.Much love!
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Hey all! I have been doing pretty good. I got really into my writing today and find that I am really into my story and want to add more and more too it. Its been a little stressful with final but I am working on my procrastination skills lol. Hope everyone is healthy and safe!!
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LOL! Giiiiiiiirl. I am the queen of procrastination! You’ll do awesome on your finals!!!!
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I feel like I’ve been in procrastination mode too!
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Yes I feel you! Ive been procrastinating all my online trainings that are required for my job.. l disperally need to finish them soon lol
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Thank you all, I could have sworn it was the flu. Two days in a row, I had severe headaches. After a few days later severe stomach aches along with chills all over my body. What pushed me to call the Doctor was my shortness of breath for five days in a row, slowly increasing the need to grasp for air. Please be sure to pay attention to ‘stupid’ symptoms such as the ones I just described.
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No don’t call me out. Procrastination is my best motivation.
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Now that I got a hold of paper and pen along with my laptop I’ve been writing about this crazy experience and how it has affected my family and I. Also how wrong I was about the conspiracy that Covid-19 was fake.
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Yes! I started becoming a smart ass about it all, but once becoming truly educated by the magnitude of this virus and it’s many faces I have been humbled quite a bit. Not any less impatient though.. hehe
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I have enjoyed writing my narrative. I really liked being able to get all the details “out on the table” because the more that time goes by, the more I forget the little things. I am hoping for my readers to experience a little of the “shock” factor. I feel like when I read about childbirth, a lot of the time it’s pretty censored. I wanted to bring some uncomfortable realness to my readers when reading my paper. I think discomfort and humor go hand in hand nicely so I tried to round it out with how I am usually thinking naturally.. with a sense of humor.
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I would love to read it!!
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Me as well.
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It does help. not just with the writing and getting you to understand your own experience, but for readers of your story..
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I feel good about my final draft. I went back into my story and added more personal details and emotions. I want my reader to hear my story and to see that sometimes bad things result in good things and that life is messy but in the end, it tends to work out.
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My final draft is similar to my rough, though I did fix a bunch of grammatical stuff, and expanded one of the paragraphs. I had put a lot of time into that first go around though because it was so easy just to blurt everything out, so this final draft didn’t end up being all that intense. I feel good about it. I want it to be at least somewhat funny. I’m no sedaris or lawson or irby, but I can recongize the importance of the funny!
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same, my final draft is very similar to my rough draft
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Good to feel good about your writing. What do you want readers to feel?
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It’s a feel good thing, with a tad bit of dark humour for good measure. So the reader should 1) feel happy and 2) feel like the author may have crossed the line in some places. A hallmark of all the other authors we read I think
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I want my readers to feel ok with the fact that life happens, and there’s no point regretting anything because there is no going back! Learn from your past and use it to your advantage in the future. Don’t forget about what makes you you and how you got here to this moment in life. Appreciate your experiences, the bad and the good, and realize they helped shape you to be who you are right now. I guess I want them to feel proud about the times they followed what they believed to be true instead of being a bystander in a way. I feel good about the final draft of my narrative!
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I really love this message. It takes a lot tot finally be comfortable and proud of the good bad and the ugly in life.
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Yes!
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Love this! Thank you!
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I’m pretty happy with the final draft of my story. I feel like it is more light-hearted than other ones I’ve read, but It doesn’t matter. It also definitely reflects who I am, I’m not one to dwell on much. If my readers were to take anything away I would want them to feel like they can be themselves, and further know themselves. Know their passions, and make them priorities! That message is a little cliche, but definitely essential for the pursuit of any life.
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Any parts you want to share?
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I feel really goo about my final draft. After I got past the fear of writing down somethings that sometimes I don’t want to remember and finally getting the words on the paper I really got into it. I wrote for 2 hours straight and loved it. Once I was in the flow of it it felt good, and I was really confident in what I was writing.
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OOPS meant good not goo LOL
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Tell us about the composition process, of the draft you submitted.
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My composition process was basically just word vomiting all over the page and getting it all out.
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Rumor has it, Mikey like the word vomit. . .
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likes**
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Not word vomit, worded vivacity.
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Sometimes that is the best way! Works for me too. You can always go back and edit.
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That’s what the task asks… that you just put it to page.
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At the beginning for my draft I wrote the whole story without thinking, and put as much detail as I could think of, and then I edited and made it a litlle shorter because it was already over 5 pages and then I added some reflection to it and make it a little neater!
