7-8:15pm
Intro…..
Essays
Freewriting
Samantha Irby….
Essay defiance, in Irby’s work….
Life and when it’s written
What’s on your night’s page?
FROM ME: Essays are an opportunity to not just express and idea but convey conviction, tell stories… and if it’s an assignment a chance for your to develop an original idea, to offer your input, and “expertise” I guess you could say. Yes, there should be a thesis, yes it should be supported, have “structure”(structure, can be debated and defined in a dizzying galaxy of ways)…. But the essay you write should be impassioned, and a part of your thinking, the way you see something. There should NEVER be summary in an essay. Yes, you can and probably should refer to parts of what you read, but not too much! The reader of your work wants to read YOU!
And honestly, forget the word “essay”. Rather, embrace “writing”. Stick to that word, and the actuality the it is YOUR writing. The essay is a time to be free and expressive, yes passionate but full of life on the page. I don’t get why students don’t seize more upon the canvas that an essay provides, the stage to write. Well, I do… ‘cause of how you’ve been taught. Not saying that’s wrong by any means, but try something different. Try a different thought shape and view of YOUR essay writing.

Just watched the trailer for that movie and two observations. 1 I will watch it tonight. 2. Thanks now I will not get any sleep.
If you’re referring to the show, you will get plenty of sleep, falling asleep while watching it.
I haven’t read her essays yet but will start it tonight and I can’t wait
I’m sad…
My favorite chapter so far is “ The Miracle porker,” I am also a cat-parent so I did have a good laugh when Samantha refers to her cat ( Helen Keller) as a pig demon from hell.
Awesome!
The Miracle Porker! The best! Just the way she describes how she met her cat, and the cats personality being basically the spawn of satan! Was amazing! It was hilarious how she would have dialogue for her as well.
I liked “The Miracle Porker” too!!
I’m sorry it has been crazy but I will get no sleep reading cause I like her!
Why sleep when you can read, write.. embody and ratify your own dreams. RESPECT.
Essay defiance, in Irby’s work….Thoughts? And by defiance I mean homegirl does her own thing. Defines and realizes essay writing in her own way. RESPECT.
I haven’t had her book delivered yet! ):
Please get it… don’t make me sad.
Y’all.. Have a conversation with Ms. Irby in your journal.. What questions are you asking her? What do you want to know? What is your impression?
What things or people have influenced you to write the way you do? I would want to ask Irby about her motivation in the way she expresses herself
Irby’s essay defiance allows me to not be afraid to write or express my ideas. When an author like Irby or Sedaris write in their own way, it builds up confidence in my writing!
That’s great!!!
Hey ms Irby at what point did you realize you wanted to be an author and I mean a different kind of author?
Please note this in your journal friend, and see if she answers it in some way, in her book.
Defiance in her work, for me is when she was telling us about if she was the bachelorette on the tv show, it would be completely different from the og show, like she would do real dates, like “Can homeboy sort and wash his own laundry.”
But I did read an excerpt from it! It was “My Bachelorette Application” and I was DYING. The way she answers questions about herself is so hilarious. Like she literally roasts herself LOL
Roasts, yes.. but realizes who she is, accepting perceived flaws or faults.
Exactly! I don’t how someone can make fun of themselves in the most high self-esteem way, but she DOES that. Love to see it
Thats the best! Again my type of friend lol
Samantha Irby has a more down with the people blue collar type of writing. She seems to like to just put herself right in your face, no hiding and no worries about what you think.
Samantha Irby is not shy at all on why she express herself for example the bachelorette application, she was not shy about her large ankle and how she was arrested.
Is Irby defiant?
You’re asking my to come to an opinion after just a few pages of her being read. I am not sure yet. What I can say is she is funny, to me and that I look forward to reading more.
Well, you have more than a few pages..
Yes, I think Irby is defiant because she does her own thing while expressing her ideas regardless of what others think.
of what society thinks
Yes, she plays by her own rules
Yes she is defiant by not giving a shit of what society thinks and she plays by her own rules.
I dont think shes defiant just to be defiant, meaning she doesnt do it becasue its cool. Thats just the way her personality works.
Agreed I don’t think it’s purposely, It’s who she is as a person.
I’m getting excited to read now her essays!
Same! I really like her style so far. She seems super unfiltered and fun.
I agree I am enjoying her more already.
Sorry about the delay here guys… Loving the posts.. What is Irby telling you to do, speficially?
*Specifically
It seems like she could make really funny movies. Just by watching and hearing her interviews
What’s on tonight’s page?
Tonight’s page, Get to reading! lol
Ha ha.. nice.
Knowing the person is just as important reading the person’s work. That’s my page for tonight.
Totally agree!
On tonights page, Defiance can be a good thing, learn to live a little
On tonight’s page, writing is not supposed to be “hard,” I need to learn to write freely and take ownership of my thoughts as Professor Mikey mentioned.
On tonights page: Try to make fun of myself more like Irby does, maybe that’ll teach me how to make fun of myself
how to LAUGH at myself** lol
Have A good night everyone! Stay safe!
Night!
Tonight’s page: fix hard procrastination problems?
Good night everyone!