Creative Writing Class

So I'm taking this creative writing class and at first I was so excited!! I could write what I want and how long I want and how to write better.I thought yes, this is the class I've been wanting for a really long time.

Well I'm about mid way through and I've learned some things, First: I do get to write about what I want, but only for the first assignment in each new genre, then the teacher tells us what to write about. Of course it’s still our take and even then the assignment is pretty vague. I’ve learned that sometimes its good to be told what to write, it helps you see what you like to write about, and it can surprise you. Second: I don’t get to write as long as I want. In fact one of the first things my teacher said was “I’m going to teach you how to write short.” My response “Noooooooooo!” Even though trying to limit myself to less than 400 words (a task I thought was impossible for me) is actually kind of fun. It’s quite the challenge to learn what words to use, or how to rephrase things an keep it short. I still prefer long, but short isn’t as bad as I thought and actually will be good for one of my book ideas I’ve been struggling to work on. Maybe I just needed this class to teach me? Third: I’ve learned that writing is incredibly subjective. I’m currently in a creative non fiction section and I wrote this rather funny story and I was excited to share it with my new group. Well one said he was bored, and the other kept wanting some moral attached to it or some theme. I thought, it’s about a guy catching a duck? Why does there have to be a theme? I was a little upset that the kid thought it was boring. So the next week I brought in a revised draft and I got the same comments. So I took it to my teacher to see what he thought. Well he loved it! He thought it was so funny and couldn’t wait for me to keep making it better. So this past week, I revised it once again and I changed the minds of my group. I don’t know what I did, but they even helped me chose that story as my final for this section.

So even though writing is subjective, and not everyone will like your style, it’s fun to try to make the haters into lovers. I’ve also learned that I take criticism better than I thought, and if I keep an open mind. I also learned that its good to view other types of writing, and that there are a lot of great writers out there. I’m loving this class even though it’s harder and a bit more disappointing than I originally thought. But hey, that’s the stuff that makes you stronger!

And yes, I will be posting my writings as soon as I get my computer back and everything is updated. Grrr Best Buy! But that's another blog, as soon as I get my computer back.

The Greatest Known Song

So a guy at my work posed an odd question. He asked which is the greatest song ever known out of the Miley Cyrus song "Party in the USA" and John Denver's song "Country Roads". Well there was quite the debate. I ended up defending John Denver just because well, I can't stand Miley Cyrus and sometimes a John Denver song just hits the spot. So here is the rebuttal I wrote.

Why Miley Cyrus Can’t Even Compare with John Denver

Disclaimer: I don’t have any strong ties to John Denver, I do admit I like some of his songs, and I certainly won’t turn the channel when a song of his comes on, unlike Miley who I will turn with just the mere mention of her name. I also would like to add that there are obviously other songs that would fit this category better but alas, this is what I have to pick from.

If you are looking for statistics you won’t get any from me, although I can certainly come up with more creditable ones than a mere google search and relying on that. Obviously Miley Cyrus would have more hits then John Denver, she’s young, she’s cute (so the boys say), she’s alive, and tweens are more apt to use the internet then the older crowd of John Denver’s era. Besides who cares what she wore at an awards show, or who she has kissed lately, or if her Hannah Montana wig stayed on properly? The John Denver fans don’t need to research him online because they paid for his cds, books, and life story. John Denver is worth paying for. I believe statics don’t prove a lot when it comes to music. Everything is so biased that it doesn’t really matter.

I would like to first compare the lyrics. First off John Denver is a true lyricist because he can say in just a few stanzas what is in his heart while Miley Cyrus needs 10 stanzas. He secondly doesn’t need to name drop. He uses what he’s talking about, the mountains, trees, rivers, roads, essentially the earth. The real USA. Without this wonderful land we have there wouldn’t be a Hollywood for all those rich celebrities to party on. He uses the 5 senses so you can identify with what he is feeling (a true poet). You can see, hear, smell, taste and touch the wonderful country roads that brings us to our favorite place, which is home. I guess you could say you see the celebrities, and you smell the sweat from the people who are dancing, or the stench of the feet in the stilletos. That’s great! I love thinking of those smells. I’m not saying I don’t love California I was born and grew up there. And I’m not saying I don’t love dancing, because I do, but if I had to choose a memory that truly meant something to me, it would be taking those roads back to my home. And on that note, John Denver’s song (which he did help to write) is a metaphor that all can identify with. He’s using his love of the mountains in West Virginia (which WV is considering making his song a state song) as representation of all our homes. Miley Cyrus talks about herself and how she feels awkward about fitting in. Which we can all identify with, I will give her that, but its in such a tone and image that makes me not even realize what she’s talking about. The DJ puts on a song so she can dance, Britney Spears (horrible role model of a choice to put in any song) and Jay Z. Really? Her simple lyrics simply show she has a simple mind. She isn’t any where near iconic as John Denver was at his time and still is.

In twenty years lets google both Miley and John and see who comes up with more hits. I’ll bet it will be about even, or John would have more. John is ageless and will forever be remembered via songs, movies, as an entertainer, award winner, and his charitable contributions and all around nice guy (who else sang with Kermit the Frog to make aware the problems of the earth. He was ahead of his time. Do the words global warming come to mind?) As a person I’m sure Miley is very nice, kind, helpful and loves the attention she gets by riding on here one hit wonder dad’s celebrity light, but John Denver was a no name that changed the world. Despite given her momentary popularity (which I don’t understand due to her bad acting skills-where has America’s standards gone?) she will be nothing but an out of work, no voice, middle-aged, trouble making, tabloids pictured person, whom I’m sure we will all feel sorry for. Nothing like John Denver who when spoken of, might get a grimace due to his genre, but still will be respected for his classy and iconic talent he brought to the world. How can you even mess with a legend? All hale John Denver, Poet for the Planet, Mother Nature’s Son and A Song’s Best Friend! (take that Miley and Hannah)