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I feel ok about my narrative final draft, for some reason I don’t feel as confident as my last paper. But I also feel like I have been low energy overall. I think since I know the semester is coming to an end, I’m lacking motivation. I hope the reader somehow feels inspired by my story.
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If you lack motivation, how can you get it back?
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❤ I'm sure it was very inspirational! This semester has been very trying!
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I feel pretty good about my final draft. However, I don’t feel like it is “final” because there’s so much more to add. So, it was my academic “final” draft that I plan to add on to. I just want to give people hope and I don’t share my stories for pity, but I share with the idea that it might help someone else pull through the rough times.
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I think just telling myself to push through. I think there’s times where I lack motivation but I quickly get it back. So I’m confident I will.
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Yeah I plan on adding more stuff even after having already turned it in too! It’s fun, and it’s like free therapy
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Hey, everyone!! I’ve been sleeping so much! I feel so rested and relaxed. It’s been a while since I’ve felt like this. I’ve been keeping up with my personal journal quite a lot. I’ve written a few poems and songs about my boyfriend. I miss seeing him as often as I used to, before the quarantine. Overall, I’ve been pretty OKAY 🙂
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My final draft is a whole different story than my rough drafts were. I didn’t expect to change that much but I’m glad I did. I wrote the whole thing in one sitting listening to the same song on repeat. I was listening on shuffle and there was one song that fit the mood with what I was trying to write and I just exploded into my computer. It was pretty cool
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music is the best
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Any parts you want to share?
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Here’s a piece that I think sums up the whole story:
In eighth grade, the unthinkable happened. My dad sat me and my twin brother down and told us that he was gay. I felt betrayed. I felt lied to. I’m not a very emotional person, but that day made me cry like I have never cried before. I felt uncomfortable with my father who I had known and loved for almost 15 years. A few months later, in the middle of summer, he came out to the lead pastor at church and sent a letter to all the members of the church explaining his situation. The other pastors at the church were not very happy with this development. My dad was promptly fired. His superiors swore that it was because he was getting divorced and not because he was gay, but we all know the truth.
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Perfect. Totally agree.
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I am feeling really good about my narrative. I haven’t ever wrote anything like this about myself before and honestly, I really enjoyed the process. I was able to share a story that was pretty traumatic at the time with a newer and matured perspective which was pretty exciting. I want my narrative to feel bittersweet but also humor towards my fourteen year old self.
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Cheers.
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I felt really good after writing my narrative, if I could think of a word to describe how it felt it would be “liberating”. I’ve never written a piece that allows me the opportunity to truly express my feelings and be able to write about something that matters to me. I want my readers to feel my anger and feel my disappointment towards businesses that mistreat their employees and I’m not just talking about Target, I could argue that this is a common theme within the entire retail business.
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That’s a great way to describe it!!!
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Describe this liberation…
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Besides verbally talking to my siblings or to my boyfriend (who all work at Target), to be able to sit down and take the time to actually write about how I felt was liberating. I was doing it for myself, not for the gossip or to complain about my problems to my boyfriend, I did it for me.
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For my piece I think I did a very good job expressing the role and love as a big sister, and explaining that my love is different for every sibling, not more or less, but just a different kind of love. I want the reader to think about their siblings, if they have any after reading my work. Or just love that you have for someone and pinpointing what it is that you love, and what memories are the best.
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This really got me thinking about my own siblings and how drastically different I feel towards my younger brother than towards my younger sister. Im already intrigued and think your paper would be interesting and relatable to read.
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I feel pretty good about my final draft especially how easily it came out of me but damn well I would hope so because it was a story from my life that had a deep impact on me. I get what I talked about is a deeper more sensitive subject but I also wrote it the way I did so its lighter for them but still learn the message from my story. I took advice from Irby’s book especially the chapter “happy birthday” when she was talking about her dad it was scarring and hard for her to bring back up but still told it and with some humor and its what I kind of did with mine and it helped me form my paper better and really helped it flow out of me better so I’m really glad I started reading her book while doing this assignment. my experience may be scarring but I don’t want people to feel bad but learn the message I wanted to get across and still have a good time reading my story.
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Glad Ms. Irby could help!
