5-5:10pm: What music did you listen to today, at the beginning? What was the first track you heard? What did it do for you?
5:10-5:35pm: You and writing about you….
Where do you start? Why?
What do you want readers leaving with?
OTP: Leave your own essay having learned many things about our character and story….
OTP: Ask yourself questions before you write…. What do I want to see? What do I want to re-live? Where do I want to go with my thoughts?
5:35-6pm: Sedaris….. What are your thoughts?
How is he different from Lawson and Irby? How similar?
OTP: Always see the writer as a character in their story, not just the narrator.
How would you describe his tone and narrative style? What truths have you found in his writing and stories, experiences?
6-6:20pm: What are the characteristics of his writing, AND… his handle on the essay form? Does he redefine it in any special way, in your opinion?
OTP: He has a need for simplicity in his sentences and approach to audience.
OTP: Sedaris’ essays invite more intimate reader participation than our other authors, I think. You?
OTP: What questions do you have for Sedaris? What are you hoping to learn from our final author?
ASSIGNMENT: Read through (meaning, INCLUDING) “Stepping Out” in Sedaris’ Calypso.
ASSIGNMENT: Keep writing in your journals, send me page pics!!
NOTE FROM ME: Be honest with your efforts and the results you expect. Whatever grade you get in this class, it should be NO shock. And practice this not just with schooling, but work, life, relationships, yourself, your health, the day itself.
-pm
#professormikey 
I want to start from the very beginning. I want to do my best to try and share experiences with the reader. I don’t want the reader to feel as if they are alone fighting everyday constant struggles. I would love to inspire people with my story to better themselves.
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Good!!! Make the reader feel as if it happened to them!
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I want the reader to learn or take some advice on some mistakes I have done or get some advice on things that I’ve been through that the reader could be going through.
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Good for you as the writer to focus on the educational elements of those moments, as well!
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I will start with experiences that have had an impact on me that I think I am not alone in.
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I’d like to feel fulfilled on some level. I will feel like I honored myself and delivered a story that was truthful and meaningful. After the last page, I’d like to feel like I have done something important for myself and not that I was just completing another assignment.
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Good!!! — NEVER see your writing as an “assignment”. F/ck assignments. Prioritize you!
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I want the reader to use my experience as a guide. Rights and wrongs, use my story to help the through life just a little easier if possible. For me I want to feel like I accepted the past and can move on, any and all mistakes, and more importantly embrace the success to thrive me forward.
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Always a benefit to the writer to help readers. They will keep reading!
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I want my story and the reader to know that change is possible. Today doesn’t fine tomorrow. Growing up your going to make a lot of mistakes and I want my story to show that everything gets better with patience
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when im gonna write about my self I think I would start with my childhood and the background I grew up in. I want to leave the readers feeling as if they actually met me, I wanna show them my roots.
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Good to show and educate on roots, and even more important and valuable to show how it connects to the Now.
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I think if people could relate to my stories like Lawson’s impact had, and maybe if it was possible to generate some change from the hate so many people around the world hold for each other needlessly. Like the authors we have read have all expressed, humor and a light heart is usually the best tool to face anything with.
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The story of my writing is to write down what I have down and look back at it with pride. What I hope for others is to find inspiration and motivation.
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I love Sedaris’ writing… you?
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So far I’m enjoying Sedaris! I love that he doesn’t spend too much time describing little details or things that may deter the story. One of the ways he keeps the story flowing is by staying on point. I noticed that he intertwines the tragedy with comedy, possibly to make it a little less scary? Despite the age/life style differences between us, he is easy to connect too.
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I feel like Sedaris is real? right away? Like things aren’t sugar coated before getting to the hard stuff. Immediately we as a reader are introduced to his sister dying and marital disputes. And there’s humor in his writing, absolutely, but It seems more organic, and not used as a tool to get the medicine down.
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Examples?
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Talking about his sister’s death and his marital disputes. The conversation he overheard about the false pigmys and then the guests passing away. The differences in google results.
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I spent most of the morning diving into Sedaris….I really like his style…started a little closed(maybe more conservative than Irby and Lawson) and nowise really opening up. I love how much he like to shop and be with his sisters and his deep desire to fed the snapping turtles some questionable food.
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I watched an interview of him where he says that he spends 4-6 hours a day picking up trash. One day he found a ball gag that he eventually ended up giving to a fan at a reading! He said, “If you put it through a dishwasher you’re fine!” I died
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lol
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I thought writing about myself would be easier. But this week has wrecked me and to be honest I haven’t even been able to get myself to start. I am already feeling raw and terrible. Writing about my life seems so difficult. When I do get to it though I want to make readers feel like they can make it through their own struggles.
