Extra Blog: February

The duration of my mentorship was yet again filled with assignments and with the looming Saint Patrick's Day deadline, I ended up spending six hours on my article revisions. This consisted of writing drafts, overlooking them, going back to the computer further my content through research, adding my findings, drafting yet again, and editing before the final product was approved. One of the perks of all this writing is getting to see the outcome of the effort put into a task. This month's bylines definitely gave the strength to go on considering the madness that will be March! 

Above: The 3 pages that took up my 3 hours on the 3 tuesdays I went to the Courier. That's 9 hours of staring at a computer and drafting articles. Oye.

Blog 16: Answer 2

1.  What is your EQ?

What two techniques from journalism and fiction can best be combined in creative nonfiction?

2.  What is your first answer? (In complete thesis statement format)

The ethics of extensive research from journalism and the art of storytelling from fiction writing can best be combined when creating a creative nonfiction piece.

3.  What is your second answer? (In complete thesis statement format)
The art of immersion from journalism and the practice of character development from fiction writing can best be combined when creating a creative nonfiction piece.

4.  List three reasons your answer is true with a real-world application for each.In journalism it is essential to apply the art of immersion because in order to effectively convey a topic through the subjects eyes, a writer must obtain an understanding and this must be done through experience. For instance, at the Claremont Courier, reporters are sent out into the field when dealing with a occurrence and/or person of interest in order to perceive the world through their eyes. It's simply not enough to view a situation from the standpoint of an onlooker, in order for a journalist to present their findings in such a way that appeals to their reader they must go beyond telling a story and delve into the practice of showing it. 

As for fiction writers, character development is a crucial element of the production and progression process of the story. If not for characters, how would the author connect with their readers? A great example of character progression can be seen in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series. In the beginning, Sherlock is depicted as a cold-hearted sociopath who has no hope what-so-ever with ever being able to understand humanity and then upon meeting John Watson, there is a slight change in his perception of the world. As he develops feelings for his ever loyal companion, the reader's opinion of him begins to shift, until suddenly the audience is able to draw connections and sympathize. They are able to embark with Watson on the path that is understanding the complex mind that is Mr. Holmes. If there were no growth in the consultant detective nor the doctor at his side, then the story would remain at a standstill. 

Immersion and character development combined could create a great piece of creative nonfiction as seen in Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, where truman retells the story of the Clutter family and their brutal murder, detailing the family's personal lives and morals and delving into the twisted minds of their murders.

5.  What printed source best supports your answer?
Story Craft: The complete guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction by Jack Hart.

6.  What other source supports your answer?
Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction by Tracy Kidder & Richard Todd

7.  Tie this together with a  concluding thought.
"Every story has to be discovered twice, first in the world and then in the author's study. One discovers a story the second time by constructing it." -Tracy Kidder in Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction (page 13).

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

I plan to take writing workshops on the genre of creative nonfiction and create a blog on Blogger where I will post writing pieces and prompts using the techniques that I've acquired through research. For instance, say I am focusing on the art of immersion. On my blog, I will post what that entitles exactly and an example of that technique from myself and another author, comparing the two. 

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

In order to show my 30 hours of evidence, I will post snapshots of my workshops, pictures of my research sources, as well as a link to my blogger blog. I will also allow my peers to comment on posted pieces with commendations and recommendations as well as suggestions for any topics they'd like me to look into or any writing styles they'd like me to attempt. (Examples include excerpts of the following: personal essays, memoirs, fiction pieces, articles, etc.)

3.  Explain how this component will help you explore your topic in more depth.

By practicing the variant techniques used in creative nonfiction as well as expanding my knowledge outside this specific domain, I will be able adapt as a writer by learning through practice. As a writer, you must evolve alongside your audience. One cannot simply focus on one key element, I must hone in on all aspects of the art in order to produce an adequate piece of prose that resonates with my readers. Therefore, I must be well-rounded in my craft. 

4.  Post a log in your Senior Project Hours link and label it "Independent Component 2" log.

January: Extra Blog

January! Probably the most exciting month at the courier. During this month a series of deadlines were met, that of which featured articles "25 People Who Shaped the World", "Malala", and a little snippets on "Heart Transplants" and "Celtic Love Knots" to ring in Valentine's Day. Now that might not seem like much, however, there is an abundance of research that goes into each article that must be carefully sorted through and chosen. Facts, that of which will both intrigue and inform the reader. From that point a series of drafts are composed and thoroughly edited before the final product is finished. And even when an article is looked over, I've come to learn that there is always room for improvement.

Above: This is the desk and computer I use while at the courier. It's pretty dark because I usually come into the office at 2 p.m and leave at closing time which is around 5 p.m.

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

LITERAL

• (a) “I, Aralia Giron affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
• (b)  sources that helped me complete independent component: 
• Sova, Dawn B. How to Write Articles for Newspapers and Magazines. New York: Macmillan USA, 1998. Print.
• Sarah Torribio, reporter at Claremont Courier
• (c) Update your hours in your Senior Project Hours link. Make sure it is clearly labeled with hours for individual sessions as well as total hours.
• (d) During this independent component #1, I focused on the journalistic aspect of my project and delved into the realm by practicing the ethics of composing articles. In doing so, I devoted my time to extensive research and drafting copy as well as practicing the writing skill of condensing information in such a way that it doesn't overwhelm the reader.
• INTERPRETIVE                  Defend your work and explain its significance to your project and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work. Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work. 
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  Above: The October edition of the Claremont Kids. While piecing together these pages I was introduced to the fundamental concepts of courier style which was crucial to the overall layout and structure of my articles.
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  Above: My second contribution to the Claremont Kids edition of the newspaper. During this time, I was able to bring forth personal creativity. Since a majority of our articles involve research, I was happy to be given the chance to retell a personal story, that of which my mentor commented, "was kind of a small way of practicing the construction of memoirs."

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  Above: While working on the content for this edition of the Claremont Kids, I was able to fill in as guest editor. In doing so, I was tasked to manage this section of the magazine and bring forth ideas regarding article content.

  
  

  

  

  
  

  Above: An accumulation of notes that I collected  over my independent component. 

  
  

  

  
  

  Above: My desk at the courier and my assignment folder.

  
  

  

  
  

  Above: A snapshot of my mentor Sarah Torribio and I.

  
  

  

  
  

  Above: My signed Mentorship hours for independent component.

  
  

  
  
• APPLIED                                How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better? Please include specific examples to illustrate this?
• While working on my independent component, I was able to grasp an understanding of what the journalistic aspect of my topic. The concepts in which I benefitted from the most derive themselves from the all encompassing ethic of constructing the Claremont Kid's pages. By contributing to these monthly editions I was able to conduct extensive research, practice structuring articles for newspapers, and experience the long and chronic process that is drafting. While looking back at my work, as was often required of me, I realized there is always room for improvement. An adequate article can always be altered whether that be along the lines of adding a new source of information to changing the way it is written entirely. The way that this practice ties into creative nonfiction lies within the fact that authors, who appeal to their audience more often are able to do so by making adapting alongside the ever changing trends and making connections that might have not been so obvious.