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About Irby: I LOVE Irby and her book so much! As a reader, I value her honesty so much and how she lays it all out on the table and doesn’t hold anything back. She portrays relationships in such a real way, with all the awkward parts. Samantha Irby wants her readers to not take themselves, or life in general, to seriously. I value how she accepts herself and her habits as who she is. Although she feels embarrassed whenever her food deliverer comes and gives her her groceries for the week or when people see her trying to go on a diet, it doesn’t stop her from ordering it and doing what she wants. I love her humor too, she can make anything, no matter how akward or gross, into a funny story! Thanks for assigning this book!!
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She was so damn RAW and honest! Loved her book!
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Honest and strong… she not only accepts herself, but accentuates her own personality and reality with her descriptions and emphases in certain lines…
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yes I agree!
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SO TRUE that she makes the awkward and gross into a funny story! My thoughts exactly. Especially If you’ve gotten to the chapter about the weird maintenance guy….
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EWWWWWW yes Avery I have!! I literally blocked that out of my mind!
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My story writing has been going pretty good. I want my readers to relate and know they aren’t the only ones dealing or have dealt with a mental illness. I did try to incorporate some personality and comedic aspect to it within certain sections so the whole story isn’t just a depressing downer but I definitely need to work on and add some more personality into my story
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Irby what can I say. She is a firecracker. I would describe her as a Rumplestilskin of an author she is able to “weave” shitty and boring stories into “gold” stories of humor. I loved her book and I think she is brilliant for her style of writing. She is telling stories that most would be embarrassed about but she embraces it. Like shitting on the side of the road. She is authentic.
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Where in particular is she a Rumplestilskin?
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-well, it isnt desirable to want to shit on the side of the road, yet she makes it a story that I want to know more about…
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Perfect!
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Probably my favorite story!! I laughed so damn hard!
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I feel like my final draft is all over the place but then again so am I. While working on the final draft I realized that there isn’t just one story to me and that’s okay. So your story doesn’t always have to be one story, it can be many. Your story can develop as you develop.
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I see Irby as this enviable cloud and presence. She cares so much about the moment that she just surrenders herself to it while capturing it all and putting it to page… Thoughts?
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I wrote a lot about how specific events have changed my perspective on things like family, solitude, love, etc. I really like it, to be honest. I am proud of how I went along with it, except some things I wrote are a little messy or overdramatic. I want the reader to feel more connected to me and themselves.
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Yes!!! ❤
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As a reader, I value Irby’s inner thoughts more than anything. She really let’s the reader know how things are with her, even down to the smallest of topics, and to the more taboo of topics. I thought she was exceptionally truthful in this way, and I really enjoyed her writing
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Yes, I completely agree I love her inner thoughts more than anything. Sometimes I wish people would just say what they think.
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MY final draft was, to say the least, sentimental. Writing about my old house, the old creek, the ambiance of it all was a bit depressing. What I’ve attained and learned from them will outlive everything. This was quite challenging to put into words. My past tends to overwrite the good memories sometimes and recalling can be exhausting.
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It’s good to try and get all the bad memories out just the same as the good. I personally think Irby is a bit more depressing at some parts than the other authors, but in a good way. It’s all good!
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I think the more I wrote about my story, the more confident I felt about my writing. Not that I thought I was a terrible writer, but I lacked the confidence to share it openly with anybody.
So i guess what I’m saying is, if I decide to write a book and it sucks and I get laughed at, I’ll be able to blame English 1B for gaslighting me. LOL!! JK!
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No you’re an amazing writer, we’re definitely not gaslighting!
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You are seriously so sweet and I appreciate you!
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PLEASE WRITE A BOOK!! I will buy all the copies!
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You have taught me the word ‘gaslighting’ today, and I appreciate that. Also I agree with this, so same, I’ll just blame 1B
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Right!!?? I need a scape goat! I hope i used gaslighting right! HAHA!
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I value how honest Irby is. I feel like we are in an age where everything is masked by social media. Where we try to portray perfection in every post. But in Irby’s book she just tells it how it is and even though some moments might be embarrassing or uncomfortable, she still tells her story without filter.
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yes, she is the best, she is so candid and raw
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I enjoyed reading the rawness and all her honesty
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Any passages in particular?
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well said!
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It’s sort of similar to Lawson, her embarrassing stories are truthfully ridiculous and embarrassing, but she does not seem to try to mask anything to make herself seem cooler, or more normal, she embraces the embarrassment, and humor of life, for the sake of it’s value to her. Irby also seems to do the same, finding value and humor, writing to others about her awkward and embarrassing stories.