I am very familiar with Sedaris’s other work. I read his books at some pivotal points in my childhood. I haven’t gotten into the groove of this book quite yet since it’s been a hot minute since I read his work. His writing touches on some similar themes as Irby and Lawson but his tone is much more subdued and less in your face. He is still very funny though. He doesn’t seem to deviate from format as much as the other two do in their stories.
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I like Sedaris’s writing style and how it flows. I think Sedaris’s sense of humor is different than Lawson’s and Irby’s. All 3 authors are similar as their books help their readers.
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What’s the primary way in which they help readers?
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In terms of Sedaris.. Only a few chapters further than before and I can just feel the amount of shit that he’s been through in his life. I just find myself re-reading the chapter on his sisters suicide. He’s just so blunt and open about such a difficult subject; something I have in common at times.
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I am enjoying his writing! Reading this book I perceive him in a new light than what I thought about him in his first book. This time around I see him as calm and loving. Reading the first few chapters about his family just had a sense of warmth.
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I am so far pretty happy with reading Sedaris’s book. He seems to be a upbeat guy who can deliver nice coherent thoughts while having well thought out stories as well. To me he seems to be the same in same category with Lawson and Irby when it comes to delivering stories that have nicely placed comedic relief while also having some nice tender moments as well. His tone to me can change depending on the topic and to me he does this well. I have found while reading he is also similar to our other authors simply because of how honest he is. He is another person who isn’t afraid to be them selves and have everyone read and judge him for themselves. Something like that would worry me.
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Yes, his tone is very telling!
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How?
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Like when he speaks about his family and their relationships his tone is warm and caring, then he switches to a sarcastic tone whenever speaking about everyday occurrences.
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So far Sedaris’s writing is ok. Im not particularly enjoying his writing but I don’t dislike it either. I definitely see singularities toward Lawson and Irby in term of writing and lack of censorship, but Sedaris doesn’t waste time or space in the book by excessive descriptions.
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similarities
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I think I actually enjoyed Sedaris’s humor the most, something about it is just more similar to mine. I think some of it is built on word choice but I think his humor is also different because he makes humor out of really normal basic things like having a guest room. This is different from Irby and Lawson because for them the humor served more as a way to make the book digestible, especially for Lawson. He did make light out of a sad situation in his second chapter, but the way he did it made it seem less about his emotions.
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word choice is very important to him as you continue reading the book!
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Totally.
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so far from reading sedaris he is different from irby and lawson because he hasnt really used a lot of humor like they do or at least like as forward as they did. he makes you feel like if your having a conversation with him about like but in a more like serious tone, if i make sense. im not going to lie towards the beginning i felt a little confused but im starting to catch on to his vibe. im still trying to figure out his family as well..
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His humor is woven into moments and sentences… not as loud and immediate as our other two authors, wouldn’t you say?
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Id say he isn’t as explosive as our other authors.
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His humor is much more subtle but it’s still just as abundant as Lawson and Irby. Just a different writing spin on it.
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yes it took me a second to realize and understand some of his humor hahhaha i even had to re read some things because i wasnt sure if he was trying to be serious or pull in some humor.. im trying to look for a part i read let me see if i find it lol
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I’m liking Sedaris more than Irby and lawson. He seems to be really attached to his family and has a close connection with all 5 of his siblings. I am having a better connection with him than both Lawson and Irby so far. He talks about his mom passing from cancer and his sister committing suicide. I have also had my best friend pass away from cancer and another friend who sadly committed suicide. I also really like how he describes himself and prefers to be called the little guy.
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His tone and writing style seem much dryer…I can always appreciate some heavy sarcasm so i like it. A little obsessive…which I can relate to, I do like the subtleties in his writing
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Yes! His storytelling is funny because he makes his story funny over time with the plot instead of shorter jokes.
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David Sedaris has matured from Me Talk Pretty One Day, 18 years later, in Calypso… I picked up on a reflective bond of tenderness in a melancholy tone. His humor is mundane and dark such as on p. 7 “It’s just a matter of time before our luck runs out and one of us gets cancer. Then we’ll get picked off like figures at a shooting gallery, easy targets given the lives we’ve led.” Whoa…
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I love Sedaris. His writing style is so chill and easy to read. You really feel like you’re reading his diary and doesn’t hide anything. His high and his lows are equally written about and he doesn’t dwell on the negative, he uses comedy to weight out the bad but he also doesn’t have to try so hard for that comedy, it comes easy for him. His play of words are also my favorite.
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I am liking Sedaris a lot right now because he talks about things that I can more relate to such as the relationship with his family. He is funny like Lawson and Irby but I just feel like I connect more with what Sedaris is saying. My favorite part has to be when he was saying that his boyfriend should have his hand on the shoulder where a parrot would be because my girlfriend told me that the first time I met her parents.