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I can’t really figure Irby out. I think this is mostly due to how real her emotions are. I mean, I though Sedaris and Lawson were honest, but she just goes above and beyond which I respect immensely. Her ability to explain situations in her life that are embarrassing without hesitation and with humor amazes me. But still, I can’t predict her. One minute she’s completely humorous and light hearted and the next she is heartbroken (still with humor of course). Then again, that is what makes her work so human.
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Her lack of predictability could be viewed as her most endearing angle…
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I kept thinking after reading Sedaris that I was going to be disappointed with the other books because I loved Sedaris so much, but then we were gifted these other 2 awesome authors! Loved the books this semester
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I agree with you Harmony I had a hard time figuring Irby out. I would feel for her but she states things in a humorous way that makes me unsure if I should ask if she’s okay or just laugh.
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Trying to “figure her out” presents problems. I find the more advantageous approach with your reading experience is just reading, listening, openness.
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Irby I have enjoyed very much. Her writing is one of a kind. She somehow finds a way to make everything interesting and funny and incorporate 30 different jokes just for one small topic. Her writing reveals her personality greatly and shows that she is carefree and passionate with her writing.
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I noticed that for there is this rawness to Irby’s story that for every laugh, there is a bittersweet moment that could make you cry. This book didn’t make me laugh out loud. It made me laugh silently, part of me was hurt on and feeling for her.
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Raw, real, ravishing…
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wow that’s beautiful
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Irby’s writing is fun, direct and very honest. I like that her writing is the voice inside our head.. or maybe the opposite of what people mean when they tell you to lose your filter (I get told this a lot). I think her book is intense and fun. I have determined that like Thompson, she may be a bit much for me. Reading her writing is fun because I can put it down when I need a break, but as a person I think she would overwhelm me. I loved her truthful resume. I wrote about this in my reaction. She says all the things in a way I sometimes wish I could say them.
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I also want to add that I also sympathized with her. Even when her stories made me cringe.
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I actually agree with this a lot. I think her personality is just a whole lot more unapologetic than most people’s.
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Yeah! Definitely not a bad thing! Just an acquired taste.
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I think Irby is funny, and honest. Her essays tell different stories of her life. She talks about very personal things that a lot of people worry about like weight, boyfriends, health problems, girlfriends, being poor. There are also many stories that are just funny and easy to read because it seems so casually normal for her to say it. I thought that she was so honest and wasn’t afraid of embarrassment.
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I am like 3 chapters away from finishing but from everything I have read it is freaking amazing and have never caught myself laughing literally out loud from a book as much as I did her’s so far and I’m being completely real. the chapter I laughed most in because I feel like most people couldn’t talk about it without it sounding gross was the one where they had too much to drink and bad food one night and driving home in the blizzard with her bros and having to do her business in the middle of an ice storm in the middle of traffic and the way she wrote it was ridiculous I was in the break room at work laughing and It made my shift so much better reading that.I love all her ideas on writing she uses the language she wants and doesn’t care if it is pg or not because well life isn’t PG ya know its raw and unfiltered and free which in my opinion is what her book encompasses and I mean yes there are messages throughout but those are the things that really stick with me and it is so real in the way of writing and being relatable it sounds like she is just another friend you shoot the shit with and can be comfortable doing ridiculous stuff ya know?
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Where specifically is she connecting with you? What in her writing style do you find the most interesting?
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In the way stick with me here im a confusing person, but like for instance the chapter title ” do you guys pay your fucking bills or what?” and the whole chapter just how relatable it is to me as a younger person and the way she uses sailor words because damn I do too and sometimes its the only way I can get across what I need to say and also how rattled her childhood was because I didn’t have the perfect childhood either but I still tried to make it funny when I tell stories of it myself and its nice to know there are other people who are just like me wanting to make other people happy in a way be it writing or anything else. just to go about life trying to be bright even at your worst.
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Nice.
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Yes I know, like she would be the type of friend you wouldn’t have to worry about offending. Like there you could be rest assured that literally nothing you say could ever possibly phase her, so it just makes for a better environment in general, maybe? That’s what I think at least.
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For tonight’s page…. Inventory your writing style, characteristic by characteristic. What would a reader identify, and gravitate toward?
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readers gravitate towards humor and humanness, something they can relate to
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Yep!
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Readers gravitate towards honesty and personality
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I agree with Maddie completely, but I also think readers gravitate towards something they wish was possible as well. I feel like reading can often be something to melt into, travel somewhere elsewhere, and that doesn’t necessarily mean something to relate to!
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