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Sedaris is definitely giving off a more descriptive almost formal sitcom vibe to me, comedic and elements of humor often but the words he uses are much more intricate.
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One characteristic of his writing…. LOCATION.
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I agree a little more formal but there is a lot of wit thrown in so it docent feel stuffy. I like how he might start a chapter with a sentence about something specific, then ties the rest of the chapter back to it a time or two
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I get a similar vibe from Sedaris’ writing that I got from Irby with how conversational his writing feels. While I was reading I found myself with responses that I would say in my head as if I was there with him. I feel like he has a very sarcastic characteristic in his writing and he speaks on topics that are important to him. I feel like he is telling his own truth in whatever way he needs to.
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True!
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I feel a characteristic I definitely noticed after reading the book so far was he does a lot more telling than explaining. With stories he gets to the point and doesn’t drag on about one topic for to long. Maybe it will be different the more I read who knows..
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I think I still find myself longing for reading the style of Lawson, but I do find myself personally preferring Sedaris over Irby thus far, but we’ll see how that develops throughout the book.
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Get Lawson’s new book dude, it’s amazing.
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I saw her new book!!I thought id get it to read after the semester
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I’m reading it now, and I love her even more. She’s great. ❤
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Yo everyone… Just a thought from me, GET LAWSON’S NEW BOOK!!! It’s amazing.
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And, I’m f/cking starving… lol
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Me too, What are you going to have for dinner?
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I DON’T KNOW!!!! HELP!!!!
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Pasta, easiest but tastiest way to go. That’s what I’m having tonight
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You can always have pasta Nina… and you’re Italian so of course you’ll say that little sis. lol… Does sound good tho.. hmmmmmm…..
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Currently in the process of ordering Thai food with my wife lol
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That sounds amazing.
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Sedaris’ take on the essay format, I would have trouble classifying it, is easier to read for me. I can’t say I see him redefining it in any special way, but now I’m going to look for it.
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OTP: TRUTH… always look for new truths when writing your story and reliving moments from past years, months or weeks, days…
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Sedaris definitely makes his writing more digestible without trying and his humor is effortless because of the nature of it. Sedaris doesn’t over explain his stories which works well because the nature of his stories itself and how he tells is is what makes it funny. The result is his book has a nice flow, he knows when when to move onto the next topic so he doesn’t bore his readers. The transition almost reminds me of stand up too because he always makes his next bit similar enough in some way so it flows, and he will do subtile “call backs” too. He does this at the end the chapter little guy when he says “So tiny. So inconsequential. A speck. This however might not be entirely unique to him though, because I think Irby has used this same thing in her writing as well.
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On the page, sometimes just sit back and watch your own life don’t feel pressured or rushed by external things and restrictions especially in areas like writing.
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I want to know why he moved to Europe!! He hasn’t explained that yet! Dying to know that part..
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Don’t hold your breath, new friend. He may not get that far into it… FYI.
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just a tiny bit curious…
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Understandable…. OMG, his master class is fucking incredible.
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I think he might of mentioned more of the reason in his other book, “Let’s explore Diabetes with Owls” I kind of remember him talking about it.
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But doesn’t elaborate extensively, as I remember…
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I don’t remember noticing anything different about his format, but that also wasn’t on my radar. It will be now!
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OTP: All your words should cure.
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Cure, as in the purpose should be to heal?
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Partially, yes. Among other connected scapes …
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Do you mind elaborating? the only cure I’m able to think of is to cure bacon
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Huh, clever. Well, I think bacon is gross. But, to answer your question more usefully, to heal self and readers, and the moment itself you choose to include in your essay. Always have the intention to heal…
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Ok, in this case, since you are my reader how would I be able to help you heal? I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m trying very hard to understand.
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Just have the intention… don’t worry about the result.
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Davis Sedaris has a Master Class, and it is f/cking DOPE. If you want a guest pass, hit me up on text. Seriously, it’s life-changing if you’re a writer or lover of his work. OR, if you are a human and breathe and feel anything.
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On tonight’s page I have to keep writing about myself and to try to find a way to write for me rather than to write for others
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OTP:Look for what makes Sedaris’s writing streamline so well together and keep the reader captivated.
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OTP look for differences in Sedaris’ writing that I don’t normally look for.
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OTP: I have written down all of the prompts along with some side notes with one saying “be honest with your efforts”.
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OTP: There is truth and humor in everything, it might not be for you, but it could be for someone else. I’m off to acquire Thai food, have a good night everyone! Hope professor is ready for a brutally honest take on my life in the coming essay!
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Cheers Paul. And BRING IT.
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Have a good night!
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You too!
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